JAGS is very much aware of its place within a larger community and we are firmly committed to education in its widest sense. Speakers at our whole school assemblies on Wednesdays raise awareness of issues that go beyond school, an awareness that always contributes to fresh understanding, for example, of environmental matters, and which is often translated into activities in House meetings, in whole school fund-raising, or Community Action. (Don’t just talk. Do!) It is important that the whole school can be together for these assemblies; we learn from each other’s example.

The Reverend Canon Dianna Gwilliams, Vicar of St Barnabas and our Foundation Schools’ Chaplain visits us regularly and always leaves us with thought-provoking questions about the way we live.

Assemblies have given us a clearer perspective on our local community, and on our good fortune; sixth form students spoke movingly about the inspiration of their two week stay in a Romanian orphanage, working with Romanian sixth-formers on a unique residential Community Action project. A Y12 pupil described her challenging 250 mile bike ride through Ireland in memory of her aunt, fundraising for the Breast Cancer Research Unit at Guy’s Hospital.

They help us to explore our past. One assembly in November is used to celebrate Black History Month with the girls this year focussing on the history of black music, a means of escape and hope for better lives. Polly conducted the 40-strong Gospel Choir, a pupil-led choir for girls of all ages and backgrounds. Live music of different kinds plays us in and out of assembly and sets the mood for the subject of our contemplation.  Also in November we have a remembrance assembly. In 2009 this focussed movingly on Harry Patch, the final survivor of the First World War, who died earlier this year.  This was an intensely moving assembly with a strong anti-war sentiment.  In Holocaust Memorial Week, two sixth formers, chosen as representatives of JAGS at Auschwitz reflect on their visit and help to bring the enormity of the Holocaust to a new generation. In 2009, its tenth year, the Government-funded Lessons from Auschwitz project is based on the premise that ‘hearing is not like seeing’, the focus being a one day visit to the former extermination camp. The survivors of the Holocaust and other genocides, they told us, call for the young generation to take a stand against racism, xenophobia and growing divides between cultures and nationalities. Our own JAGS community, full of different cultures and diversity, is an excellent example of how society can draw strength from these differences. The Amnesty International group showed a film they had made in school and spoke about Human Rights issues.

In Science Week, Head of Science, Mr Putley, introduced an assembly urging pupils to be alert to new ideas. Using examples such as the idea that the earth is flat, he and some sixth form scientists pointed out some common misconceptions that had been accepted as fact and encouraged everyone to adopt a questioning approach to evidence. We are looking forward to the 2010 Science Week assembly.

The Geography department highlighted the work of the charity Water Aid and encouraged pupils and staff to be sponsored to drink only water for 5 days, which raised £2778.00 for this worthwhile cause in 2009.  The girls explained the importance of water and a visitor from the charity explained how the money raised would be used.  This was the eleventh year that JAGS has supported Water Aid.

JAGS Eco group found something new to capture our attention: a Just a Minute competition with willing audience participants thinking rapidly on their feet, speaking  without hesitating, deviating or repeating themselves on ‘The Effects of Global Warming’ and Saving the World’. Inspired by a talk they’d heard from environmental campaigner Dr Ian Roberts, they explained the impact on the environment of car usage, food production and the destruction of the rain forests. The Eco group urged us to do what we can to reduce carbon emissions at home and at school. We have never been quite so aware of the importance of looking after our environment, a theme the Headmistress and Deputy Headmistress often address in their assemblies.  The school already has eco school status but assemblies often provide an opportunity to explain how the school is pushing forward towards becoming a Green Flag school. 
 

Please click for Amelia’s 250 mile bike ride

Please click for A dentist in the slums.

Please click here for link to Romania Community Links.