St Antony’s Catholic Primary School Celebrates Black History Month 2024
St Antony’s Catholic Primary School Celebrates Black History Month 2024
Remembering Their Performance Worthy of A King
King Charles exudes pure deilight as he met the children and Staff of St Antony’s Catholic School from
Forest Gate, after their magnificent performamce at Windsor Castle last academic year. The school’s Music Ensemble’s instrumental redition of Bob Marley’s standards:‘One Love’ and ‘Three Little Birds (Don’t Worry About A Thing) ’ followed by Lord Kitchner’s ‘London Is The Place For Me’ transported all present to the Carribbean. The school’s multi-cultural mini-orchestra, was directed by music teacher Mr Nathan Chan who was supported by fellow colleague Miss Jenella Baptiste -Diversity and Inclusion Lead; seen beaming in the presence of His Royal Highness, as the King complemented the children for their renditions of the reggae and Caribbean classics.
The National Service was held in Celebration of the 75th Anniversary of The Windrush Genertion in Britain was conducted by Rev. Rose Hudson-Wilkin CD MBE KHC to a full capacity congregation gathered in St George’s Chapel at Winsor Castle a year ago. The chapel was packed to the rafters with inspiring and influential members of the British Black and Ethnic Minority Community. Also in attendance at this momentous event were Head Teacher Mrs Angela Moore and Deputy Head, Miss Yvonne Wade who were specially invited by the organisers of the event by virtue of the school’s prior outstanding performances of original poetry and songs for the official unveiling ceremony of the Wind Rush Monument officiated by the now Prince and Princess of Wales on Windrush Day on the 22nd of June 2022.
The monument commemorates the British West Indian immigrants who came to the United Kingdom on board HMT Empire Windrush in 1948- followed by those who continued to come to Britain following in the footsteps of their ancestors right up to 1971. All subsequently became known as the Windrush Generation. Many of the pupils’ family members fall under this umberella therefore.
The School’s Choir performed the song “You Called…We Came” –a poem penned by Professor Laura Serrant OBE who has visited the school and was a guest speaker for their year six leavers ceremony. To honour Professor Serrant, the music lead at St Antony’s set her poem to music and performed it for her at the Year 6 ceremony in 2021. The song has now become known as the Windrush Anthem and was joyfully sung by the pupils on the occasion of the unveiling of the monument at Waterloo Station in Central London on June 22nd, 2022- Windrush Day. The choir also performed the anthem at the showcase held at the South Bank Centre later that evening to a massive audience. The Deputy Head of the school, Miss Wade, had her choral speaking group deliver an unforgettable performance of her original poem honouring the Windrush Generation entitled: “Passport To Prove.”
One of the major patrons of the event, Baroness Floella Benjamin shared memories of her personal Windrush journey to Britain with the children and all gathered in her insightful and profound words...
“I remember vividly my own moment of arrival, as a 10 year old – stepping off the train and standing on Platform 19 at Waterloo station. That spot, familiar to so many of us and our parents, is less than a few hundred metres from where the Windrush Monument will stand in perpetuity.” Baroness Floella Benjamin DBE
What do people say?
Testimonials
We must say you are an amazing school! We can’t thank you enough for your contribution towards building up our children’s confidence and also bringing joy into their life everyday while attending school. Our children have both done so well and have made so much progress. We have enjoyed working with the EYFS Lead and her team from the pre-school to Reception. In the mornings our children just run into school, always looking forward to what they will do and what they will learn and experience. They come home every day always very excited to share what they are learning such as songs, stories, phonics and art. We could not be happier. Thank you for making them feel so happy, safe and at home.
Mr & Mrs Dumitru
The moment that my son entered year 6 at St Antony’s, I noticed a remarkable transformation in his attitude and approach to learning; but most importantly, to his self-image and self-belief. He had always lacked confidence, largely due to the fact that he stuttered. Thankfully, his teacher-the Deputy Head and head of year 6, took the time to develop his confidence and self-esteem through engaging him in the Drama Club which she leads. She skillfully and intentionally used the Performing Arts to pull him out of his shell. He was included in every production and performance from Christmas to Easter, to the big end of year musical and he simply flourished- socially, emotionally and especially academically! By the end of year 6, he achieved GDS (well above national) in all areas in the SATS and is now such a confident speaker. He has such a bright future ahead of him.
Mrs RDA
I have three children in attendance at St Antony’s Catholic Primary, covering the full spectrum of the phases: EYFS, KS1 and KS2 and my experience has been that the staff at all levels of the school genuinely care about the children and want to see them thrive and achieve to their fullest individual potential and beyond. The Head and SLT are so committed to the children’s growth and development that they invest a lot of their time running before, during and after school programs and interventions along with their staff- giving the children the very best opportunities to be spiritually, socially, academically and morally, optimally rounded. My children love their school and look forward to going everyday –even for programs on the week-ends and in the holidays-which is of such great help to working parents. The children are really at the heart of the school; which truly has Christ at its center.
A Proud St Antony’s Dad
My son is on the autistic spectrum and is classified as having ‘High Needs’, so it is quite a challenge for him to engage socially and emotionally with anyone… even family. The love, care, patience and support that my child has received at St Antony’s is beyond belief. He has had bespoke programs and interventions put in place that have helped him to be able to read and answer basic questions, write, learn his numbers and do basic maths -which will help him to be more independent in the future. The greatest blessing for me however, are the ‘life skills’ that my son has been taught such as riding a bike, basic cooking and self-care, safe travel, swimming and actually engaging with others in after school clubs such as Drama. When I consider that this is not a special school, which does not get the funding to fully support children like my son, I cannot help but feel really blessed.
Mrs MD