With a Jubilee theme!
A palpable buildup of excitement gripped the country ahead of the what turned out to be a memorable weekend of Platinum Jubilee celebrations. This same anticipation was prevalent across Rydal Penrhos over the final week before the half-term break, as highlighted by the Jubilee picnic on Sports Day.
Another fine example of this came from Year 2 pupils, senior figures at the school, and Rydal Penrhos’ catering partner Holroyd Howe, who held a ceremony for their Queen’s Green Canopy Tree initiative. Executive Principal Mr John Waszek was among those in attendance alongisde Prep Eco and Gardening teacher Mrs Julie Woodthorpe, Holroyd Howe staff and pupils.
The scheme is headed by Eco Committee leaders Hayden and Isabella, who planted wild pear and crab-apple trees, respectively, near the Memorial Hall situated on the Senior School site.
Many pupils lent their support to this important project, performing important tasks such as digging holes in the ground or watering the fledgling trees, including Sixth Form pupil Osca Clark. Senior Groundsperson Howard Street was also on hand to share his green-fingered expertise with budding horticulturalists.
Rydal Penrhos and Holroyd Howe share a commitment to sustainability that is epitomised by this new scheme, which includes a variety of educational materials designed to illuminate the subject to pupils of all ages.
With a focus on planting sustainably, the Queen’s Green Canopy encourages planting trees to create a legacy in honour of The Queen’s leadership of the nation, which will benefit future generations.
After becoming inspired by an exciting discovery within St John’s Church, Year 6 pupils at Rydal Penrhos have been hard at work creating their own Time Capsule that has now been locked away for future pupils and teaching staff to open in the future.
This came after the school discovered a Time Capsule from the Year 2000, which had been prepared by members of the congregation of St John’s Methodist Church, now the school chapel, which contained everyday items from the turn of the millennium as well as handwritten letters.
Pupils began by making a list of what they would like to put in their Time Capsule and spent time writing letters that will not be opened until 2042 by the next generation of Rydal Penrhosians in the same year group.
Capturing the moments from 2022 after what’s transpired in recent months was a fun task. The Time Capsule consists of COVID-19 tests, a face covering and hand sanitiser, with a flag for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and a blue blazer from our out-going school uniform also included.
Mrs Lucy Davies, who is Deputy Principal and Head of Prep at Rydal Penrhos, said: “When the pupils opened the Year 2000 capsule they were very interested in what children had written as their favourite music and toys and so they made sure to include a current computer games handset and some current popular toys.
“They even included quite a large white horse toy and a riding rosette. The pupils worked out that they will be 31 when the capsule is opened and exclaimed at how old they would be!”
Mrs Davies also made a contribution to the capsule with a letter of her own, with the Reverend Dr Rob Beamish, Chaplain of Rydal Penrhos, putting his own thoughts down on paper and a letter from the 2000 capsule recently opened by Year 6 was put in to keep continuity.
After standing locked on display, the capsule was sent down to the school archive in our cellars to await its re-opening in 20 years. Something that provoked great excitement within Year 6 as they envisaged what Rydal Penrhos would look like by this point.
Rev'd Dr Rob Beamish, the Chaplain, opening the 2000 time capsule with Prep pupils
