On 6 February this year Her Majesty the Queen became the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years of service to the people of the United Kingdom, the Realms and the Commonwealth. Sunday 5 June will be when the Big Jubilee Lunch takes place across the country. As we are on half term, we decided that we would celebrate a few days early on 27 May. However, there has been a lot of activity in the lead up to the Jubilee Celebrations. Read on to hear about our winning River of Hope Flag design, our Jubilee Fete and everything else we have been up to.
The objectives of the Queen’s Jubilee embrace Community, sustainability, young people and the arts, which are all things we hold dear to our own hearts at Alton School.
Alton School River of Hope design will feature in the Queen’s Jubilee Pageant
Pupils in Years 7, 8 and 9 were invited to create a picture of their hopes and aspirations for the planet over the next 70 years. Our River of Hope collaborative flag design has been selected to be one of the 200 artworks that has been printed onto silk flags and processed as part of The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant. In addition, it will be displayed on the River of Hope online gallery and shown on digital screens up and down the country as part of the Jubilee celebrations.
On 5 June, the 200 silk flags will be paraded in London along the Mall as a ‘River of Hope’ as the Platinum Pageant comes to a close outside Buckingham Palace. They will be carried together to produce a river effect, flowing through the streets of central London.
‘Pupils created their own personal response to the theme associated with the symbol of the fish. We chose the symbol of the fish as our starting point because in many cultures it’s a metaphor for deep awareness. We wanted to use this idea to bring deep awareness for the need to promote clean river water for communities who rely on them for fresh drinking water. If a river is clean fish will live and thrive, it’s not too late to make a change, save communities one river at a time, one fish at a time. Many of our pupils also used this opportunity to respond to the Queens Platinum Jubilee, using the Union Jack to represent British values and our support for the wider global community.’ Mrs Sanderson, Curriculum Group Lead for Creative Arts.
I am delighted to tell you that the work is now available to view online at www.riverofhope.co.uk
Right: the winning flag design
Above: the flag designers
Supporting the Queen’s great love and respect for the natural environment
Lower School (Eco Warriors) have planted a tree and a Jubilee Garden with seeds we received from Hampton Court Garden.
Jubilee Pudding competition winner
Well done to Emily (Year 2) who won the Alton School Jubilee Pudding competition. Her winning recipe was the featured pudding at our Jubilee lunch.
Lower School art
Lower School have produced fantastic works of art that are on display in the Sue Kirkham Foyer and made a fabulous backdrop for our Open Event on 14 May. They include wonderful portraits of the Queen created in different styles, the Queen’s guards and the classic London Double Decker bus.
The Alton Anchor with its own Jubilee feature
Our Senior School Newspaper Team featured the Jubilee in our Alton Anchor newspaper, which came out with the Herald on 26 May. Congratulations to our Editorial Team: Ellamay, Safiya and Emma in Year 10 and Molly, Reuben, Hannah, Elise and Ingrid in Year 9. You have all done a fabulous job. Thank you also to everyone else who contributed.
On Friday 27 May – Jubilee Celebrations – Lunch and PTFA Jubilee Fete
Our Jubilee celebrations began with a whole school traditional lunch outside together on 27 May. The School playgrounds were decorated with bunting and lined with tables filled with sandwiches, cakes, pastries and the winning Jubilee Platinum Pudding, made by Emily, Year 2
After lunch, children from the Lower School classes, led by the Reception class and two of the artists involved in the River of Hope flag initiative, paraded their flag and celebrated being one of the 200 designs to be featured on 5 June in the Queen’s parade down the Mall, London.
Lunch was followed by our Jubilee Fete, led by Alton School’s PTFA. This was a community event for families featured fun stalls run by every class in school. There was something for everyone, from beating Mr Sanderson in Goal to soaking the teachers in the stocks. Who doesn’t love a traditional bottle tombola, Splat the Rat game, Guess the sweets in the jar or even a coconut shy! Entertainment included music performances by Alton School pupils.
Our Nursery children enjoyed their own Jubilee picnic together with parents with plenty of fun and games too!
“We hope everyone enjoyed this special occasion with us at Alton School and I wish everyone reading a wonderful Jubilee long weekend with your friends, families and local communities”. Karl Guest, Headmaster
