Extra Curricular >
Reachout
ReachOut
ReachOut provides cross-curricular support for all subjects on specific Quaker related, social and peace issues, as well as running student groups and reaching out to the local community through special events and encouraging them to gain from, support and participate in the school’s unique ethos.
ReachOut covers four Quaker related principles:
Knowledge
Justice
Good Causes
Environment
ReachOut aims to provide a space in which people can explore knowledge and understanding of important global issues to enable us to become moral philosophers. Knowledge enables us to engage people of diverse backgrounds in an examination of conflicts, racism, prejudice, politics and peace studies in order to create a more humane and informed citizenry.
The Community Learning Programme invites the public to join us for public forums on topical issues - special guest speakers have included Manoj Barot who spoke on Racism in the Police Force, MP Rob Wilson, Ruth Barnett who spoke on her experiences as a Jewish/Christian child and Bruce Kent from the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND).
The forthcoming Community Learning Event is the Gordon Rushmer Fortnight – please click here for full details.
Leighton Park also run a weekly Politics, History and law Society (called `Facing History`) for Year 11 and Sixth Form pupils, examines conflicts, international relations and law.
The Annual Peace Conference is held for the Sixth Form and surrounding schools during Quaker Schools week in October. The 2009 the conference focused on the use of child soldiers in armed; speakers included Dan Jones – Amnesty International, Alan Morinan– Campaign Against the Arms Trade [CAAT], Judith Baker – Coalition to stop the use of child soldiers and Ian Brightwell – Quaker Peaceworker.
The Weekly debating society (Agora), for Year 10 and 11 pupils, provides a fantastic opportunity for pupils to debate the issues which matter to them, and prepares students for the school’s JBH public speaking competition in the Sixth Form.
The Forgiveness Project recently saw Marian Partington (sister of Lucy, a victim of the Fred and Rosemary West murders) lead a fantastic workshop exploring the subject of forgiveness and alternative responses to violence. Leading on from this the plan for the 2010 Quaker Schools Week will be on the theme of Forgiveness.
This area aims to look at the issues of fair and equal justice and is linked to the school’s Amnesty International Group. Students are also notified of any relevant petitions or peaceful protests which they may like to support, and are encouraged to write letters to Parliament and other Political bodies asking for justice for those who are in need of it.
This area encompasses all aspects of Leighton Park’s charity sponsorship and fund-raising events. We hold three `dress down` (mufti) days per year and organise such events as `Recycled fashion` shows, Austerity lunch, egg hunts and a regular favourite, the `House Panto` competition. Recent events have included:
Bujagali Trust Fundraising
Health themed mufti day
LP’s Got Talent show
Children in need
Cake and book sale
Ripple Africa and Joshua Orphan Care Trust (both in Malawi)
Malawi Flag and Safari themed mufti day
Cake Sale
Spring Fair – face painting, tombola, splat a teacher and Gunk vote
Haiti Earthquake
Emergeny appeal for ‘loose change’ raising an impressing £155 for the Disaster Emergency Committee.
Help the Heros
Superheroes themed mufti day
Austerity lunch
Gordon Rushmer exhibition and presentation
Lawrence’s roundabout Well Appeal
This being supported as Old Leightonian Angus MacFadyen is doing a swim across the channel in aid of this charity. Half of the Fryer Triathalon money will be donated to this cause and there will also be a water themed mufti day.
Fryer House also run their own charity activities. Please see the Fryer House page for more details.
The environment is always an important issue for Quakers and no less so for Leighton Park. Environmental issues are looked at across the school and are headed up by Jon Emerson and our eco-resident, Sally Pearce.
To find out more about activities in this area please see our environmental awareness pages.