The Power of Words

Performances were the order of the day as the Infant and Junior School children celebrated National Poetry Day on Thursday 28 September.

For the entire week leading up to the day itself, the children had been reading poems and writing their own pieces. On National Poetry Day itself, the main focus was that each class learned a poem to perform to another class. This was enjoyed by all, with actions and impressive choreography on show! We even saw teachers popping up in classrooms to share their favourite poems – much to the delight of the children.

Watch out for the National Poetry Day QR codes in school – you could soon be experiencing some of these fabulous performances for yourselves!

“A free bird leaps

on the back of the wind

and floats downstream

till the current ends

and dips his wing

in the orange sun rays

and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks

down his narrow cage

can seldom see through

his bars of rage

his wings are clipped and

his feet are tied

so he opens his throat to sing. “

An excerpt from ‘Caged Bird’ by Maya Angelou

The theme for National Poetry day this year was ‘Freedom’. The English Department celebrated the day with a whole school poetry display centred on the idea of a caged or free bird and referencing Maya Angelou’s poem ‘Caged Bird’. Poetry was also celebrated in English lesson activities and through a poetry competition, which invited students to submit a poem inspired by ideas of freedom.