Friday Headlines
the weekly newsletter from EHS
A show of Gratitude on Pink Rose Day
29 June 2018
On Friday 22 June, Senior School celebrated Pink Rose Day. This was the day on which we remembered, reflected upon and recalled all the members of our school community, pupils and staff, whom sadly, we have lost over the years. It was the conclusion to a week during which girls and staff brought in pink roses to place in vases on window ledges, desks and shelves throughout Senior School.
The focus of Pink Rose Day was a special assembly which was led by the members of new leadership team for 2018/19: Briony Chitty, Mariam Al-Ani and Georgia Marfoh-Hoare. The theme of Gratitude ran throughout the assembly, introduced by a reading entitled ‘Gratitude’ by Melody Beattie. This was followed by an explanation of the significance of Pink Rose Day which began following the death of a pupil, Claudia Burnand. The poem ‘Memories’ by M.S Moem read by Vipanchi Katamaneni in Year 12, summarised the importance of being grateful for the memories of loved ones. This was followed by a performance of ‘Sons de Carilhões’ translated to ‘Sound of Bells’ by Pernambuco played on the guitar by Naomi Okafor. This performance gave the girls the opportunity to reflect upon things for which they were grateful, including the power of music. As the girls listened, a slideshow of photographs, taken by Hannah Vaughan, was shown, displaying acts of kindness and gratitude of pupils in the school.
A display of pink roses sat central to the stage and was comprised of roses on which pupils had written all the things they were grateful for and which gave them joy. Charlotte Baker read an extract from a book, suggested by Mr Proctor, which explored all aspects of joy in the world. The girls were reminded of the sundial, fountain and trees around the school which act as symbols of our remembrance to those whom we have lost. The assembly was closed by a reading of the poem ‘A poem of Gratitude’ by Kay Boyle, from Mr Smith, a member of staff, which embedded the message of gratitude that had underpinned the assembly.
The Pink Rose Assembly is very much a commemoration on the part of our school community for those whom we have lost from it. However, this year, our act of commemoration was
extended to include what we are grateful for, whether it be for the memories those who we have lost have given us, for music or for the community of support which surrounds us
all.
Pink Rose Assembly
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