At Forest, we were proud to mark Black History Month. A Forest parent, Mr Wedderburn, led an inspiring assembly, where he spoke passionately about the incredible achievements of many Black inventors, scientists, and sportspeople. He told the children about Garrett Morgan, inventor of the traffic light, Lonnie Johnson, creator of the Super Soaker, Venus Williams, one of the most successful tennis players of all time, and Usain Bolt, the fastest man in the world.
He also reflected on the England football team, reminding us that greatness happens when people work together towards a shared goal, no matter their background. His message beautifully captured the idea that underneath our skin, we are all the same.
The key theme of his presentation was perseverance and hard work. Encouraging our Foresters to always keep trying, follow their dreams, and believe that with determination, anything is possible.
A huge thank you to Mr. Wedderburn for giving up his time to inspire our Foresters and for generously donating a wonderful selection of inspirational books to each year group.
In addition to the assembly, there has been lots of exciting learning taking place across the school.
Kindergarten introduced the children to a variety of prominent Black figures throughout history. The children learned about their backgrounds and what made each person famous, taking part in a range of creative and hands-on activities linked to their stories.
From bug investigations inspired by Charles Henry Turner, to counting the right number of people on the bus for Rosa Parks, to building a junk model aeroplane for Bessie Coleman, and creating their own inventions using cogs and gears like Garrett Morgan, the children have loved exploring these inspiring stories. They also enjoyed discussing Mrs Singer’s admiration for Nichelle Nichols, who broke barriers as one of the first Black women on television in a major role.
These activities have been an important part of helping our children understand and celebrate the achievements of Black people throughout history, whilst recognising the power of perseverance, creativity, and courage.
