Ramadan 2023
Mon 20 Mar 2023Dear Parents and Carers
Swanshurst Reflection Room
At Swanshurst, we believe in celebrating diversity and creating an accepting environment. We have a hugely diverse community where students and teachers are of a vast range of backgrounds and beliefs. Many of our students look for some quiet time during the day to observe their faiths and/or to pause and reflect.
We do not have a dedicated specific space for this purpose, with students currently using classrooms based around school on a rota system during lunchtimes.
We would like to create an inclusive and accessible space within school for students to have some quiet time during break and lunch should they wish to.
Having met with the board of governors and SACRE (Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education), we have confirmed our plans to convert the space outside of Lower Hall into Swanshurst’s Reflection Room. We will be educating students about the space as well as ensuring everyone is clear on the expectations of the space in order to respect all that intend to use it.
The space is currently unused and we are looking forward to working with the Swanshurst community to bring our visions to life. In the coming weeks, we hope to begin the construction and decoration work on the space to create a comfortable and welcoming area for students to enjoy.
In addition to a donation from the school, we will be holding various fundraising events in school and will also be adding an optional payment on SCOPAY should you wish to contribute.
We look forward to working with you and will keep you updated on the progress being made.
Grand Iftar 2023
Ramadan 2023 is quickly approaching. We are organising an event as we did last year for the student and staff community to come together to share an understanding and appreciation for the meaning of this holy event as we do with other significant events in our calendar.
We are pleased to announce that we will again be hosting the ‘Annual Grand Iftar’ on Thursday 30th March 2023 from 7:15pm to 8:45pm. The evening will allow students and staff members to open their fast together, as well as experience a part of Ramadan as a school community.
To attend the event, students and staff members will be able to purchase tickets through our Scopay system - https://www.scopay.com/landing.html. The cost of a ticket is £8. Any unused funds for the event will be donated to charity. A small sum may be used to support the finishing touches to our new Reflection Room.
The tickets will be sold on a first come first serve basis and once all 400 tickets have been sold, the online payment portal will close. We encourage everyone to purchase tickets by Thursday 23rd March to confirm the order with our caterers.
PE during Ramadan
During Ramadan, it is important that our pupils are supported while continuing with the normal school routine. It is essential that we continue to deliver an ambitious, broad and balanced curriculum to all pupils. To enable this, we will be making a few alterations, particularly to PE lessons. Our curriculum has been adapted so that, during this time, the intensity of lessons will be lowered and if the weather is warm, appropriate shade will be provided.
The following changes will be in place:
- Athletics – No sprints/long distance running – throws and jumps will be the focus of learning.
- Games based activities such as Football/Netball and Basketball will be replaced by less strenuous activities such as – OAA (team building/orienteering)/cricket/ rounders, where there is no sustained period of high intensity activity.
These changes will ensure that an ambitious curriculum can continue, and our pupils who are fasting will be able to participate fully.
Finally, Ramadan Mubarak to all our families who are observing Ramadan.
If you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Thank you for your continued support.
Yours sincerely
Mr M Dunn Mr W Ali
Headteacher Assistant Headteacher