The European Day of Languages, 26th September, was celebrated in true Howell’s style with the week of 21st-25th September filled with a packed programme in both the Junior and Senior schools. The focus was on Alalay, one of the charities that Howell’s students have supported for a number of years, which houses, clothes, feeds and educates orphans and street children in Bolivia. On Tuesday we were joined by Grahem Syreet who gave talks in some Spanish lessons about Alalay’s valuable work in Santa Cruz, and we presented him with a carful of stationery items, donated by our students and staff, which will be taken out to Bolivia by project workers. The Year 11 Languages prefects organised a cup cake sale on Monday and the Rotary Interact group organised the annual staff v. College netball match on Friday, which together raised £200 for Alalay.
During assemblies in the Junior and Senior School the students learned about World Gratitude Day and the International Day of Peace, which both fall on the 21st September, and prizes were awarded to the students in Years 6, 7 and 8 who had entered the Languages Week poster competitions. Well done to Grace M. (1st), Beth D. (2nd) and Anna L. (3rd) in Year 6; Siya G. & Havana I. (1st), Abi F. & Annie L. (2nd) and Freya M, Auvni P. and Martha P (runners-up) in Year 7; and Charlotte H. & Evie O. (1st), Lily R. (2nd) and Shayanna S., Ayesha A. and Sophie S (runners up) in Year 8.
An international menu (including the ever popular fajitas) was available each lunchtime and students were involved in a range of themed activities, including the extremely popular annual multilingual treasure hunt, an Egyptian hieroglyphics workshop, Welsh Folk Dancing, Flamenco and taster lessons in German and Italian, all organised by our superb team of Language Prefects. On Wednesday we were joined by a STEM and Languages Ambassador, courtesy of Cardiff University, who gave a presentation to students in Years 11 -13 about combining the study of languages with a career in business and Industry.
The week ended with the annual College students v. Staff netball match and for the second year running the staff beat the College by the identical score of 13 goals to 1. Mr Baker and Miss Jones were very impressive goal scorers! It was an exciting, fast-paced competition, with competitors making up with sheer energy and enthusiasm what they lacked in experience and comprehension of the rules of the game!
