Black History Month

Black History Month is a celebration that takes place in October every year. Here at Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School all pupils and staff will be joining in and celebrating Black History Month in different ways. This year's celebration is focussed on "Saluting our Sisters" and is reflected in our programme of events.

Here is an overview of all the exciting events planned:

• A committee of Lower Sixth pupils are coordinating a series of events and assemblies which will run across the course of the month and into November.
• Black British Cinema Film Festival for our Sixth Form showcasing Black British directors and we launched last week with Steve McQueen's 'Mangrove'.
• Music of Black Origin (MOBO's) Open Mic Sessions will be held on Friday 20 October and pupils are currently rehearsing, Jazz, Folk, RnB, Blues, Afro Rock and Ska performances. We are eager to hear from pupils with experience in any other genres who would like to share their talents.
• Along with an updated Black History Month display in the First-Form corridor, we have plans for a plenary in each lesson this month with a focus on black inventors who have changed the way we live. These will include pioneers who invented products such as the traffic light, gas mask, home security systems and colour monitors.
• We will run an art competition and are inviting pupils to take part in a Borough led art project.
• Pupils are being introduced to Black British writers through short stories, poetry and non-fiction op-ed pieces and will soon be taking part in writing workshops with an award-winning author.
• Our school librarian, Ms MacGloin, has updated the school's online Library service, with helpful resources for pupils as well as a celebration of black authors and their works available from our school library. 
• During PE lessons we will be celebrating a different Black sportsman and woman each week, exploring their successes and history.
• In Maths & Science we will be celebrating Black women in STEM.
• Pupils will have the opportunity to take part in a poster competition celebrating key figures, in particular the members of the Windrush Generation.
• Those studying Psychology have been introduced to theory and theorists working in the field of race. Sixth Form pupils are taking part in a Black Psychologists Book Club, featured books are displayed in Room B9.
• Pupils will also be learning about Black Classicists, Geographers and Climate change activists and are invited to pop along to the library to see our display of writing by Black authors.
• We are also looking forward to the Sixth Form 'Food Haul' and assemblies over the next few weeks.

Thank you to Ms Mullen, Deputy Head of English and PP, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Co-Ordinator for such a fantastic programme of events.

We look forward to sharing all the news from Black History Month on our school website and Vaughan social media.