Dear Parents and Carers,
We shall continue to face troubling times together, both around the United Kingdom and across the world. With that said, many public figures have drawn links between our current struggles and those our communities faced during the dark days of World War II.
It is, therefore, entirely fitting that we use the upcoming 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) day, on Friday, 8th May 2020, to reflect, remember and offer our thanks. This significant milestone provides not only our Trust and our community, but the nation and all our friends around the world, with an opportunity to reflect on the enormous sacrifice, courage and determination shown by people in all walks of life, who saw us through that terrifying period.
This year, more than ever, we think it is important to remember those that came before, and what they did for us and our families providing us with the freedoms which we enjoy today. It is particularly apt at this time to reflect, not only upon those who have gone before us, but also upon those key worker heroes, who are currently battling through this worrying and unprecedented time in our lives.
Although many planned VE Day celebrations will have had t be cancelled, following our Government’s guidelines, The Canterbury Academy Trust still wishes to celebrate and commemorate remotely across our community.
You will already be aware that the Trust is going to record a performance of Vera Lynn’s ‘We’ll Meet Again’ to commemorate the occasion. Through the performance, we are aiming to show our thanks for what we have and remember those whom we have lost, whilst maintaining positivity and the hope that, as a community, we will soon meet again.
The Heads of House and leads of our Pillars of Excellence in academic learning, practical learning, performing arts and sport, have planned a variety of competitions and activities for our students to take part in to celebrate VE Day, safely from their homes. These activities, competitions andresources can be found on Show My Homework, for The Canterbury Academy and Sixth Form students, and on email for The Canterbury Primary School students.
The competitions will allow students to gain achievement and dojo points, contributing towards the yearly house totals, for all entries. Competitions will be shared and go live on Friday, 8th May 2020, with entries to be submitted by Friday, 15th
May 2020.
There is a wide variety of activities on offer, from recreating the famous overhead kick by Pele in ‘Escape to Victory’, writing a speech to be delivered at a commemoration event and designing and creating bunting for your ‘at home’ VE Day celebrations, to composing morale boosting songs, writing poetry and creating artistic masterpieces. We really hope that there is something for everyone to enjoy as we commemorate together.
If families or individuals would like to share their entries, or examples of taking part in any VE Day celebrations, then please do send them to us by contacting:
- If you attend the Canterbury Primary School,
email cmay@canterbury.kent.sch.uk - If you are in Years 7 to 11 at The Canterbury
Academy, email headsofhouse@canterbury.kent.sch.uk - If you are in the Sixth Form at The Canterbury
Academy, email shadlow@canterbury.kent.sch.uk
We would love to share our VE Day celebrations across our Trust’s community. So, if you have the opportunity, please do join our social media platforms:
- You can follow us on Facebook by going to https://www.facebook.com/TheCanterburyAcademy/
- We are on Twitter too, go to https://twitter.com/CantAcadTrust
- And, our Instagram page is on https://www.instagram.com/the_canterbury_academy_trust/
Thank you, once again, for your continued support.
I very much look forward to celebrating the 75th anniversary of VE Day with you all.
With my very best wishes,
Jon Watson
Trust Executive Principal