Call: 0121 472 8000 • email: info@westhillendowment.org
Dear God...
“The ocean is like God and raindrops are the religion. When they fall into the ocean they become one.”
Zoya Ahmed and Nurun Uddin

Our Project:  The  ‘Aspire’  Project



Background to the Project:

In the spring of 2009 an idea about combining an Art with an RE project formed and led to discussions with the local vicar about creating  banners on an Easter theme. Luckily, it was a year when the term time dates meant we were in school for Easter week and therefore a service was relevant to the pupils for Holy Week. This idea was shared with the staff and 12 ft banners made from wall paper that were distributed  to each teacher for decoration.  Parallel to this was each class studying  the Christian Easter story in detail from the entry into Jerusalem to the arrest in the garden of Gethsemane.

By the end of March each of the ten classes were creating the banners  to hang in the Local Parish church. The theme for most classes was one snap shot of Easter, although Foundation and Yr 1 developed bible story themes that fitted in with their child initiated learning, Noah’s ark and Adam and Eve. Every child was encouraged to contribute ideas and the final banners hung a week before Easter for a school service.

The arches between the pillars had been measured and fitted with wooden rails from which the banners hung. They created a wall of colour to one side of the transept and turned a formal church setting into a vibrant, modern art gallery. Many families and the Wickwar community visited the church to see the banners and the special atmosphere they had created throughout  the Easter week.

For me the outcome was that the pupils ‘buzzed’ with seeing their art work come to life and it made the Easter story more relevant to their lives in thinking whether Jesus was special to them. Key questions included:  Had God sent his only son? Did Jesus die so that we might live? How could God let his only son be killed? Had we captured one of the most famous events in the New Testament?

A month later the school entered and won a Spirited Arts prize and were featured in RE today magazine.

From this a project came to life ... see 'our progress' page.
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