Enrichment Days
In July each year Millthorpe holds a Community Cohesion Day for Year 7 students. The students learn about the people who have come to live in York from abroad and about their home countries. The project is based on the seven most represented countries in York:
Students are taught about the geography, history, religions, culture, food and people. Each of the Year 7 groups then produce a display about the country which they have studied.
Year 7 Community Cohesion Displays
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China |
India |
Nepal |
Pakistan |
Poland |
Slovak Republic |
Hungary |
Each Year Millthorpe holds an International Day for Year 7 and Year 8 students. Lessons are planned around a global theme and include Italian lessons, Hungarian cuisine, designing Venetian masks and Australian aboriginal art. Visitors from the Japanese society introduced students to aspects of Japanese culture such as wearing a kimono, origami and calligraphy. We also have a demonstration of Bhangra Dance and during the day students have the opportunity to join workshops which taught them the basic steps of Bhangra as well as learning about its origins, culture and the instruments used.
Millthorpe is heavily involved each year with Holocaust Memorial events. As well as a visit by Year 10 and Year 11 students to Auschwitz and Birkenau, Year 9 students also look at the life of Sophie School.
On 22 February 1943, 21 year old Sophie Scholl was executed by the Nazis. Along with her brother Hans and a small group of friends she had dared to stand up to their regime by publishing and distributing leaflets that called for the German people to stand up to the criminal Nazi system.
As part of our Holocaust Memorial activities all of our Year 9 classes take part in a session to learn about Sophie and her resistance movement "The White Rose". Students learn abour her family background and watch part of a film adaptation of her story as well as looking at extracts from the leaflets that were published and distributed by her group. Finally, Year 9 students imagine themselves as supporters of Sophie as she was awaiting trial by the Nazis and write to her whilst she is in prison. The letters are moving, poignant and speak for themselves:
"I know many people who think your courage is one in a million and believe you shouldn't have your life taken away from you. After all, we should all have freedom of speech".
"I cannot imagine the pain you must be going through. You are brave and I have so much respect for you".
I wish I had the courage to stand up to the Nazis. You will be remembered by all of us".
"It makes me sick to think that you are innocent and you are still being held. I believe that everything you've said in your leaflets is true which is why I'm going to carry on giving out the leaflets no matter what the consequences are".
"You are an inspiration to all German citizens, the Nazis are out of control and someone needs to put a stop to this madness".