On Thursday 25th April, St Edward’s had a very special visit from staff at Peel Ports. Lisa, Freya, Paul and Tony gave an assembly to the whole school teaching pupils more about local industry and how goods are imported (and exported) from the very busy port in Sheerness. It was amazing to learn about the kinds of goods which arrive on our shores before being distributed around the country, as well as how staff are used, in many different ways, to guide the ships into port; unload the containers; use the cranes and mechanical equipment as well as how they look after one another. 
 

After the assembly, Years 1, 4 and 5 were lucky enough totake part in workshops with the Peel Port staff. Year 1 loved the interactive activities that showed them more about what is imported and how it is transported around the country. They tried on PPE equipment and learnt more about how to keep yourself safe whilst working in the port. 

Years 4 and 5 learnt all about the journey of bananas across the world, into Sheerness. Each ship that arrives, carries about 80 million bananas! Later this term, pupils will be heading to the port to have a look around for themselves. 

The Chiquita banana company, who are based in Sheerness Port, donated 400 bananas to the school community, along with many other goodies, including aprons, pens, inflatable bananas, and shopping bags. Peel Port also very kindly gave a gift of balls to the classes for their playtime boxes. The bananas were gratefully received by parents and families at the end of the school day.

We have really enjoyed having members of the port community to visit St Edward’s and we are looking forward to visiting them and learning even more about our local area!

On Wednesday 17 April, St Edmund’s Secondary in Dover were delighted to welcome Diocesan Schools Commissioner, Angela Cox, and Episcopal Vicar for Education, Canon Victor Darlington, (pictured below with Headteacher Gráinne Parsons and the school’s Student Leadership Team). Students led discussions about the school’s values and local community.

Thanet based St Augustine's College Alumni are publishing their historic school archive online from Monday 15th April. 

The archive includes all of the Alumni's school magazines, going back to the very first edition published in the Winter of 1886, up to when the school closed in 1995; together with a number of other books and documents, such as Monastic and Scholastic Century and school prospectuses. 

The magazines, which were mainly written by the pupils of their time, depict life through the eyes of those who attended this Benedictine School, with diaries and reports of activities, and there are some fascinating stories to read including school life in the late Victorian reign through two World Wars, right up to the 1990s.

Commenting on the publication of the archive, Andrew Sharp, Chair of the Old Augustinians said:
“The project to digitise and publish our archive provides a wonderful opportunity to share our history with the public and to those interested in Catholic School History.” 

With the archive being published on Monday 15 April, Andrew went on to say, “We hope it will be of interest, not only to those who were connected in some way with the school and the local community, but to those interested in Catholic School life through the years - it is very much part of our Catholic and local history and heritage.”

You can view the archive here from Monday 15 April.

For further details, please contact the Chairman, Andrew Sharp on 07920 424990 or by email:  oldaugustinians@gmail.com

For more information about the Old Augustinians, please visit their website www.oldaugustinians.org.uk