The Beacon School Africa Week 2009 (23^rd-27^th November).

The aim of the week was to raise student awareness of African culture, traditions, political and geographical features as well as to promote international awareness, cultural diversity and community cohesion. The Beacon School has partner schools in Uganda and one in Rwanda and it was this link that inspired the event.

Across the curriculum, all subjects made a contribution, for example, in Maths, students used Egyptian multiplication methods and the Yoruba number system and in Science they studied biodiversity in Africa and compared and contrasted habitats from different regions. There were also numerous extra-curricular activities, including the opportunity to meet an African python, learn Afrikaans and cook a Moroccan dish. An African music and dance group performed a number of traditional dances from across Africa and the school canteen provided a range of African cuisine to tempt the palate throughout the week.

The Beacon School students have also filled 'Aquaboxes' to send to areas of need in Africa, working with the local Rotary Club. An Aquabox is a large plastic container that provides clean drinking water as it comes with a filter and purification tablets. It is sent out to Africa filled with valuable goods such as clothing, tools and household items which are then distributed before it fulfils its prime function.  Students  bought the boxes with money raised during a sponsored run and then collected a large number of items over a three week period. These will be of real benefit to remote African communities. As one student said, 'It's nice to know that the boxes are valuable in two ways.'