News
Valentine's Day Assembly
15th February 2008Form 8B treated us all to an interesting and joyful assembly on this 'romantic' day! They gave a short talk on the gifts that are usually given on Valentine's Day, such as chocolate - this produces natural hormones e.g. endorphins which make us feel happy and content. The red rose, another symbol of love and deep emotions probably originates from Christ's crucifixion as it is alleged that where Jesus' blood dripped onto the ground a red rose grew and blossomed.
The pupils also gave a summary of the history behind the day. They told us that Valentine's Day is the second largest card sending and receiving day each year only surpassed by Christmas. One billion valentine cards are sent each year. The first written valentine was attributed to a young Frenchman, Charles, Duke of Orleans. From his confinement in the Tower of London after the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, Charles fought his lonely confinement by writing romantic poems or rhymed love letters to his wife in France. About sixty of them remain, these can be seen among the royal papers in the British Museum. During the seventeenth century people made their own valentines using original verse or poems copied from booklets with appropriate verse. The Victorians took the cards to elaborate lengths, trimming them with lace, silks and satins and embellishing them with special details like feathers, flowers, cupids and hearts, gold leaf, hand painted details and even sweetly perfumed sachets. Manufactured valentine's cards didn't appear until the end of the 19th century.
At the start of February the class had organised a
Valentine's Card
competition. They had a large entry to judge and prizes were awarded as part of their assembly: Ben Beaton (8E) was third,
Felicity and Abigail Squires (9W) were joint second,
and Lucy Gifford (9W) was awarded first prize.
8B finished their presentation with this prayer:
Almighty God, whose love has sent his Son into the world to be our light of perfect love, please grant me the best of your gifts, the power to win love. Fill my heart with love for others, that it may draw love unto itself. Set me free from selfish cares that I may have time and thoughts for them. Bless me, that I receive love by the loving service that I give. Amen.
Lucy is pictured here holding her prize winning card in front of some of the other entries.
