Mathematical Mysteries and Merry Mayhem in the LRC

During the last two weeks of term Year 7s have enjoyed solving mathematical mysteries and

creating merry mayhem in the LRC. They have been hunting for clues to help them solve the

mystery of the name of Mrs Abrams’ Labrador dog, exercising information literacy skills and skills

in the areas of numeracy, logic and problem-solving. The search was on for a ‘vulgar’ title on the

fiction shelf (Joanne Harris’ Five Quarters of an Orange) and an information book whose author has a

passion for alliteration (Fascinating Fibonaccis). Mental arithmetic was required after looking at a

copy of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on the display board – how many full years

have passed since its adoption in December 1948? The hunt took girls to every nook and cranny in

the LRC. A highlight was the attempt to build a tall tower of (discarded) books within the time limit of a

minute, and to measure the volume.

Girls had the opportunity to illustrate the Beauty of Mathematics in a photograph which illustrated

symmetry, or a mathematical poem; girls learned that both Mathematics and Poetry require economy

and precision, and that each perspective may enhance the other.

Our Champion Tower Builders (with a volume of over 20,000 cubic cm!) were Khadeejah 7COL & Jessica

7R; our Super Sleuths (who guessed the elusive name of the dog – Toffee) were Ruby 7COP & Amber 7COL,

and Hollyann 7R & Hannah 7P. Lexi in 7COP takes the prize for her beautiful photograph of the

symmetrical leaf while Isla in 7P has written a clever palindrome.

Leaning Tower…

Whoa…. Oh No!

What’s the verdict, Mr King?!

E V E RY G I R L - E V E RY DAY

12 July 2019

Isla’s Mathematical Palindrome

This poem shows two different people’s

views and thoughts about Maths

Maths

It is

Confusing

It is not

Enjoyable

It is

A challenge:

Not

Fun

Most say that it’s

Boring and hard

It is not

Wrong

To say that. Is

Your reasoning

Bad, I hear you say? No!

MATHS!!!

It is

A struggle

Is it not?

(Now read the poem from the bottom to

the top to see the other person's view…)

Lexi, 7COP – Symmetrical Summer Leaf

10N – TOILETRY TRIUMPH!

10N enjoyed an ice-cream and sweet treat on Wednesday as a mini-reward for their amazing efforts in

collecting 101 toiletry items for the Croydon Refugee Day Centre. The Staff followed closely behind

with 96 items and 7COP with 50. Thanks to the Amnesty group for their vision and organization.

Mrs Abrams will be visiting the Centre during the summer armed with toiletries and ‘welcome’

messages.

E V E RY G I R L - E V E RY DAY 12 July 2019

Reading & Rights – Eye Opening

I loved this human rights project as it opened my eyes to some of the issues people face due to voicing their

thoughts, feelings and opinions. Perceptive words from one of our Year 9 girls reflecting on this term’s cross-

curricular project which involved reading two novels through a ‘human rights lens’. During the final

Year 9 presentations on 4 July, our judge, Dan Jones from Amnesty International, gave flesh to those

words when he told us the story of Kim Dae Jung, a South Korean politician who was sentenced to

death in 1980 for a peaceful protest against the military coup. Amnesty and other pressure groups

campaigned vigorously on his behalf; in 1981 Kim’s death sentence was commuted. He was elected

President in 1997. When Dan’s group travelled to South Korea to join in the celebrations, President

Kim, noticing that Dan was wearing the Amnesty logo, said: You saved my life! He gave Dan his

(engraved) watch as a gift, which he still wears with honour today.

Our nine presenters, Anjali, India, Orrin, Eleanor, Maddie, Empress, Saathana, Abi and Varjitha, spoke

passionately about their novels which were, respectively, After the Fire , Ruby Red, Fire Colour One,

Looking for JJ, Oranges are not the Only Fruit, Maggot Moon, On the Come Up, Saint Death and Things a

Bright Girl Can Do; these featured human rights issues ranging from racism to LGBTQ rights to women’s

suffrage. Congratulations to Eleanor and India who took the top prizes. Hopefully all the Year 9s

benefited in having their reading horizons stretched, and an increased understanding of how stories

can bring about tolerance and reconciliation.

E V E RY G I R L - E V E RY DAY 12 July 2019