Perse extra-curricular clubs and activities prevail despite lockdown
15 Jan 2021
Extra-curricular clubs and activities for pupils are continuing to thrive at The Perse in spite of another national Covid-19 lockdown.
Although the school is closed to all pupils except those within the critical worker and vulnerable children programme, the shutdown has not stopped a wide range of groups and societies at the Upper from carrying on.
Despite being unable to get together in person, staff and students have rapidly adapted many existing lunchtime and after-school clubs into a remote format so they can still meet and explore their hobbies and interests virtually.
Staying physically active is vital, so there are regular online hockey and netball skills clubs and live dance classes, as well as weekly challenges with the Couch to 5k running group, while after-school yoga sessions on Fridays provide the perfect way for pupils to unwind at end of the week.
Perse outdoor pursuits staff will also be putting together a weekly focus video, available to members of all their different clubs, to give students a great chance to find out more about the skills and experiences they might need for future activities.
Musicians will still strike a chord with a range of regular ensembles and workshops taking place, and actors get to shine with the Middle School Drama Company continuing their rehearsals for an online performance and the latest Perse Players project getting under way next week.
Pupils will have the opportunity to be creative in the kitchen with an online Cooking Club, while many societies and activities from general knowledge and geography debating to Model United Nations and Mandarin continue digitally.
Groups aimed at improving matters for others, such as our Charities Committees, Green Team and Student Council, also remain very active.
House events will continue to run, with competitions in photography, crafts, public speaking and a Missing Maps mapathon, where students can use house hashtags to earn points while also making a wider impact through identification of unmapped buildings.
The Year 11 enrichment programme will also resume from Friday 22 January, allowing students to continue developing the skills they have been learning, whether cooking up new recipes, taking eye-catching photographs, planning for expeditions or analysing graphic novels.
Richard Morgan, Assistant Head (Operations and Outreach), who oversees extra-curricular clubs and societies, said: “The students and staff at The Perse are a really active and busy community and collectively they manage to achieve a huge amount alongside their academic studies. It is a mark of their dedication and enthusiasm that we are seeing so many clubs and societies continue in a digital format.
“It makes such a huge difference for students to know that they still have the chance to get stuck into the things they love doing. As well as the inherent enjoyment they have, the students get to maintain social interactions that centre upon shared interest, something that is vital for their wellbeing.”
For the full programme of remote clubs and societies, please click here.
