Community Engagement
We have established an ongoing partnership with a number of community groups.
Our premier choir, the Shrewsbury House Prep School Singers, visit a local Care Homes where to sing carols at Christmas.
CONVERSION - The Lao Rugby Federation (LRF) youth development programme “Champa Ban” is providing the opportunity for over 2,000 girls and boys to get involved in a sport that promotes the values of 'Integrity, Discipline, Passion, Respect and Solidarity' both on and off the pitch.
Jazz Zone is a group dedicated to exposing young people to jazz music and developing their understanding and performing skills in the jazz genre. The group nurtures and develops both ensemble and improvising skills through rehearsing and performing a range of jazz music, including swing, bop, soul, funk and Latin styles. Students gain experience of a variety of ensemble settings: studio band, big band and small jazz combo. It is open to young people up to the age of 21 and each summer they use the Shrewsbury House School music facilities to host their course.
Aims
The aims of the care home visits are to bring about collaboration between different generations, where they can share experiences and learn from one another.
The project Manager for CONVERSION is a Shrewsbury House parent. The aim of the project has been to source and donate 500 pairs per year of used sports shoes to the boys and girls in Laos engaged in the Youth Rugby development programme.
The aim of Jazz Zone is to develop and nurture young people's interest in Jazz and help them develop their understanding of the genre, as well as, their performance skills.
Background
The care home partnership came about as our Director of Music took the opportunity for collaboration between the boys and the residents at the home. The residents really enjoy the boys singing to them and will often sing along.
The shoe recycling scheme ‘CONVERSION – a new life for old shoes’ was inspired by a visit from the youth team and staff from Laos Rugby, in 2015 when they took part in the “Touraid festival” and were hosted by Shrewsbury House School. With a third of the population of Laos surviving on less than £1 per day, the majority of children play in bare feet or in flip-flops on rough and stony ground which often leads to preventable injuries. Providing used sports shoes can prevent such injuries and help to boost and sustain participation.
The Jazz Zone partnership has come about through one of our Visiting Music Teachers, who is heavily involved in running Jazz Zone, as well as various Jazz and Brass Ensembles at school.
Resources
The main resources involved in care home visits are transport for groups between the Home and the School. The School facilities are also used to host History Talks.
The main resources involved in CONVERSION have been providing wheelie bins as drop off points for the donated shoes and posters and news articles on the School website to promote the campaign.
The School Music Department is used by the group each summer, for their course that lasts approximately one week.
Pupil Involvement
The pupils involved are all boys (we are an all boys school) and they are aged 7-13 years old.
The Jazz Zone course is open to all young people up to the age of 21.
Frequency
The activities vary but typically they take place annually.