VE Day at Swanmore College

We have been busy commemorating 80 years since VE Day this week.

Year 7 Field Party

We started on Wednesday, with Year 7 enjoying their own wartime field party, complete with an exciting Enigma Machine escape room challenge!

Music for the field party was provided by the Chamber Choir, who sang wartime songs.

Image shows the College's Chamber Choir singing under the trees at the edge of the school field accompanied by Miss Shaw

The rest of the school took part in a VE Day Connect activity, and across all year groups, pupils explored how each subject played a role in WWII through special themed lesson starters.

80th Anniversary Celebrations around the College

Today, the History corridor and Humanities department was transformed, proudly decorated in red, white, and blue for the occasion. At midday, the whole school came together to observe the national 2-minute silence, honouring the bravery and sacrifice of those who served. Followed by taking a step back in time for lunch, with the canteen serving traditional VE Day favourites like corned beef hash and spam, with staff dressed to impress and 1940s music playing throughout the day.

Image shows the Humanities corridor decorated for VE Day Anniversary celebrations with red, white and blue streamers, poppies, photographs and posters.

Image shows the S-block landing railings decorated with a union jack, 80th Anniversary banner, and union jack bunting.

Image shows the Corn Beef Hash available in the Swan Cafe

Image shows a pupil holding the cupcakes decorated for the VE Day celebrations available from the Swan Cafe.

Image shows pupils ordering food from the Swan Cafe staff, who were dressed union jack hats, and played 1940s music throughout service

Haiku poems

In English classes, pupils in Year 8 were creating haiku* poems to commemorate the end of WW2 in Europe. They were very proud of their word choices.

Echoes of Victory

Peace bloomed in silence
Flags wave where the guns once roared
Victory echoes

Tears fall and hearts live
The war's shadow starts to fade
Hope walked through the streets

Church bells fill the sky
Strangers dance with open arms
Freedom finds its voice

Graves in quiet rows
Reminds us what peace costs
We remember them

Tanisha, Andi and Nellie Y8

Flags wave in the air
The once-bare streets filled with chairs
The dared now are spared

The bow to the crowd
The loud sound filling the air
The Sobs fill within

Grace E and Zoe P

Tears stream down my face
If only I was happy
But that's not the case

The smell of hope lingers
The bitter taste of war gone
All the air is clear

Taylor S, Elsie L + Dora W Y8

Party in the streets
Celebrations around me
War is now over

Cheers from the people
Laughter and tears fill me ears
Music blasts around

Joy and love fill me
Yet tears still fall shamelessly
Peace is now at home

Baked goods and sweet treats
Drinking all day and all night
Mixed scents all around

Remember the gone
The real heroes are now lost
Peace for the country

Isabella C and Rosie S Y8

*A haiku is a short, non-rhyming poem. The structure of a haiku in English typically follows a three-line, 5-7-5 syllable pattern.

The end of the day

To close the celebrations, pupils gathered at 3 pm to listen to Winston Churchill’s historic VE Day speech, broadcast at that very hour on 08 May 1945, marking the end of WWII in Europe.

A truly memorable and meaningful day of reflection, learning, and celebration for our school community.

Image shows a life size photograph of Winston Churchill and words from his speech, with more Union Jack bunting at the end of the S-block Humanities corridor.

Image shows pupils ordering from our fantastic kitchen staff who dressed up for the day.

Image shows the Humanities staff dressed up to celebrate

Image shows VE Day bunting that was used on the school field during the field party for Year 7s.

Image shows Mr Valentine dressed in a blue suit with a Union Jack tie, top hat, glasses and flag.

Image shows the Spam poster in the Swan Cafe - pupils could ask to try Spam

Image shows the display board that was in the S-block lobby showing stories and photos from VE Day, 80 years ago.