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Amelia Thane's recrea ti on of Pandora’s Box for the Ovid Project
1 ‐ 2 Eleanor Dale, Amélie Old fi eld and Harriet Old fi eld uncovered fossils during their trip to Whitby
CLASSICS
Language, Legacy, and Lifelong Curiosity At Queen’s, our Classics programme o ff ers pupils an inspiring window into the ancient world — exploring the stories, people, and artefacts that have shaped modern civilisa ti on. This year has been fi lled with opportuni ti es to bring history to life, from archaeological discoveries and crea ti ve compe titi ons to hands ‐ on workshops and fossil ‐ fi nding adventures. The site of our new Astroturf pitch proved to be an un ‐ expected classroom when archaeologists unearthed an array of historical treasures beneath the surface. Classicists and historians from the Senior School were invited to meet the lead archaeologist and examine the fascina ti ng fi nds, which included Roman ti les, medieval po tt ery, animal bones, and even ancient coins — remnants of Chester’s vibrant past as a port city. To the pupils’ amazement, the dig also revealed a ti me capsule, buried by Queen’s pupils and sta ff in the year 2000. Unearthed a ft er 25 years, the capsule o ff ered a curious and charming glimpse into school life at the turn of the millennium, featuring everything from ti metables and photos to coins, clothing, and an old ‐ school casse tt e tape. These relics are now preserved in the Queen’s Archives, a new chapter in our school’s ongoing story. Adventuring into the city of Chester, Year 3 pupils immersed themselves in the world of the Romans during an ac ti on ‐ packed day of learning and explora ti on. Led by their very own Roman soldier, the girls traced the footsteps of ancient ci ti zens through the city’s streets, visi ti ng the Roman bank, the amphitheatre, and even spo tti ng columns hidden beneath Prét a Manger. The adventure con ti nued at the Senior School, where the girls inves ti gated Roman domes ti c
life through archaeological evidence from Pompeii, before crea ti ng vibrant mosaics inspired by the myth of Perseus and Medusa. Crea ti vity and curiosity fl ourished as Year 7 pupils took part in the na ti onal Ovid Project. Responding to the myths of Metamorphoses through art, wri ti ng and anima ti on, the girls produced an impressive range of imagina ti ve work. Special congratula ti ons go to Thea Teese , who won the na ti onal prize for crea ti ve wri ti ng with her powerful retelling of Eurydice’s failed rescue, and to Amelia Thane , Poppy Binks , and Beatrice O'Brien , who were all recognised as na ti onal fi nalists for their crea ti ve interpreta ti ons of Pandora’s Box and the myth of Persephone. A wonderful celebra ti on of literary fl air, storytelling and a passion for the ancient world. Meanwhile, budding palaeontologists have been eagerly exploring the ancient world beyond the curriculum. Eleanor Dale in Year 3, Amélie Old fi eld in Year 4, and Harriet Old fi eld in Year 6 travelled to Whitby, where they uncovered some impressive ammonite fossils — including one so large it had to be cracked open to reveal the treas ‐ ure inside. Their discoveries sparked fascina ti on among classmates and deepened their apprecia ti on for the prehistoric wonders beneath our feet. Rooted in language, myth, and material culture, Classics at Queen’s con ti nues to foster intellectual curiosity, cri ti cal thinking, and crea ti ve expression — reminding us that the legacy of the past is not only alive, but thriving in the minds
of our pupils.
Year 3 enjoyed an immersive Roman Day in Chester
The dig for the School's new Astroturf pitch revealed a ti me capsule from the year 2000
Pupils examined historical treasures that were unearthed during the Astroturf pitch dig
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