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In the UK, during the month of October, we celebrate the contribution of black people. It is a time to explore, highlight and praise the lives and stories of people who came to Britain in the 19th and 20th centuries and helped to lay the foundations of the diverse British communities that we have today.

At SMC we divided the month of October into four different categories, to enable us to look at a wide range of people. Our categories were:

1. Science and Medicine

2. Arts, Culture & Politics

3. Music

4. Sport

Within these categories, each year group had the opportunity to look at a number of well known icons from the past as well as those alive today e.g.

Year R - Daniel Hale Williams , Laura Henry-Allain /Floella Benjamin & Nina Simone/ Andre Watts

Year 1 - Prof Kathleen Adebola Okikiolu, Margaret Busby & Joan Armatrading

Year 2 - Mary Seacole & other women from the book Great Women who Changed the World

Year 3 - Mae Jemison, Edmonia Lewis & The London Community Gospel Choir

Year 4 - Mary Seacole, Malorie Blackman & Dr Shirley Thompson

Year 5 - Katherine G. Johnson, Maya Angelou & Aretha Franklin

Year 6 - Dr. Maggie Aderin-Pocock, Benjamin Zephaniah, Diane Abbott, & Bob Marley

Whilst some of these icons are American, the children have thoroughly enjoyed learning about them.

• Additional Information If you are interested in finding out more, please visit the following:

• Up coming events Our coverage of history and the arts also aims to look at the culture of our whole SMC family. Our next event will celebrate Diwali.. We have invited a West End performer to teach the children about the story of Ramayana on Thursday 8th November. Please look out for videos of the children participating in the workshops.