International Women’s Day Assembly at Berwick Grammar School

Our recent assembly at Berwick Grammar School celebrated International Women’s Day.  We started with a speech by Ms Chazbek (pictured) – Head of English across St Margaret’s and Berwick Grammar School.  She spoke about what International women’s Day means to her – as a daughter, and as a mother.  With a traditional upbringing, Ms Chazbek showed appreciated for all that women have achieved and the opportunities available to herself and her daughters today.  She celebrated their sass and spunk and the value of family.

Then five boys spoke about women who inspired them.  Jeremy Mohanraj of Year 8 spoke of tennis superstar Billie Jean King who was not only a great of the game, but an activist for the equal recognition of women’s sport.  Max Walton-Briggs of Year 11 acknowledged the contribution of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg for the legal rights of women today.  Declan Coleman of Year 8 introduced us to Queen Anastasia of the micronation Ruritania, who opened her borders to refugees – an interesting story none had heard before. Trent Mitchell of Year 11 revealed that actress Hedy Lamarr was an inventor as well as a pin up girl, while Oliver Ward reminded us of how active actress Emma Watson has been in campaigning for women’s rights issues and for advocating the power of reading.

Ms Cook finished the assembly by reminding us all of the conditions of women in other places in the world who don’t have the freedoms she herself experiences.  She also reminded us that as good men, we all work together for human rights everywhere.

Ms Lauren Cook
Head of Senior Boys, Wellbeing