A group of Year 9 students, accompanied by Mr Kelly, Ms Hope and Miss Burns, visited Leeds Jewish Free School in May. Staff and students spent the morning together learning more about each other’s faiths and their experiences in our two schools. We met the school’s headteacher, Mrs Kelsey and Rabbi Topp and joined students on a tour of the school. Year 9 student journalist, Niamh, tells the story of the day.
Recently, a group of Year 9s visited Leeds Jewish Free School. The school was much smaller than ours but even though it was smaller, everyone there was very friendly and proud of their school community.
When we arrived, some of the students gave us a tour around the school. They showed us their classrooms, prayer areas, and shared information about what school life is like for them. It was interesting to see the differences between their school and ours, especially how important religion and tradition are in their daily routines.
During the visit, we also met Rabbi Topp. He spoke to us about Judaism, Jewish traditions, and the importance of community and respect. He answered our questions and explained some religious practices that many of us had never learned about before. It was a really informative experience and helped us understand more about Jewish culture and beliefs.
After the tour and discussion, we took part in some ice-breaker games with the students. One of the games was “What Biscuit Would You Be?”, where everyone had to choose a biscuit that matched their personality. It was funny and helped get to know each other better.
We also played a game called Splat, which was fast-paced and competitive. Everyone enjoyed it, and it created a lot of laughter and teamwork between both schools.
Overall, the visit was enjoyable, educational, and a great opportunity to meet new people. We learned a lot about Judaism and experienced a different school environment while having fun at the same time and can’t wait to welcome them to our school.
