Students and staff branched out from their usual class schedule on Sunday to explore other avenues during Putney Excel’s Special Passion Day. This break from the ordinary allowed students and teachers alike to check out another area of expertise and sample the talents of their friends and colleagues.
One group of athletically-inclined students took to the field for British Sports Day in which they played croquet, football (the World Cup version, not American), ran a mile to test their endurance, and learned about traditional British sports like cricket. The day ended with a tense Wimbledon watching session so the students could rest up before the evening’s festivities.
Another crew explored the wonderful world of music through “Sound Painting” an intricate marriage of sign language, vocalization, singing, and acting. The students spent all day learning some of the thousands of signs used by the Sound Painting conductor and prepared a breathtaking presentation for the evening’s Coffeehouse talent show.
Music fans who craved a more historical approach learned about British music and its roots, influences on American music, and origins of favourite bands with British Music Day. Beatles-lovers faced off against Rolling Stones fanatics, Blur followers took on Oasisheads, and everyone heard British music samples before conducting polls in Oxford music stores about current favourites. The day ended with a tour of
Radiohead’s stomping grounds, an Oxford original that became a worldwide phenomenon.For the more aesthetically-inclined, students could choose to participate in Putney’s own “Project Putney,” a fashion-centered day modelled after the popular show, “Project Runway.” Students met in the morning to learn about British fashion through the ages and discuss the socioeconomic factors that influenced what people wear, and how that continues today. After taking to the streets to observe British fashion in Oxford’s town center, participants paired off to shop for materials to create their own British fashion looks which they presented at Coffeehouse that evening.
Last but not least, some creative types spent the day writing letters and decorating envelopes to send to friends and family at home. Using paints, watercolors, glitter and other art supplies, students revived the art of letter writing and sewed their creations shut by hand with a lot of work and not a little love, creating a unique communication keepsake.
After a full day of unique learning experiences, students went out to dinner for the second and last Oxford dinner out, before the program’s first Coffeehouse talent exposition. All of Putney discovered the astonishing talent of all participants as the Sound Painters showcased their new skills, Project Putney participants strutted their stuff, and various staff and students read poetry, did magic tricks and contortionism, delivered monologues and sang karaoke to the delight of their eager audience.
One thing is for certain: no one gets bored with Putney Excel. From punting on the Thames to exploring the local shops and restaurants, to London excursions, Cotswolds adventures, theatre, music, and just lying on the lawn enjoying each other’s company, Putney participants squeeze excitement into every single second.
