On Friday 27th November four Heaton Students went to the Mosque to present Garden memorial decorations that had been made in our Art Room.These were presented by Vili to the President of the Mosque, Mohammed Jama. We were also welcomed to the Al Noor Mosque by Murray Stirling, the Treasurer and Tooba Habib, the Women's Coordinator.

Mrs Mundy and I took Grace, Anna, Vili from Art Extension and Adam from the Cultural Group to the Al Noor Mosque at Friday lunchtime. The idea to gift these ceramic pieces grew having worked with my friend Rebecca Parnham. Rebecca has been very involved with the Muslim community and has been creating a Unity Garden in the Red Zone. She came to Heaton to workshop some ideas for artworks for the garden with Art Extension and some of the Cultural Group. She mentioned how much the Muslim community loved the messages on stones that had been given to them. We discussed which messages had resonated most. 'We are one' was a firm favourite. This inspired Adam's Kiwi rock first, then we all thought carefully about the messages we would like to send. All the flowers printed in the clay came from the Heaton tribute flowers, which we had dried in the art room. Even the ribbon used to tie the Unity decoration was from a flower tribute. All the figures and hearts were made using Trade Aid crafts. Some of the pieces were made by individual students and some were collaborative. Each person also wrote a message under their ceramic 'rock'. Jasper room 19 was even inspired to make a plaque during Art Club. It was an absolute pleasure to be able to gift these works to the Mosque. It was inspiring to see how a place that had seen such terror now exuded peace and friendship again. Mrs Taylor

I felt extremely honoured to go and represent Heaton at the Al Noor Mosque. I am also extremely grateful for the great welcome that I experienced at the Mosque. While I was there I felt great pride because the people who were receiving the Ceramics were so grateful for them. One of the people at the Mosque made a heartwarming speech about how we are all the same no matter what skin colour, religion or your status may be. I shall carry this information through my life. The last thing that I enjoyed at the Mosque was then delicious VEGETABLE SAMOSA people at school missed out on.- Vili Room 5

I thought that the speech about how we were all equal no matter the gender, religion and skin colour was inspiring, important and completely true. Anna room 18

When I was at the Mosque, I felt honoured to be there and thankful that I got to go on this trip. I was proud and grateful when we saw the memorial and inside the Mosque, for the kind community there. When we were there, they showed us around the Mosque and were very welcoming. I was taking the photographs and there was a lot of smiling and thanking and I felt proud for being one of the people who made the clay bowls to give to the Muslim community. Grace Room 5

We were warmly welcomed to the Mosque by Adam’s father, Mohamed Abdrabou who greeted us outside. It was an honour to be invited into this special place of worship and hear about the core principles of Islam - love, belief, daily prayers, charity and fasting.

After seeing the prayer rooms we walked outside to the garden by the entrance to the mosque. A range of painted stones with messages of support lay scattered around. Here each artwork was carefully unwrapped and clearly appreciated by the men and women there. Each piece was then added to the stone garden beneath the roses.

I was impressed by the thought and detail that had gone into the art the students and Mrs Taylor had done. I especially liked how the flowers from our school memorial last year had been used to make permanent imprints in the clay and ceramic pieces.

We were then invited to have some wonderful homemade cooking from a lady selling food at the front of the mosque. This was paid for by the Mosque community. My vegetarian samosa was delicious.

It was emotional to read the beautiful plaque by the front gate which read ‘In memory of the 51 Shuhadah who lost their lives on the 15 March ‘We surely belong to Allah and to Him we shall return.’

It was truly a privilege to visit the mosque and show this community, who have been through so much, that we at Heaton still care and think about them. Well done to our wonderful Art Teacher Mrs Taylor, and to all the students involved.

Mrs Mundy

*************************************************************************************"T"There is a reward for being kind to every living thing". 

Prophet Muhammad.