Comenius

We are very proud that our school has again had our grant from the European union renewed for an International Educational Programme, involving schools from four other European countries. After 10 years of international partnership work, we now have links with a village school in Voutezac, in France; Sykkylven in Norway; Rethymno on the island of Crete, Greece, and Sarriske Dravce in Slovakia.  Current studies are focusing on the ways in which each country deals with its waste, including visits to landfill sites.

The project also involves a whole range of activities over a 3 year period including:  joint research; videos made by the children which are exchanged; teaching each other traditional dances/songs; exploring human rights; ecological and literary issues/themes etc.  With the Internet, faxing, letter writing and sometimes personal contact, the children will learn about Europe through their relationships with the Greek, Slovakian, Norwegian and French children and the commonality of their childhood experiences.

As well as the enormous academic benefits for the children, the staff will also have opportunities to extend their skills through a programme of inservice and visits to each other’s schools.  Last June, some of the children and staff visited Norway to join the rest of the Comenius partners, and before Christmas we were hosts to the Comenius visitors from our partner schools.