BVS Links With Gwali School in South Africa
Just before half term one of our governors, Mrs Pat Scrimshaw, visited South Africa to find out about their education system and to work with some of the more remote schools. Whilst there, she took the opportunity to link BVS with a small Primary School in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The aim being to undertake joint curriculum activities that will enhance children’s learning in both countries.
Gwali Primary School is located in the Tyume Valley, about two hour’s car drive from East London Airport on the coast. It has 118 students aged between 5 and 13 years. There are four teachers and they have one vacant post. The Principal of the school is Mr Joe Peta. Surrounded by beautiful and natural vegetation, leading to a nearby forest, the school is situated close to the kraal of Chief Amagwali’s house. Next to the School is a big dam.
It is hoped that the joint work between Gwali Primary School and BVS will result in a successful application to the British Council for a grant to enable two teachers from each school to make a short visit to the other. Such visits will extend the knowledge and understanding of the children in the two schools in addition to the visiting teachers. We hope this will be a wonderful learning experience for everyone concerned!
International School Award
BVS is celebrating! We have been given the prestigious DfES International School Award.
A high profile awards ceremony was held in London hosted by the broadcaster Jonathan Dimbleby.
Mr Dunkley is currently organising our very proactive International Group, and as one BVS pupil stated, "I want to find out how it’s possible to be creative with a school in another part of the world.”
Nathan, Harry, Sam & Reece have produced a BearWaves Report about Black History Month. Click here to find out more.
Global Schools Meeting Minutes (8/1/07)
Attendees: Mr Dunkley, Chris Rowlinson (Y6) Nathan Bramble (Y6) Kowshika Pathmanathan (Y5) Carrie White (Y6) Josh Oakey (Y6) Sophie White (Y5) Ryan Jeavons (Y5) Victoria Wood (Y6) Amelia Smith (Y6) Matthew York (Y5) Patrick Woodington (Y5) Apologies: Dianna Moylan
Items outstanding from previous minutes • Mr Dunkley thanked all group members for their assistance in producing and presenting presentations in assembly based around landfills and their impact on the environment. Streetcare • Now that the Streetcare problem reporting sheets have been designed and printed off, Global Schools Council members need to feedback to all year groups about the purpose of the sheets, what they are to be used for and how to fill them in. Badges • Before the next meeting the members of the group were advised that they would need to meet to choose the winning design for the Global Schools Council badge competition. Spirit of the Trees 2012 • After going through a flyer sent to the group by Mrs Kennington the group agreed to do some research into how the school could get involved in the proposed Olympic Games project. Competition • Following a lack of entries for the groups competition based upon the idea: “What would the world look like if the polar ice-caps melted?” the meeting decided to extend the date for handing in entries following re-publicising the competition and what entries needed to achieve to win. • Members were asked to inform their own year groups.
Global Schools Meeting Minutes (13/11/06)
Attendees: Mr Dunkley, Chris Rowlinson (Y6) Nathan Bramble (Y6) Kowshika Pathmanathan (Y5) Carrie White (Y6) Josh Oakey (Y6) Sophie White (Y5) Ryan Jeavons (Y5) Victoria Wood (Y6) Amelia Smith (Y6) Matthew York (Y5) Apologies: Patrick Woodington (Y5) & Dianna Moylan
Items outstanding from previous minutes • Chris, Nathan & Josh were asked to investigate the Streetcare report sheets i.e. to ensure that each year group has one in its shared area. • All attendees were asked to make sure that they asked year group teachers to have time to feedback the minutes of previous meetings to other classes.
Badge Designs • All designs are now in and a winner will be voted for by the council at our next meeting. • Mr Dunkley will then attempt to have the badges made up and distributed to individual members so that children around the school know who they are.
Global Warming • As part of the assembly done by Mr Dunkley, council members were asked to look into creating further presentations about the impact of waste and recycling on the environment. • The presentations need to be easily understood by all year groups and will have the following themes: • Micro-chipped Wheely Bins • Landfill Sites • Presentations are due before the next meeting and will be shown in assembly, presented by the children themselves.
Competition • To raise further awareness of issues arising from global warming, the council members decided to run a competition based upon the idea: “What would the world look like if the polar ice-caps melted?” • The children have been asked to develop posters, to be placed around the school, informing everyone of the details with some guidance on how to win / send in their entries. • Draft posters should be submitted to Mr Dunkley before final development and placement around the school.
A.O.B. • The next meeting for Global School Council will be on 8.1.07 • An assembly will be held on Friday, 1st December to explain developments so far.
Global Schools Meeting Minutes (9/10/06)
Attendees: Mr Dunkley, Chris Rowlinson (Y6) Nathan Bramble (Y6) Kowshika (Y5) Carrie White (Y6) Josh Oakey (Y6) Sophie White (Y5) Ryan Jeavons (Y4) Victoria Wood (Y6) Matthew York (Y4) Apologies:Dianna Moylan
Introduction • The new members were introduced to the existing Streetcare members. Current Streetcare members then updated the meeting as to what they had achieved last year and what the purpose of their roles was previously. • Mr Dunkley then informed the meeting of its new emphasis i.e. a more ‘global’ focus aimed at building links with other schools across the world.
International Schools Award • As part of the work done by the school over the last year we have been awarded the DfES International School Award for the international dimension to our studies. • The award is a major success for the school and recognition for all the hard work that the teachers and pupils put in over the last twelve months.
Badge Designs • In order to make sure that the representatives of the Global Schools Council can be identified in the schools by the other children they were asked to come up with a design for a badge. • All members have until the next meeting to come up with their designs which are to be returned to Mr Dunkley.
A.O.B. • Chris, Nathan & Josh were asked to investigate the Streetcare report sheets i.e. to ensure that each year group has one in its shared area.
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