SUMMERBRIDGE Community Primary School has come to the end of a successful two-year project linking them with schools in Turkey and Germany.
The Comenius Project, funded by the British Council, was a two-year plan looking at environmental awareness and sharing strategies between pupils and staff across Europe
The project was initiated by one of the teachers, Philip Salisbury, who atten
ded an initial meeting in Istanbul 2 years ago. Over the two-year period, Summerbridge teaching staff visited the partner schools in Berlin, Istanbul and Trabzon to experience and learn about other educational and cultural environments.
All the staff in the school contributed to the success of the project.
Recently Summerbridge School hosted a week’s visit for nine members of staff from the partner schools. They met the children, parents, staff and governors, experienced teaching and learning methods in the classroom and visited local cultural areas, including Fountains Abbey, Ripley Castle, and Brimham Rocks.
A special formal celebration day was held, attended by the Mayor of Harrogate Councillor Pat Jones and her Consort, Councillor Les Ellington, representatives from North Yorkshire Children and Young People’s Services and School Governors. The visitors were given mementos of their visit, and this was reciprocated by the visitors who presented the Mayor and school with gifts from their home countries.
A commemorative magnolia tree was planted in the school grounds, and the children showed their maypole dancing skills, and also sang a song in English, German and Turkish composed specially for the occasion.
A barbecue that evening was attended by the visitors, staff, school children, parents and governors, and was hugely enjoyable, with lively contributions from Dacre & Summerbridge Prize Band, the PRATS Long Sword Dancers, and traditional musicians.
“One of our Year 6 pupils described it as ‘an awesome experience’”, said Head Teacher Angela Mundy, “and I have to agree – the whole week was a marvellous experience, but that day in particular was the most magical day of my teaching career.
“For me, it demonstrated what the curriculum is all about – all of the school, the stakeholders and beyond combining to create success.”
Angela Mundy was particularly moved by the way the children were eager to share their pride in their school and their culture with the visitors.
“It was an emotional and inspirational experience for everyone involved”, she said, “the visitors were able to experience the relationships and interactions between staff and pupils, as well as our whole teaching and learning environment which is quite different from the practices in Germany and Turkey.”
