Page 8 - link magazine

8 The virtual Link Magazine now online @ www.swindonlink.com

Bridlewood bonds with Belarus
Tailor-made
When Bridlewood Primary School teaching assistant, Chris Walls, asked if she could bring two
by SueLynn Belarussian children to work for the day in February, the result was a fun filled time and a fledgling
partnership with their school.
Headteacher Jane
Curtains
Rodbourn invited all
Pelmets 14 children visiting
Roman blinds the town from Belarus
to spend the day at her
Swags & tails school where they en-
Cushion covers joyed activities such as
decorating T shirts
No job too small and an ICT lesson.
For further information call Before the visit, Gin
McGiffin, chair of
Sue: 01793 870451 or
Chernobyl Children’s
Lynn: on 01793 330595 Life Line, had pre-
sented an assembly to
explain the hardships Children together from Belarus and Bridlewood
BLAYLOCKS of life in the country, Bridlewood has paid for Ozarichi Host families, child sponsors
particularly in the heavily radi-
SWINDON'S FAMILY ated Ozarichi area where the chil- School to have an internet connec- and funds are needed for the next
SHOE SHOP dren live. tion and the Belarus government group of children to visit. Call Gin
Est. 1920 “Language was a barrier but has given permission for two McGiffin on 728251 or mail:
Black, blue, red children’s innate kindness comes hours’ access to the web and e- [email protected]
or beige nubuck. through and they understood each mail each week. www.swindon.ccll.org.uk
Tan or pink other perhaps more than we real-
leather. ise,” said Mrs Rodbourn.
Sizes 36 - 43 Swindon teacher helps
£30 She hopes that the link will help
Black, tan, her pupils develop their under-
red or beige standing of the wider world. They Chinese get creative
leather. Renowned art teacher Mark Hazzard, headteacher at Windmill Hill
Sizes 36 - 43 have already raised money for Primary School, made a brief visit to China at the end of March to
£40 Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline with speak at a seminar for headteachers on creativity in education.
a non-uniform day and a bring-
Tel: 534271 and-buy toy sale; now the school Mark, whose art work with chil-
Bath Road Corner, Old Town council is discussing more ideas. dren at Windmill Hill has received
Money raised by Friends of national recognition, said the five
day trip arranged through the Brit-
ish Council focused on art across
the curriculum. “About 100 head-
Abbey Meads Village teachers from the Chongquing dis-
trict in South West China attended
Centre Elstree Way to discuss how the curriculum can
be broadened.
“At present their system is very
SUMMER conformist and education is seen
in terms of passing exams; crea-
SPECIAL FOR TWO tive ideas tend to be squashed.
Available from 8th May to 27th August Children are actually quite fright-
ened of their teachers who see their Mark Hazzard holding a framed print
Quarter Aromatic OR Satay Chicken on Skewers role as delivering knowledge while presented to him in China
Crispy Duck Crispy Seaweed & we see education as a process of between our child centred approach
Mini Spring Rolls engaging children in their learn- and their teacher led methods.
ing. But educationists there realise “They were also interested in our
Spicy Salt & Garlic OR Lemon Chicken
their society is changing and young pastoral care, but a primary school
Chicken Beef with
people are less compliant and ques- in China can have 2,000 children
tioning more. and heads are site managers.”
Green Peppers in Black Bean Sauce
“I spoke about how art can be Mark was invited to visit a pri-
Sweet & Sour Pork HK Style
used to stimulate and interest chil- mary school in Chongquing with a
Egg Fried Rice, Prawn Crackers & Fortune Cookies dren in all aspects of the curricu- strong reputation for its artwork
£17.88 lum. The Chinese teachers were where he was presented with a
print made by children. However
very keen to know more, but it was
Licenced to sell and deliver wine and beer clear that there is a big difference he was not given the chance to
★ Tel: 01793 703388 ★ Mark meeting young artists in Chongquing observe work in the class-
room.”
Mark will leave Wind-
OPEN: Sun - Thur 4.45pm - 11.15pm; Fri & Sat 4.45pm - 11.45pm mill Hill in July when the
Last orders for delivery 15 minutes before closing time
school fully combines
with Freshbrook Primary
under a new name. He is
taking up a temporary po-
sition at Wootton Bassett
Infants and will be devel-
oping a teacher training
business: Artmatters.
www.rendezvous.uk.net •New head - see page 14

1 May 07 8 19/4/07, 4:52 pm