During October Mrs Himali Mulleriyawa from the Trinity Kindergarten spent a week at the Old Earth School in Elland, Halifax, West Yorkshire. She was one of six teachers from Kandy to visit the UK on an teacher development programme.
This is her report of that week:
I was given the opportunity to visit The Old Earth School from 20th October to 26th October 2018. This invitation was made as a part of the British Council’s Connecting Classrooms Programme, which seeks to develop internationally collaborative school based projects. This partnership is part of a wider 8 school cluster that has been formally linking through the British Council for 13 consecutive years.
This year, two teachers from Mahamaya Girls’ College, two teachers from Badi Ud Din Mahamud Girls’ College and one teacher from St. Anthony’s Girls’ College participated in the tour with me.
Monday, 22nd of October
I started my work by leading the assembly with a presentation on Sri Lanka, Kandy, and about Trinity College. Next, I was taken on a tour to see around the school by the School Ambassadors (School Prefects).
Then, I taught the Sinhala nursery rhyme ‘Punchi Bando’ to 4 year old students, and after that, I visited their nursery, called ‘Little Earth’.
In the afternoon all six Sri Lankan teachers were taken to visit special places in Halifax.
Tuesday, 23rd of October
I explained the origins of the Sri Lankan national flag to grade 3, 4 , 5 and 6 students. Later that day, all the Sri Lankan teachers had the great chance of visiting Haworth, ‘The Home of the Brontes’.
Wednesday, 24th of October
I had the opportunity of visiting grade 1 and 2 students in their classes, observing them, relating a Sinhala folk story, and teaching some Sinhala words. During this time, I was able to present the students with the bookmarks that were made by the Trinitians of grade 1 and 2.
In the afternoon the Sri Lankan teachers were taken on a tour to Hebden Bridge, a typical Yorkshire Village.
Thursday, 25th of October
I had the chance of visiting three other local schools, ‘Triangle’, ‘Bolton Brow’ and ‘Ling Bob’ with the other Sri Lankan teachers.
Later on, the Headteachers from these schools and the Sri Lankan teachers went to Old Earth School for a tour and a traditional ‘Afternoon Tea’ with the performance from the Old Earth Choir.
Friday, 26th of October
All the teachers took part in a training programme on ‘Children’s Emotional Health’ conducted by Mr David Cameron.
I was able to get pen-pal replies for students in grade 4, and also to get places for the winners of the ‘Zero Hunger Programme’ art competition.
I wish to take this opportunity to thank the British Council for initiating this programme, Mr Paul Reynolds the Headteacher, Mrs Helen Reynolds, and all the staff members at the Old Earth School; the Headteachers of Triangle, Bolton Brow and Ling Bob schools, their family members and the staff members of those schools for the untiring efforts taken to make our visit a memorable one.
My sincere gratitude goes to the Principal Mr Andrew Fowler-Watt, the Co-Vice Principal Mr Ananda Marasinghe, Mrs Pradeepa Kobbekaduwa, Miss Warna De Silva and for all the other staff members for supporting me in numerous ways.
Below is a review of the visit in the Old Earth School newsletter:
