Read here about our latest visit to China. For more information about the Chinese link read on...
Primary school children visit Shanghai April 2010
As the next step in developing the partnership between Dorking’s Family of Schools and Changzheng Centre Primary School [CZCPS], a relationship that began in 2005, ten Y5 children from The Weald and St. Martin’s Primary Schools accompanied by their head teachers Mrs Sharon Davis and Mrs Jane Gorecka flew to Shanghai on 2nd April for a week of shared curriculum and cultural activities.
The visit was warmly received by officials of Education Bureau Putuo and was given a prestigious profile amongst the community.
For a selection of photographs from our visit, look here...
The Senior Leadership Team at CZCPS compiled an outstanding programme of activities including school based lessons, visits to families and trips to Shanghai Zoo, the Expo Site and a weekend in a traditional Chinese town. This has been a cultural experience of a lifetime for the children who have enjoyed a wide range of local cuisine and whose presence in Putuo has been broadcast by local television and press. It has been a unique opportunity to begin to build friendships between two very different cultures.
In preparation for the trip, which had partly been funded by the British Council, the children explored traditional English stories which delivered a moral message and presented these in the form of books which they had made themselves and a short dramatisation to ensure that the language was clearly understood. By way of mime and action to re-tell the story and reinforce the key message of the story, individual children then drafted their own moral story to share with their Chinese partners.
In CZCPS our children participated in a range of curriculum activities including a cultural dance class as well as lessons in Mandarin, Art Music and PE.
It is envisaged that this relationship will develop further as an invitation has been issued to teachers at CZCPS to visit Dorking so that the children can continue to develop their understanding of similarities and differences both in England and China.
Quotes from teachers:
Jennie Clarke, who has responsibility for Primary links between Surrey and Putuo District Shanghai:
“This has been an amazing trip and a great step forward in our Anglo-Sino links. This memorable visit was worth every minute of the detailed planning. It was quite an adventure for such young school children who all took everything in their stride. There were no tears, moans or groans; just smiles and an acceptance of the cultural, linguistic and educational differences. Indeed they were all such a pleasure to be with as they absorbed the challenges and opportunities."
Jane Gorecka, Headteacher of St Martin's:
"Our children are growing up in a rapidly changing world and there is no more effective way to prepare them to be successful in it, than by taking them out and giving them the experiences that will help them to shape their future. We were only able to take a very small group of children with us but we will work hard to ensure that the experiences are shared and that the schools and the wider DP benefits from this trip."
Sharon Davis, Headteacher of The Weald:
"An amazing opportunity for our children which can never be repricated. The generosity and hospitality of our hosts was something that will be a lifelong memory. Our dream is that children from CZCPS are able to visit our Dorking schools and gain as much from their visit as we did from ours."
Quotes from pupils:
"This trip has been the most incredible adventure. It has made me more confident and feel more adventurous not to mention less fussy with food! I know they are thousands of miles away but in school, we were all children together learning, and it was good fun and really interesting. I can see that it is so important to take opportunities like this whenever we can and to get out there and see the world. It is full of surprises."
"I think this experience has made me more grown up because I had never been away from my family for a week, and I did lots of things I would have never got to do if I hadn't gone on this trip."
"We were all excited about getting home and seeing our families again but sad about leaving China and our new friends, but we knew we could keep in touch with them and hope to see them again one day. Going to China has made me realise more about the world - that we are all different but similar in many ways. Our cultures may be different but we all value family, friendship and kindness."