Avonbourne School

A Business & Enterprise College

Avonbourne School

International Day, 20th November 2009

Focussing on global issues

 "I was blissfully unaware. I was indifferent to global affairs. I was safe in my own life. I am awake. I am listening. And I want to be part of the world”

Avonbourne School’s International Day continues to raise awareness of global issues thanks to a host of curriculum and extra-curricular activities.
 
Our third International Day ended Global Entrepreneurship Week on a high note with some striking creative arts: all of year 8 competed in an African Dance lunchtime event; there was a chance to design world festival cards during Art lessons; and during Music lessons each Key Stage 3 class recorded a CD track which was sold for charity. Years 7 and 8 pupils even turned party planners for world festivals during World Literacy lessons!
 
On a perhaps more far-reaching level, Key Stage 3 pupils took part in the international Specialist Schools and Academies Trust online iNet conference which involved communicating with peers from as far afield as Thailand, Australia and New Zealand. Also during Citizenship lessons pupils were invited to contribute to the Copenhagen Summit 15 (7-18 December 2009) by drawing a message for world leaders.
 
Key Stage 3 pupils did not miss out on the international dimension in core subects. During English lessons Key Stage 3 pupils wrote poetry about our culture for our newly-created Garden of Reflection. In Maths our students ‘competed’, Olympic-style, in the ICT Mathletics international quiz programme. The Science department ran a competition for pupils to identify six female scientists along with their country of origin and what they are famous for.
 
Lunchtime and after-school sales of Traidcraft goods, jewellery, cards and artifacts from Karigu-ini School, Kenya, and Arthouse Zimbabwe were very popular. Key Stage 3 pupils designed a logo for the enterprise group Arthouse Zimbabwe in Geography lessons.
 
Year 7 enterprise projects in Design and Technology had a distinctly international flavour with the following projects: ingredients from around the world in fruit smoothies; ethnic jewellery; ‘green ‘ plastics and promoting jewellery in world markets; Make a Maze game that can be played anywhere in the world.
 
Our Modern Foreign Languages department led a Euro study for year 7, while yr 8 pupils researched and designed leaves for the international tree, and EAL students – and also Chinese Club language learners - taught mini–lessons to peers.
 
Everyone made their mark on a ‘Festival of Thumbs’, the mural of thumbprints outside the Theatre Workshop, in aid of the ‘Save the Children’ campaign to end child poverty. Our school canteen served international cuisine throughout the week.
 
Pupils learnt in RS about role models like Katherine Hewit, wife of Bono (U2), fashion designer, who set up a fair trade and ethical business in Africa. In ICT the presentation by the Young Ambassador to the organisation ‘Save the Children’ inspired young people to get involved in social enterprise as well as realising their dreams.
 
Flags festooned the front of the Theatre workshop, and Fairtrade prizes for correctly matching flag with country went to the following pupils:  
Nyasha Chiwoko, Rachael Teasdill, Diana Amaral, Molly Gould, Beth Mondon, Simona Dangerfield, Ellie Maynard, Alice Bush, Kaila Bell.
 
Thanks to everyone for their support – we hope you made the most of the ‘world on your doorstep’!
 
Miss S. Wilkinson
International Links co-ordinator