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Holy Name RC Primary School is in Moss Side which is part of Manchester’s inner city. There are 180 pupils on roll, 4 – 11, representing 13 nationalities. The school has gained the International Schools Award and the Healthy Schools Award (Silver)
St Seachnall’s National School is in Dunshaughlin, County Meath. There are 420 pupils on roll again representing many nationalities. A European School is attached – the only one in Ireland. Here pupils have some instruction in their own language
The link was made in January 2005 at an East/West Contact Seminar held in Dundalk.
- St Seachnall’s - Two teachers and four children visited for two days in June 2005
- Holy Name provided a showcase of singing, dancing, poetry, art work (all areas of curriculum were included)
- We returned to St Seachnall’s in October 2005 - four adults and fifteen children
- The children joined in class life - Irish lesson, Gaelic Football, made friends, celebrated talents in hall, visited Trim Castle and Dublin City together
- This led to correspondence between the children - friendship letters
- Learning experiences: similarities/differences between places and cultures; children gaining a greater understanding that they are alike in many ways; showing an appreciation of cultures; empathy to places from different cultures
Plans for the remainder of the 2005/2006 school year:
- Completion and exchange of projects on ‘My School’, ‘My Locality’ and ‘My Country’
- A visit is planned for Irish children to Manchester based on ‘My Locality’
- This will include visits to Manchester Museum & Art Gallery and a focus on the industrial heritage of Manchester
- Teacher visits provided opportunity to experience alternative teaching and learning styles and management strategies
- Head teachers experiencing alternative management and assessment strategies
- Opportunities for learning new language for children and teachers (Irish). Children gain new respect for won language, learn to reflect on own language and culture.
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