Cyprus Integrates

We had two very interesting visitors from Cyprus, Yiannis Georgiou, Head of English, and Karen Mason, Deputy Head. Borders are coming down in Cyprus and our visitoring teachers from a Greek Cypriot school are looking at ways to integrate the Turkish Cypriot students who are now choosing the school. They came to learn about integration from us, and we certainly learnt from the situations they shared with us. They travelled on to conference at Queens University, looking at integration in interface situations. We look forward to hearing about their progress.

International Report to BoG

To round off our international work experience this year, Niamh Lindsay, Rachel Cleary and Clare Murphy reported back to our Board of Governors on two of our trips: Niamh reported on the trip to Antonio Machado College in Soria, Spain; Rachel Cleary reported on the exchange with the Lycee Amiral Ronarc'h in Brest in Brittany, France. Clare gave an account of how she and French teacher Janet Moffett have built up the relationships and arrangements which made both of these trips such a success and so important for the future.

Lessons from Auschwitz

Rachel and Bronagh have returned, not to say recovered, from their day visit to Auschwitz. Bronagh has also been to the follow-up meeting, and both students have formulated plans for their portfolio, which will be accredited by the University of Hull. The two students plan: a minisite for the college website; an assembly for September to launch the 'Lessons' to our new students; lessons which they will lead with the incoming year 8s, focusing on anti-bullying and diversity as well as ensuring that our new students know what happened at Auschwitz; a display of the younger students' work, either in college or possibly in Newcastle Library. Lessons from Auschwitz offered an opportunity which was exciting and chilling all at once, and the girls hope to use their experience to make a real contribution.