Following a Global Schools partner finding conference in Birmingham we were successful in finding Avocat Primary and Junior High in Portland, Jamaica. We spent a year e-mailing, texting and exchanging letters to get to know each other and begin to create our first joint curriculum project.
We were successful with our application for a Reciprocal Visit grant in November 2011 and agreed that Humberston C of E would visit first in February 2012 and Avocat in June 2012. Plane tickets booked…. No going back!
We were greeted at Kingston airport on 9 February by Christine Lynch, the Avocat co-ordinator, and Mr Johnson, the principal’s husband. Following a night time drive across the Blue Mountains, we soon realised the importance of the Jamaican car horn for survival as around each corner appeared a goat, chicken, cow, or fruit vendor – from nowhere!
On our first day in school Avocat really went all out to make our welcome one to remember. After a breathtaking 30 minute drive up the mountain we were greeted by the whole school, staff, parents and media who broke out in a song written especially to welcome us. Our arrival and joint project was Jamaican television news!
During our week in school we observed and shared the teaching of classes in each year group (6-15 years), discussing teaching strategies and resources with staff. The teachers were all very dedicated and committed to providing the best for their pupils – we never heard any complaint about the obvious lack of resources– only positive and caring comments!
The main purpose of the visit was to further plan our shared learning joint project. After we met with the project committee and discussed environmental and sustainable factors our project began to take shape.
We are basing our project around the Blue Mountain coffee industry as this is crucial to the economic survival of the school community and is currently in a delicate predicament. We visited a coffee farm to gain project information and discussed issues about the industry with the farmer. He is also very interested in the project and all the children have his contact information to gain answers to their questions.
We are hoping to use the experience of the demise of our economic loss, a result of the collapsed Grimsby fishing industry that has had a terrible impact on our own town, so that it is not repeated for the Portland people.
In June two teachers will be welcomed to our school when we will plan the activities to support our project and also show them some Lincolnshire hospitality. We are very grateful for the opportunity that GSP and its funding has given us as we know our curriculum has been given a new lease of life with fabulous opportunities for both schools.
Vicky Johnson, International Coordinator, Humberston C of E School