““Connecting communities:Connecting communities:

inspiration, creation, communication, inspiration, creation, communication, reflection, cooperationreflection, cooperation.”.”

Barlaston,Barlaston,

2020thth – 24 – 24thth October, 2004 October, 2004

Connecting communities.Connecting communities.

These pages are a part of the presentation These pages are a part of the presentation put together by delegates at the Barlaston put together by delegates at the Barlaston seminar when the project was being seminar when the project was being discussed.discussed.

It includes details of the plans and names of It includes details of the plans and names of the schools involved at this early stage.the schools involved at this early stage.

It was written to answer specific questions It was written to answer specific questions as part of the application.as part of the application.

““Inspiration, creation, Inspiration, creation, communication, reflection, communication, reflection,

cooperation.”cooperation.” Art, music and drama will be used Art, music and drama will be used

to stimulate language, multi to stimulate language, multi cultural thinking, citizenship and cultural thinking, citizenship and responsible attitudes and will lead responsible attitudes and will lead to better understanding of other to better understanding of other cultures, both in the present and in cultures, both in the present and in the past, to help children develop the past, to help children develop their role as the future not only of their role as the future not only of the European Union but also of the the European Union but also of the world.world.

ICT will be used to extend learning ICT will be used to extend learning and to establish, sustain and and to establish, sustain and develop links between children and develop links between children and communities in a wide range of communities in a wide range of countries spread from east to west countries spread from east to west and north to south.and north to south.

The project will build upon The project will build upon opportunities to develop pupils self opportunities to develop pupils self esteem, local identity, pride in esteem, local identity, pride in place and the sharing of ideas place and the sharing of ideas across regional and national across regional and national boundaries.boundaries.

At all stages the equal At all stages the equal opportunities and special needs opportunities and special needs policies of the schools involved will policies of the schools involved will give a valuable extra dimension.give a valuable extra dimension.

Key Activities: Term 1Key Activities: Term 1

Term 1Term 1

1, select record and 1, select record and exchange traditional exchange traditional seasonal songsseasonal songs

share the above with share the above with the local communitythe local community

2 Create and exchange 2 Create and exchange greetings cards with greetings cards with other communitiesother communities

3 Share both of the 3 Share both of the above with the wider above with the wider communitycommunity

4. Review success of 4. Review success of planned activities with planned activities with partner staff.partner staff.

Key Activities: Term 2Key Activities: Term 2 Term 2Term 2

1 Children select and illustrate common 1 Children select and illustrate common text.text.

Using ICT share illustrationsUsing ICT share illustrations 2. Study work of own country’s selected 2. Study work of own country’s selected

artist.artist. Respond creatively and share responses Respond creatively and share responses

via modern technology.via modern technology. Share with wider community Share with wider community Review success of planned activities with Review success of planned activities with

partner staff.partner staff.

Key Activities: Term 3Key Activities: Term 3

Term 3Term 3 1. Create piece of 3 1. Create piece of 3

dimensional art “Feelings”dimensional art “Feelings” Record with digital camera Record with digital camera

and communicate with and communicate with other membersother members

2. Write a poem describing 2. Write a poem describing chosen theme.chosen theme.

3. Share with wider school 3. Share with wider school communitycommunity

Review planned activities Review planned activities with partner schools at all with partner schools at all stages.stages.

Final OutcomesFinal Outcomes

A) Common web-site with children’s work, illustrating:A) Common web-site with children’s work, illustrating: Poetry,Poetry, PhilosophyPhilosophy

Graphic art workGraphic art workMusicMusic

B) Termly celebration days within each school to promote and disseminate B) Termly celebration days within each school to promote and disseminate information received by each institution .Feedback from these used as part information received by each institution .Feedback from these used as part of the web-site, with feedback displayed on shared web site.of the web-site, with feedback displayed on shared web site.

Evaluation, Dissemination Evaluation, Dissemination and Policyand Policy

EVALUATIONEVALUATION During each term, each During each term, each

school coordinator will discuss progress school coordinator will discuss progress and successes with colleagues; this will and successes with colleagues; this will be shared with each other partner in a be shared with each other partner in a common conference. It is expected that common conference. It is expected that this will include discussion and sharing this will include discussion and sharing of information about the termly of information about the termly celebration days.celebration days.

The results of this regular discussion The results of this regular discussion forum will advise final evaluations in a forum will advise final evaluations in a realistic fashion and will also be used to realistic fashion and will also be used to initiate and consolidate planning for initiate and consolidate planning for future projects within the three year future projects within the three year period.period.

DISSEMINATIONDISSEMINATION Communication between Communication between

institutions will be largely via ICT based institutions will be largely via ICT based media; which might include the use of fax media; which might include the use of fax initially.initially.

Dissemination to other educational Dissemination to other educational communities will be via a County forum, communities will be via a County forum, accessible to all local schools, the wider local accessible to all local schools, the wider local community will be kept advised via community will be kept advised via newsletters to parents and when relevant newsletters to parents and when relevant through the press/local media.through the press/local media.

POLICYPOLICY Our schools have policies which Our schools have policies which

cover equal opportunities, Special cover equal opportunities, Special Educational Needs, ethnic minority education Educational Needs, ethnic minority education and as schools we actively work to support and as schools we actively work to support children who may be considered to be children who may be considered to be socially/financially disadvantaged.socially/financially disadvantaged.

It is not only desirable that these It is not only desirable that these policies are included but essential, as our policies are included but essential, as our project seeks to be positively inclusive.project seeks to be positively inclusive.

Think On ThisThink On ThisThe international tramp said:The international tramp said:

““Look out, not in.”Look out, not in.”God said:God said:

““Ask me any question,Ask me any question,I will answerI will answer

With the whole truthWith the whole truth(Perhaps for the first time).”(Perhaps for the first time).”

The modest man who knew said:The modest man who knew said:““Real progress starts with friendship;Real progress starts with friendship;

Make friends, not notes.”Make friends, not notes.”The teacher said:The teacher said:

““We can open our children’s eyesWe can open our children’s eyes(Wasn’t that always(Wasn’t that always

The way of the best?),The way of the best?),We owe it to them.”We owe it to them.”

More than that;More than that;We owe it to our friends.We owe it to our friends.

And to ourselves.And to ourselves.

P.L. HiggsP.L. Higgs