02 Jul Global School Partnership Visit
Teachers from Greenbank Primary School, Mrs. Helen Bullock and Mr. Chris Ward arrived around 8.45 am at the Mangalore International Airport on June 26, 2011. Principal Sr. Melissa, Mrs. Vidya Rai and Mrs. Sujatha Albuquereque had gone to the airport to receive the guests. They were warmly welcomed with a bouquet of flowers outside the Airport and then were brought to Eden’s Club for breakfast and arrangements were made for them to reside there for 1 week. Our contractor Mr. Dandekeri’s car was used to bring the guests to their residence. The same car will bring and take the guests to the school every morning and evening from their residence-Eden’s club. In the afternoon, around 1.15 pm, Sr. Marina and Mrs. Anitha, our clerk took the guests for sight-seeing to Moodbidri – 1000 pillar basadi, Shobhavana and Karkal – Attur Church. Our Engineer Mr. Sunil Kumar had given the vehicle.
On June 27th, the guests were extended a warm and typical Indian welcome – Poornakumbha Swagatham by our students at the entrance of the Maryhill Campus gate followed by a formal welcome programme at Mother Veronica Hall. After the prayer dance by the students, Principal Sr. Melissa welcomed the guests with words and garlanding them by jasmine flower garlands by the administrator Sr. Carissima. This was followed by a short cultural programme depicting Indian culture in its fullness. After the refreshments, the KG children welcomed the guests in the mini Hall with a short programme. Then the guests were taken to different classes where they presented their projects on various themes on Indian culture and environment like Indian costumes, cuisine, fruits and vegetables, musical instruments, historical places, disaster management, Vermi compost pits etc through PowerPoint presentations and exhibitions in their respective classrooms. Our guests were thrilled to see these presentations and marvelled at the diversity of our culture. They were eager to learn more about Vermi Compost pits which they would like to implement in their School as well.
On June 30th, the UK guests were taken by Mrs. Vidya Rai to our neighbouring Lourdes Central School, Bejai where they interacted with the staff and senior students. After their return around 10 am, they were taken toInfant Jesus school, Maria Kripa and Maryhill. At 11.15 am, 2 journalists from Deccan Herald and Times of India came to our school to meet the UK guests and get their opinion about the visit, project, methodology adopted in UK for education etc. At 12 noon the management representatives- Sr. Carmel Rita, Sr. Edna Furtado, Sr. Henrita, a few parents who are in the managing committee along with our staff had a get together in our mini hall. Principal Sr. Melissa welcomed all gathered. Then Sr, Carmel Rita spoke a few words in appreciation of the guest and wished them well. Ms. Sujatha, our teacher shared the experiences of the staff and students interacting with the guest. Mrs. Keerthi shared her experiences of interacting with the guests, specially when she took them to her house. Sr. Edna on behalf of the school gave the guests Memento’s (individually a kg of cashew nuts) and a book to the school – Glory of South Kanara.
On July 1st, the UK guests were taken to Udupi & Murdeshwar for sight-seeing for the whole day. Mrs. Silvia and Sr. Ivy accompanied them.
On July 2nd, the UK guests were taken to St. Aloysius Chapel and Pilikula Heritage village by Mrs. Avril Vas. They were left at their residence after lunch to get ready for them to go back. At 4 pm, Sr. Melissa, Sr. Marina and Mrs. Vidya Rai picked the guests from their residence to leave them at the Bajpe Airport. Both Mrs. Helen and Mr. Ward expressed their sentiments of gratitude for taking care of them, for seeing to their every need, for all the rich experiences they had with the staff and students and parents. It was an enriching experience to all.
