Twinkle Twinkle Euro Stars

Greenmere Primary School in Didcot, England, hosted the planning and exchange Comenius project meeting for this year in which a Maltese school, Dun Karm Scerri Primary of Naxxar, is involved.

Teachers from this school and from the other participating schools - Muratori Primary School, Italy, Emil Isac Primary School, Romania and CP Carlos III Primary School in Spain - met their English counterparts to plan, discuss and participate in Comenius project activities.

This year however there was a striking difference as pupils from Malta, Italy and Romania accompanied the teachers during this visit. The pupils' visit was not only possible through the Comenius planned activities but was also made possible with the financial help of Naxxar council.

During their stay the children were hosted by English families and participated in activities specially planned to bring children from other countries together. Field activities were held at Hill End Field Study Centre, where children were given problem solving situations which they had to cope with despite the language barrier.

Later they visited the Kamass stadium in Oxford where they were briefed about footballers' life. In the meantime co-ordinators met and discussed formalities regarding Project activities scheduled for this year to earmark the end of this project were discussed, including the agenda for the headteachers' visit, teacher exchanges within the partner schools as part of enhancing one's professional status, and the issue of obtaining sustainable financial support to complete the project.

Pupils, teachers and co-ordinators alike visited classrooms and learned about teaching methods and strategies used in the school. A school concert with the participation of various year groups was held. English children not only demonstrated their drama, dancing and singing skills but also managed to include traditional events from each and every participating country. Later, traditional gifts were exchanged. Maltese liqueurs as well as a book about Naxxar were given to our English friends.

This exchange proved to be a very valuable experience especially for pupils who through their behaviour have demonstrated how people can come together to live a harmonious life.