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#7 ....................... A Publication Of SchoolNet Global
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In This Issue
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We travel with a group of students from Oxford Community School in the UK over to France on a field trip to the Peugeot Factory. Then we join a virtual meeting between youngsters in Folkestone UK and Berlin Maryland USA. Finally, we journey to Moscow as we make our first Russian connection. Our thanks to teachers, Karina Sylvie Mayer, Colette Cotton and Dr. Merle Marsh for their contributions to this issue.
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The following photos were taken during the one of the field trips undertaken by Oxford Community School students. This was a visit to the Peugeot factory.
Peugeot runs a business course for KS3 students who chose French as an option for their GCSE.
The day was spent in an office, great fun. The students were working with some expensive laptops, as they were given the opportunity to see what it is like to be business people, in France. The target was to speak French at all times.
We did get a chance then to go to the car factory for a VIP visit. This trip was funded by our County Council Business Partnership. In this regard, Oxford Community School is working towards obtaining a business status for the school.
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White Cliffs of Dover Comes to Berlin
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Having fun learning about England from their British online friends are: (l-r, front) Hannah, Riddi, Michelle, (back) Chrissy, and Jake.
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Worcester Preparatory(Berlin Maryland USA) Grade 4 students are having a great time virtually traveling to the White Cliffs of Dover to teleconference with children in Folkestone, England. The British students are teaching the Americans about their town and country, and the Americans, about theirs.
Folkestone, a town in southeastern England, on the Strait of Dover is a resort town, like the resorts on United States Eastern Shore. It is the western terminus of the Channel Tunnel and the place where many ferry boats leave for travel to France.
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Some of the American adults watching the Berlin-Folkestone conference were: (l-r) Amanda Lynch, Grade 4 teacher; Celeste Bunting, Head of the Lower School; and Reese Cropper, Worcester Prep Board of Trustees. Cropper serves on the Board's Technology Committee.
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The schools met on May 26, 2004 with Canadian Educator, Dave Allan providing SchoolNet Global's technical support for the conference from Victoria, BC. Canada. The meeting began(10:30 am in Berlin, 7:30 a.m. in Victoria, and 3:30 pm in Folkestone).
The Governors of the British school and Worcester Board of Trustees member Reese Cropper also joined in on the conference. "It was very impressive", commented Cropper. "The children were talking to children in England, and a consultant in Canada was assisting with some video problems at the British end of the teleconference."
All went well, however, and the two schools linked up successfully as they had in the past. One of the British students showed a large rock of chalk from the cliffs. He told the Americans, when asked, that it would write on a chalkboard. The children discussed problems of erosion of the beaches both in Folkestone and in Ocean City and Assateague Island. There is a huge project underway in the UK to save the cliffs.
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Over in Folkestone, the adults included teacher Colette Cotton, several school Governors, the minister of St. Mary’s and St. Eanswythe Church, and a grandparent who assists with technology at the school.
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The Worcester students loved hearing about the Beefeaters in England, about castles, and about how some of the children in the school were invited to present flowers to the Queen.
Folkstone is an ancient town, which includes the 13th century Church of St. Mary and St. Eanswythe. The Church of England minister from that church was also at the teleconference and told the children about its history. St. Eanswythe founded the first English convent in 630 AD. There are Roman, Saxon, and Norman ruins in Folkestone.
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I am a Moscovite
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Olga Krylova shares her feelings and thoughts about the country in which she lives.
My country is Russia. I live in Moscow, the capital of Russia, in the district of Tsaritsyno. It is in the south of Moscow. It is famous for its wonderful red and white palace and park ensemble designed by the Russian architect V. Bazhenov for Emperess Catherine II.
People living in our country are given the most important thing - faith. It is great faith that brings us together. It's faith that creates a harmony with the "world of the spirit". It's faith that makes us patient and understanding, the qualities which help us live and survive in the most hard times. Talented scientists, experts, famous philosophers, outstanding inventors, musicians, writers, artists make the greatest wealth and pride of Russia.
Our country is very large. If you imagine flying yourself over its territory in a plane you will see wonderful sights: blue lines of the rivers, blue mirrors of the lakes and seas, green patches of the meadows, plains and forests and mountains.
There are a lot of different customs and traditions in Russia. Some of them are very old, even ancient; others are new or renewed. Some of them are the same as in Europe and the USA; others are typical only of Russia. One of them is Shrovetide. It is a Russian traditional holiday. Shrovetide came from ancient times. The people are merry and happy. They say "farewell" to winter. They cook and eat pancakes (bliny), symbolizing the sun. The holiday lasts for one week. The last Sunday of the week is called "The Forgiving Sunday". Then the Great Lent begins and it lasts till Easter, 40 days. MORE
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