Ogawara Minami homestay visit

We have had a fabulous start to the term with our visitors from Ogawara Minami Elementary School in Japan. The children have been staying with some our families from Year 4, 5 & 6. On Wednesday we had a wonderful day in school with our visitors; we held a welcome assembly and then the Japanese children worked with the children in Year 4, 5 & 6 sharing aspects of their culture and traditions. Wednesday night the children and host families and teachers enjoyed an evening of bowling together. Thursday we took our visitors out to show them County Durham. We visited Escomb Saxon Church, Auckland Castle, met with the Chairman of Durham County Council, Jan Blakey, for lunch at Durham Town Hall and then visited Durham Cathedral. We have had a thoroughly enjoyable time in school and the impact of having children visiting our school from another country is immense for all our children, not just those who had children stay in their homes. There has been a lovely ‘buzz’ and atmosphere in school; all of the children were so keen to share and learn about each other. The visitors then headed on to London before flying home, there were some very sad children, teachers and parents saying goodbye to each other—a true sign that this is now not only a partnership but a true friendship!

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