International Week inspires Senior School students to think globally
18 May 2020
Our Senior School celebrated St Mary’s annual International Week from 11 to 15 May with the girls getting involved in internationally inspired activities at home. Each day began with an internationally-themed breakfast show on St Mary’s School Radio, with the broadcast of foreign language classic tunes to help the students get motivated for their learning. Listeners tuned in from as far afield as Australia!
During language lessons, the girls took part in the British Council’s ‘The Great Language Challenges’ in Spanish, German and French, as well as quizzes and tongue twisters. Some students got creative, designing language rainbows, dressing in internationally inspired costumes and even took part in an online flamenco workshop with their families!
A competition was set for students to create a dish or collage of food inspired by a country’s flag with entries of cakes and desserts representing countries such as the UK, Spain and Canada. The winners, Hannah in Year 9 and Mia in Year 10 were announced in a virtual assembly led by Principal, Mrs Vipond on Monday 18 May. They both produced Union Jack inspired dishes and will each receive a Lush goody bag sent to them in the post to enjoy at home.
Mrs Vipond expressed the importance placed on global knowledge and modern foreign languages at St Mary’s: “At St Mary’s, learning Modern Foreign Languages is a vital and integral part of the broad and balanced curriculum we offer. Whether it is seen as stimulating intellectual challenge, a way of developing social skills or a means of deepening understanding of other cultures, language enriches the experience of every student and helps to demonstrate the Round Square ‘Ideals of Learning’ that we are committed to upholding as part of our Round Square global membership”.
Round Square is a network of schools from over 50 countries which offers St Mary’s a unique framework for excellence and continuous improvement, as well as opportunities to collaborate and share experiences with like-minded peers and establishments across the globe.
St Mary’s School Radio is streaming live during the school week, between 8am and 8.50am, prior to the girls checking in with their teachers online for Registration. The streaming link is available at http://streaming.broadcastradio.com:8800/stmcol and anyone can listen and submit shout-outs, dedications and song requests by email to smsradio@stmaryscolchester.org.uk