Welcome to December 2020’s newsletter where we will outline the latest news and events relevant to Global education and International Links. As a special Yuletide treat we will also provide links to festive themed resources and activities that you might find interesting or useful.

As we come to the end of 2020 and its associated difficulties we would like to extend a special message of thanks and appreciation to all our partners for their continued support, hard work and achievements. Despite unprecedented challenges you have continued to show professionalism and commitment enabling us to forge ahead with our mission.

Thank you! Diolch!

International Links Global Team

Dziękuję!

Gracias!

Mulţumesc!

Takk! Teşekkür

ederim!

Ευχαριστώ!

Děkuji! Danke!

Ďakujem!

Hvala!

“

December 2020

In this issue:

• News from our current projects

-Case Study - Crwys Primary

- Case Study—Ysgol Hendrefelin

•Christmas with our Partners

•Global Teaching insight - OECD Report •Resources

International Links Newsletter—A festive edition of our newsletter to

Nadolig Llawen!

CASE STUDY- CRWYS PRIMARY SCHOOL

OUTDOOR LEARNING & INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION

Background & Context Crwys primary school joined our International Links in autumn term 2016. The initial meeting with headteacher, Dylan Saer, identified that the school wanted to develop and share the its Outdoor Learning provision with a wid-er audience outside Wales. The school was already working with 2 other local schools to develop this outdoor learning. What we offered the school was the possibility to take the excellent practice to a wider audience at Euro-pean level and work with schools across Europe. In March 2018 Internation-al Links supported the school to put in an application to Erasmus+ under the new KA229 funding (school partnerships). The school was successful and the 2 year project ‘Happy Pupils Make Happy Learners’ gained funding and is just reaching its conclusion. Throughout the project the project coordina-tor Melissa Howells has received support from her local ILG officer – in-cluding how to complete the mobility tool, how to prepare for writing the

The school has applied to for a second KA229 Outdoor Learning project with support from the ILG local officer and heard in September 2020 that this has been successful and will run until August 2022.

The school was inspected by Estyn in June 2019 and received an excellent grade for its Wellbeing and attitudes to learning.

“Nearly all pupils enjoy the strong international links with schools in Gambia, Finland, Sweden, Italy and Ireland. This enables pupils to com-pare their school experiences with pupils in another country. Older pupils share their experiences regularly with other pupils. As a result, many pu-pils develop a remarkable standard of global awareness.”

As a result of this excellent practice the school was asked to write a good practice case study on its Outdoor Learning provision.

Click on this link to see a video clip of the project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1w_HOTlvsPg

ETWINNING SUCCESS STORY – NEATH PORT TALBOT SCHOOL ETWINNING PROJECT IS AWARDED PROJECT

OF THE YEAR 2020

Ysgol Hendrefelin special school in Neath has been part of the International Links Global membership since 2016. The school’s work on eTwinning is outstanding and in the recent eTwinning National Conference (November 2020) Ysgol Hendrefelin school was awarded the 2020 Project of the year, together with partners across the UK. Please see the link to it below and also a short article about the project from Ruth Sanders, the school’s lead for eTwinning and International Dimension.

International Links Global congratulates the school on its fantastic effort on its Hands of the World project and the school’s contribution to internationalising educa-tion for pupils and staff in the school and its local community.

https://www.britishcouncil.org/etwinning/awards-recognition

Hands of the World: Can You See What We Say?

Staff and pupils at Ysgol Hendrefelin Special School in Neath Port Talbot are so proud to announce that they were co-founders with Dundee University in the above project which won the top prize from The British Council for being the most out-standing eTwinning project across the UK during the academic year 2019-2020.

The project brought young people from around the world together through the use of music and Makaton sign language to preserve their linguistic identities and to devel-op an understanding and awareness of other languages and cultures. HOTW is a fully inclusive project for learners of all ages, abilities and nationalities. Learners engaged in a range of activities each month and worked independently and collaboratively with others around the world to create individual and collaborative music and Makaton videos, engage in collaborative global communication challeng-es, use traditional and modern methods of communication, and most importantly, to learn from one another.

This project was created to break down the barriers of communication through the use of Makaton sign language. Pupils learnt basic skills of sign language so that they could converse with others, no matter what their language, culture, learning ability etc. They learnt how they could come together to be one through the use of music. The project continued to flourish throughout lockdown when teachers and pupils learnt new technological ways to communicate and join together to become one class.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1w_HOTlvsPghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1w_HOTlvsPghttps://www.britishcouncil.org/etwinning/awards-recognition

News from North Wales

NEWLY GRANTED PROJECTS (Since Sept 2020) Erasmus+ KA229 Our Culture and Heritage between 2 schools in north Wales and 2 schools in Spain. The project will be coordinated by Ysgol Rhos Helyg, the other school in Wales in Ysgol Bryn Gwalia. Erasmus+ KA229 Modern Europe (a project linked to the Digital Competency Framework in Wales). between 1 secondary school in Wales and 3 other sec-ondary schools: 1 x Finland, 1 x Belgium, 1 x Spain. Coordinating school is Ysgol Emrys ap Iwan. Erasmus+ KA201 Using Games as a Focus (a project linked to the new curric-

ulum for Wales, to gamification and tackling the climate crisis).between 5

schools in the Rhyl area (Christchurch, Emmanuel, Bryn Hedydd, Y Castell,

Llywelyn), Denmark, Norway and Portugal. Coordinated by ILG.

LLONGYFARCHIADAU ! CONGRATULATIONS!

Congratulations to 2 member schools. Click for external links

Ysgol Ty Coch’s Headteacher David Jen-

kins on becoming Headteacher of the

Year:

Ruth Sanders from Ysgol Hendrefelin for

winning the Best Project at the eTwinning

Awards.

https://gov.wales/professional-teaching-awards-cymru/2020-awards/david-jenkinshttps://gov.wales/professional-teaching-awards-cymru/2020-awards/david-jenkinshttps://gov.wales/professional-teaching-awards-cymru/2020-awards/david-jenkinshttps://twitter.com/eTwinningUK/status/1332404669612744704https://twitter.com/eTwinningUK/status/1332404669612744704

Christmas with our Partners

To share goodwill at this special time we have asked some of our partners to explain how they celebrate aspects of the holiday season in their country…

Nuremberg, GERMANY

...There's a special tradition all over Germany on December 6th. O the evening of December 5th you put your cleaned (big) boots outside the house in front of the door (or inside). Some people also put a plate there or on the windowsill. The bread on the plate is for the white horse of Santa Claus . In the morning you see that Santa Claus really was at your house and put nice things into the boots or plates, e.g., all kinds of nuts, oranges, apples, sweets, chocolate, small presents … But if you [weren't] well behaved the whole year you only get a switch so that your parents can punish you, but they don't!

Kristine and Wiebke, Germany

MALTA

Czechia We bake sweets and decorate Christmas tree during morning and afternoon. We sit at the table and have Christmas diner in the evening. We eat carp and potato sal-ad for diner usually. Then we wait for the bell ringing and we go to look under the

tree and look for gifts. We sing carols after unpacking gifts.

Premek

Christmas in Malta is a time for bringing families and friends together and helping those in need. This year with the pandemic we are not expecting the normal festivities - but hopefully it will bring out the true meaning of Christmas rather than the commercial aspect of the festivity. I wish you Maria and everyone at ILG a very Merry Christmas - in Mal-tese : Il Milied it-Tajjeb - which means literally - A good Christmas!

Joyce Gretch

In Romania there are a lot of beautiful and authentic songs, carols and dra-ma (stories played) full of rhymes, lyrics and sometimes jokes wishing all the best to the listeners.

Murcia, SPAIN

On January 5, the eve of Three Kings' Day, Spanish children leave their empty shoes near the front door or window, hoping to find them filled with treats and presents the following morning. Many also leave out three glasses of warm milk and sweets for each of the kings, plus some hay or grass for their hungry camels. The next morning, the previously empty shoe is hopefully filled with and surrounded by gifts, although naughty kids in Spain may be left a lump of coal!

Each city and town hosts its own parade on the eve of Three Kings' Day, called the cabalgata, to celebrate the arrival of the Three Kings into Spain from their long journey. The Kings sit on floats and as they ride through the town they throw sweets for the excited spectators to pick up before they head home to the presents the Kings have left.

A Roscón de Reyes is a traditional Spanish ring-shaped brioche-like sweet bread eaten the night before or morning of Reyes or King's Day (6 th January) which celebrates Epiphany when the Three Kings came to visit the baby Jesus in Bethlehem. Tradition has the Roscón served, garnished with the 'jewels' of dried fruit and nuts. The most important thing about the cake are the different little figures or objects that are baked inside as each one has significance to the family/region. Normally, at least two different objects can be found in the cake—a black bean (or an haba) and something that represents the king. The person who eats the slice of cake with the king is the ‘king for the day’ whereas the person who gets the haba has to pay for the cake the following year. In addi-tion, in some places or families, additional objects such as coins can also be

Happy Christmas everyone, with the wish for a better world, full of peace, health and hope.

Feliz Navidad a todos, con el deseo de un mundo mejor, lleno de paz, salud y esperanza.

May the magic of Christmas fill our hearts and brighten our lives. Merry Christ-mas and Happy New Year!

Que la magia de la Navidad llene nuestros corazones e ilumine nuestras vidas. ¡Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo!

María Belén García González

Konya, TURKEY The birth of Christ was a very momentous occasion in the religious history of the world, and it makes us, as Muslim people as happy as our Christian brothers and sisters. As Konya Provincial Directorate of National Education for this Christmas time, we wish a very Merry Christmas from the bottom of our hearts. We send a message of health, peace, love, brotherhood, and sisterhood to all our friends no matter what their religion or nationality is. Also as an early new year wish we hope that 2021 will bring us a lot more oppor-tunities to cooperate physically together in new projects. Emrah Koçak

https://www.tripsavvy.com/spanish-language-basics-3150603

Mersin, TURKEY We celebrate the New Year in Türkiye. Preparations are made in many homes for 31st December. Gifts are received. There is even a New Year's lottery in schools. It is for students to re-ceive a gift from their friend whose name they have chosen in the draw-ing, and to experience the excitement of a new year interactively. New Year celebrations keep some rituals alive in our country. Bingo played as a family, turkey at dinner, chestnuts cooked in embers, New Year's cake are some of them. Apart from this, gifts are prepared especially for children or pocket money is given during religious holidays. Gülcan Taner

Pupils singing carols in Dambovita, Romania.

Targoviste, Romania Christmas season in Romania kicks off right after St. Andrew’s Day (November 30), when according to local legends, vampires and evil spirits come to light. The period leading up to Christmas is filled with wonderful celebrations, including Romania’s Na-tional Day (December 1st) and Saint Nicholas (Mos Nicolae), when all children receive gifts. Especially popular among the little ones, Saint Nicholas is celebrated on December 6th with great fanfare and lots of gifts. On Saint Nicholas’ Eve, all Romanian children clean their boots, place them at the door (or window), and go to sleep waiting for Mos Nico-lae to fill them with presents. In the morning, the most obedient of them will discover lots of little surprises, mostly sweets, tucked into their shoes or under their pillow, while the naughty ones will only find the symbolic rod. In Romania, Christmas has always been a great opportunity for family members to get together in order to spend some time in the warm, loving, and cozy atmosphere of their home. During Christmas, most Romanian houses are filled with neighbours, friends, rela-tives, and goodwill – a pleasant, comfortable jamboree where everyone giggles, dances, cooks, and tells stories. Carol singers constantly knocking at the door and colorful deco-rations throughout add a cheerful festive touch to the scene. On Christmas Eve, women make sarmale (delicious meat-and-rice rolls wrapped in cab-bage, served with polenta, hot pepper, and sour cream) and bake cozonaci, a sort of sponge cake with nuts, cocoa or other fruits. Christmas dinner is a rich, multi-course meal, with highlights including roasted pork, pickled vegetables, the delicious boeuf sal-ad, and lots of homemade wine.

Probably the most beautiful part of a Romanian Christmas is the laborious, magical suite of carols that can be heard all over the country during this wonderful time of year, from the cobbled paths of the most remote villages to the classiest venues in the capital. Often accompanied by wishes for health, prosperity, and fulfilment, Romanian carols are far from being just simple Christmas songs. They usually come together with rituals, special costumes and tools, as well as peculiar theatrical performances, generating a genuine spectacle. Some of the most popular are Steaua (the Star boys’ singing procession). Further Christmas traditions and customs in Romania include the decorating of Christ-mas Tree, which is usually performed by the whole family a couple of days before Christmas; the arrival of Santa Claus with his bag full of gifts, a practice that takes place on Christmas Eve. Crăciun fericit! (Merry Christmas!) Valetin Stancu

Salovci, Slovenia About Christmas in Slovenia. We celebrate Christmas like most Western coun-tries on the 25th. No matter where you go, though, Slovenia is sure to put you in the Christmas spirit, complete with visits from Saint Nicholas (or Grandfather Frost, as he's often called in Slovenian) and getting Christmas presents on Saint Nicholas Day (December 6). Obviously this year’s Christmas will be different because of the Pandemic. I wish Slovenia, UK, Europe and the World all the best in this current situation, anything is manageable if we work together, and keep a cool head. Gašper Pongrac

Brussels, Belgium A normal Christmas in Belgium means lights everywhere in the house and the town, a Christmas tree, decoration all over the place, good food on a table with flowers and candles, presents and, most important... the whole family together to celebrate this special evening. Christmas 2020 in Belgium means Covid and the commitment to celebrate it only with people living together in one house, maxi-mum added with one person and an evening clock at midnight... This won't be the Christmas we are used to but we must accept that it might be the only way to avoid a third huge Covid-wave. Let my Christmas Wish be health and connected-ness all through Europe and let's hope we might meet live and healthy in 2021. Koen Bouve - POV Belgium

Global Teaching In-sights - An OECD Report

What does teaching look like? What practices are most impactful? By directly observing teaching in the classroom, this study trialled new research methods to shed light on these key questions for raising student outcomes around the world. This report provides a de-tailed account of classroom management, social and emotional support, and instructional practices in the classrooms of eight countries and economies, drawing upon the observa-tion of lesson videos and instructional materials, the analysis of teacher and student ques-tionnaires, and the measurement of students’ cognitive and non-cognitive outcomes. The reporter can be found here:

http://www.oecd.org/education/school/global-teaching-insights.htm

Worldwide Christmas Traditions

Do you know how Christmas is celebrated around the world? Quiz: Christmas traditions around the world - CBBC

Free Christmas Resources from TES Christmas resources, worksheets and activities

http://www.oecd.org/education/school/global-teaching-insights.htmhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/quizzes/bp-worldwide-christmas-traditions-quizhttps://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/christmas

Resources It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas (With thanks to Global Learning Schools Northern Ireland)

Christmas is just around the corner now and is something most chil-

dren (and adults!) will have near the very front of their minds. The holiday can be viewed as bringing out some very negative qualities in our society. It could be argued that modern day Christmas encourages consumerism which damages the environment and puts poorer families under stress. Or that it promotes the kind greed and gluttony which drives inequality in our world. But there is also a very positive side to the Christmas season! To Christians, it is one of the most important festival dates of the year, marking the birth of Christianity’s saviour, Jesus Christ. For lots of children, it is a magical occasion, during which Santa might pay them a special visit. Christmas is also embraced by many - regardless of their religious faith - as a time to celebrate friendship, generosity, joy and kindness; to prioritise spend-ing time with our loved ones; and to do nice things for others. Global learning is about caring for the world around us and promoting fairness and equality so that everyone everywhere can live a happy and healthy life. We can choose to celebrate Christmas from a global learning perspective so that our children can still embrace all the wonderful things that come with the festive season, while also using Christmas as a time to make the world a better place. We’ve pulled together some glob-al learning resources to help you celebrate a fair, sustainable Christmas in your class-room. Santa Claus around the world (All Ages) Global Dimension Who is Santa? A jolly man in a red suit who delivers presents to UK children at Christ-mas? A 3rd Century Turkish bishop? Learn about the history of Santa Claus and the different traditions around the world through this web article, which is packed full of useful links. View resource

Festivals of Light (Adaptable for all Ages) Global Dimension A look at winter festivals all around the world, which help brighten up the dreary winter days. View Resource

Eco Friendly Christmas (Adaptable for all Ages) Friends of the Earth Loads of ideas about how we can celebrate Christmas more sustainably. Why not try out a few with your class or create a take-home eco-Christmas guide? View resource

Gift of Kindness (KS1/2) Fun in First Learn how to make some special holiday crafts with your pupils, all of which focus on spreading kindness at Christmas. View Resource

Crisis at Christmas (Primary) assemblies.org.uk Homelessness is a problem all year round, but Christmas can be a particularly sad time for those in housing need. This whole school assembly looks at what the charity Crisis does to tackle homelessness. View Resource

Christmas Around the World (Primary) whychristmas.com Explore how Christmas is celebrated in countries around the world. Discover traditions from nearby European countries like Denmark as well as from places much further afield like Trinidad and Tobago. View Resource

Christmas Celebrations in Different Countries (7-14 years old) Mocomi Kids A bright, simple animation, which shows how Christmas is greeted in a variety of coun-tries. Watch Video

http://theday.co.uk/opinion/why-i-believe-modern-christmas-is-grotesquehttps://globaldimension.org.uk/santa-claus/https://globaldimension.org.uk/festivals-of-light/https://www.foe.co.uk/living/articles/25-eco-friendly-christmas-tipshttp://funinfirst.com/teaching-kindness-christmas/http://www.assemblies.org.uk/pri/2726/crisis-at-christmashttp://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=da2Q2wQBiCA

60 Christmas traditions around the world (Age 7+) Green Global Travel 60 lesser known facts about Christmas around the world. Why not use these to create a festive quiz for your class? View Resource

Write for Rights (Age 11+) Amnesty International Find out how your pupils can get involved in the Write for Rights campaign and send a Christmas message that really makes a difference. Every December, Amnesty In-ternational encourages people to send letters of goodwill to those whose basic human rights are being attacked. View Resource

What are the food miles in my Christmas dinner? (Age 11+) Global Dimension This case study can help you design a lesson to get your class thinking about how far their Christmas dinner has travelled to get to their plate. View Resource

The Secret Code hidden in a Christmas Card (KS3+) The Day Are Christmas cards important or are they a waste of paper? Get your class thinking about sustainability and the way we communicate all while completing a code-breaking puzzle. View Resource

Bonus resource for looking at how we mark the start of a new year

New Year’s Resolutions (Ages 7-14) Oxfam Set personal and whole class New Year’s Resolutions with the help of this resource. Learners can think critically about ideal futures and come up with ideas for making the world better. View Resource

Not Christain? December is a joyful time for many people—and not just those who celebrate Christmas as a sacred holiday or cultural event. Jews celebrate Hanukkah, Buddhists celebrate Bo-dhi Day, many African Americans celebrate Kwanzaa, and cultures across the world celebrate the Winter Solstice. Ramadan too sometimes occurs in December. Here's a blog suggesting approaches to multicultural holiday teaching:

Teaching the Holidays: The December Dilemma

Oxfam This Home Learning Resource Hub, for use by parents, carers and teachers with children aged 7-14, contains simple, child-led activity ideas, engaging videos from around the world, and downloadable worksheets. Each week focuses on a need we all share. Oxfam are also posting regular activity ideas on the Oxfam Education Facebook account.

http://greenglobaltravel.com/2013/11/29/christmas-traditions-around-the-world/https://www.amnesty.org/en/get-involved/write-for-rights/https://globaldimension.org.uk/casestudy/what-are-the-food-miles-in-my-christmas-dinnerhttps://theday.co.uk/arts/the-secret-code-hidden-in-a-christmas-cardhttp://www.oxfam.org.uk/education/resources/new-years-resolutions-with-a-differencehttp://tanenbaum.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Christmas-Tip-Sheet.pdfhttp://judaism.about.com/od/holidays/a/hanukkah.htmhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/lewis-richmond/celebrating-bodhi-day-for-the-21st-century_b_2254289.htmlhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/lewis-richmond/celebrating-bodhi-day-for-the-21st-century_b_2254289.htmlhttp://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/index.shtmlhttp://paganwiccan.about.com/od/yulethelongestnight/p/Yule_History.htmhttp://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/global_learning/2015/11/teaching_the_holidays_the_december_dilemma.htmlhttps://www.oxfamapps.org.uk/coronavirus/education/https://www.facebook.com/oxfameducation/

Christmas Book Suggestions

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein - Famous poems, famous poets.

"Once there was a tree...and she loved a little boy."

So begins a story of unforgettable perception, beautifully written and illustrated by the gifted and versatile Shel Silverstein.

Every day the boy would come to the tree to eat her apples, swing from her branches, or slide down her trunk...and the tree was happy. But as the boy grew older he began to want more from the tree, and the tree gave and gave and gave.

This is a tender story, touched with sadness, aglow with consolation. Shel Silverstein has created a moving parable for readers of all ages that offers an affecting interpreta-tion of the gift of giving and a serene acceptance of another's capacity to love in re-turn.

A Child's Christmas In Wales by Dylan Thomas, Edward Ardizzone

‘A Child's Christmas in Wales addresses the Welsh cultural side of the new curricu-lum. Dylan Thomas's lyrical account of his childhood Christmases in a small Welsh town, featuring wolves, bears, hippos and Mrs Prothero's cat, has become deservedly famous. Beautifully illustrated by award-winning artist Edward Ardizzone, this clas-sic edition is beloved by fans of Thomas's work and a perfect Christmas gift for young readers building their own childhood Christmas memories. http://www.gwales.com/ecat/?sf_ecat_id=1357&interest=0&available=0&tsid=1

Explore the delights and hidden treasures of Wales on a voyage of discovery through this fascinating country. Wales on the Map is a lavishly illustrated picture atlas that showcases the best Wales has to offer No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference by Greta Thunberg

This book brings you Greta in her own words, for the first time. Collecting her speeches that have made history across Europe, from the UN to mass street protests, No One Is Too Small to Make A Difference is a rallying cry for why we must all wake up and fight to protect the living planet, no matter how powerless we feel. Our future depends upon it. How You Can Save the Planet by Hendrikus van Hensbergen Can pre-order

YOU have the power to help change the world! Climate breakdown, species extinction, environmental disasters - we know the planet is heating up and running out of time; but what can we do about it?This book will break down exactly what you need to do to make a difference. With easy step-by-step actions and inspiring stories of other children who stood up and said 'no more', this is the definitive guide to creating a better world wherever you live. What We'll Build, a gorgeous new picture book from Oliver Jeffers

What shall we build, you and I? I'll build your future and you'll build mine. We'll build a watch to keep our time. Award-winning Oliver Jeffers will capture the hearts and minds of children and adults alike with this story of a father and daughter making plans to build a world that will keep them safe in the future.

https://allpoetry.com/poem/8538991-The-Giving-Tree-by-Shel-Silversteinhttps://www.waterstones.com/book/a-childs-christmas-in-wales/dylan-thomas/edward-ardizzone/9781858810119http://www.gwales.com/ecat/?sf_ecat_id=1357&interest=0&available=0&tsid=1http://www.gwales.com/ecat/?sf_ecat_id=1357&interest=0&available=0&tsid=1https://www.waterstones.com/book/no-one-is-too-small-to-make-a-difference/greta-thunberg/9780141992716https://www.waterstones.com/book/how-you-can-save-the-planet/hendrikus-van-hensbergen/9780241453049https://www.lovereading4kids.co.uk/kids-zone/videos/what-well-build-a-gorgeous-new-picture-book-from-oliver-jeffers