Comenius ‘Cultural Jigsaw’ ‘Cultural Jigsaw’ Project 2011 - 13

Woodheys Primary SchoolSale, Cheshire, England

Solidarity Solidarity ActivitiesActivities

Here’s where we are in England and what our school looks like…

Sale is 16km south west of Manchester city centre

The original school was built in 1938. A large extension was added in 2011.

The following slides will give you a good overview of our ‘Solidarity’ work at Woodheys

Our ‘solidarity’ activities take many forms at Woodheys. They take place throughout the year.

We are involved with many charities and organisations, some local, some national and some international.

Here are some examples:• Sale West and Ashton partnership

• The Alex Hulme Foundation• Sport Relief

• The Children’s Society• BBC Children in Need

• AfriTwin• ‘Fish and Chips Babies’

Find out about these and many others from the following slides …

Local Solidarity Actions

1. Sale West and Ashton Partnership

Together with pupils from two nearby schools, children from our Year 4 class planted dozens of flower bulbs in autumn to improve a local car park.

Our school is a member of the Sale West and Ashton Partnership, an organisation which was formed to look after our local area.

…and when more pupils went back six months later, this is what they saw!

After they planted the bulbs, the children picked up lots of litter. They really made a difference!

We now regularly help to clean up our local area to keep it

looking good for everyone to enjoy!

2. The Alex Hulme Foundation Trust

Alex was a former pupil at our school. In 2011, he tragically died of cancer aged 12.

His parents have set up a Trust in hismemory and we do all we can to support this cause, which is so close to our hearts.

We have raised money for Alex in many ways. For example …

On the 29th April 2012, Andrew Earl, one of our teachers, ran the Greater Manchester Marathon for the Alex Hulme Foundation. Despite the terrible weather conditions, he did

brilliantly, finishing the race in 4 hours 57 minutes and raising

over £600 – a really fantastic achievement!

3. A ‘Silver Chain’ competition to help our own school

The children in each class brought in lots of coins and laid them in a long line. The longest chain won and all themoney we raised will go towards buying more books for our school library. Here are children from Year 3 enjoying the fun!

4. Lower Moss Wood Animal SanctuaryLower Moss Wood has been an educational nature reserve and wildlife hospital for over twenty years. It is situated about 16 km from our school.

Any orphaned, sick or injured wild animals or birds can be taken there for care, rehabilitation and eventual release back into the wild.

Every year we help by collecting cans of pet food to feed the hedgehogs.

5. City Centre Ministries Manchester

Every year at Harvest time, we organise a special collection of warm clothing, food and toiletries to help the homeless in Manchester, our nearest city.

Steve and Irene come in their converted ambulance to pick up our donations. Their work is a true inspiration to all of us.

National Solidarity Actions

The following slides show some of the activities we have enjoyed in connection with national

organisations...

1. The UK ‘Big Pedal’ challenge

The idea is to encourage as many pupils and adults as possible to come to school by bike or scooter. Not only does it make everyone fit, but it reduces the number of cars outside school. A great success on both counts!

2. BBC ‘Children in Need’ day

This special day, organised by the BBC, takes place each November. People from all over the UK do fun things for money. Lots of celebrities join in too. Millions of pounds are raised for children’s charities at home and abroad.

‘Pudsey Bear’ is the mascot for Children in Need day. We have lots of fun dressing up!

3. The Children’s Society

Christmas is a time for giving and sharing. Almost every year, our Woodheys choir joins other schools at Manchester Cathedral for a festive concert.

A special collection is made after the concert and the money given to The Children’s Society, a well-known UK children’s charity.

Here are our choir in Manchester cathedral, singing a carol (Christmas song) specially written

for the occasion by Mr Byrne, our Music specialist.

“Ready, steady… go!”

The finishing line!

In 2012, our children had a lot of fun running a ‘Sport Relief Mile’, which meant running around our school field 5 times! Their combined achievement raised lots of money!

4. Sport Relief Day

Sport Relief Day is held every two years. People are encouraged to complete lots of fun sports challenges to raise funds for charities across the UK.

5. Comic Relief Day

Comic Relief Day (or ‘Red Nose Day’) takes place every two years. It’s another great chance to have lots of fun while raising money for charity.

Our pupils dress up,tell jokes and play lots of tricks …the teachers never know quite what to expect…!

6. Peace Mala Project

The Peace Mala project was set up in the wake of the 9/11 disaster to promote peace, understanding and harmony between people of different religions and cultures.

Woodheys Primary was the first school in England to achieve a Peace Mala Award. Pupils and staff are encouraged to wear the rainbow bracelet as a symbol of tolerance.

7. Royal Society for the Protection of BirdsEvery year we support the work of the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) by doing a survey of the birds we can see in our grounds.

Our results are added to those of other groups around the UK. This, in turn, provides vital information for the RSPB.

To help us identify the different species, we have a special board in our grounds, showing the birds which visit our area most frequently.

The following slides show some of the activities we have enjoyed in connection with international

organisations...

International Solidarity Actions

1. The AfriTwin Project

For several years, through the AfriTwin project, Woodheys has been ‘twinned’ with two schools in Durban, South Africa.

We have gained so much from these links and the money we have raised helped to establish a new learning centre at Vumokuhle Primary School, our partner school in the township of Umlazi in Durban.

2. ‘Fish and Chips Babies’ project

One of our teachers told us about this project, which invites people to use up leftover wool to knit small jumpers and hats for new-born babies in poverty-stricken areas of the world.

There was a great response and she was able to send over 400 sets to Africa, all knitted by volunteers from our school community. A simple idea with an amazing result!

3. Water Aid