4ward together in education

Two years ago a Danish teacher sent us a short e-mail saying: "Would your school like to participate in a new Comenius project along with three other European schools - the Istituto Comprensivo Galileo Galilei of Pisa, Italy, Plascrug Primary School of Aberyst-wyth, Wales, and Lunskolen Primary School of Horsens, Denmark?"

All our teaching staff discussed the matter carefully knowing that if we joined, the work would be very challenging and require serious commitment. Our school management team assured everybody that the school had what it took to participate in these EU programmes especially motivation, teamwork and the required ICT, pedagogical and other skills.

We knew that the project would be spread over three consecutive years and participation would involve serious planning, organisation and hard work by everybody concerned.

But we also realised that participation would also bring with it important educational benefits not just for us teachers and our organisation, but more importantly for all the school children. We would not let this golden opportunity pass us by and so our school became the fourth partner school in the Socrates-Comenius School Development Project called 4Ward Together in Education.

We are now in the first phase which seeks to compare and contrast management and organisational structures in the four partner schools - at both school and classroom level. School brochures, newsletters, policies, staff handbooks, photographs, videos, and curriculum documents, from the four partner schools have been exchanged.

Many pupils have initiated individual communication with their peers from abroad. Greeting cards and letters have been sent and received, replies despatched... Children also send and receive e-mails and photographs. The classroom computers, Internet network provision as well as our brand new resource room are all being used to promote this very exciting work.

Year 4 teacher Miriam Grech and Year 2 teacher Jacqueline Montanaro are helping to co-ordinate the project supported by many other members of the teaching staff.

Internet sessions are being organised to help our pupils exchange information with their new friends from overseas about their class, school, home and wider environment, typical class/home routines, extra-curricular activities, hobbies and interests. Our new school Website at http://schoolnet.gov.mt/mxlokkprimaryc (webmaster Ms Grech) - which was developed partly in preparation for our Comenius participation - is used as an important communication tool not only with the Italian, Welsh and Danish schools but also with our pupils' parents and with the local and wider community. The children are so thrilled when they see their work, photos and other material exhibited on the Web!

In Phases 2 and 3 our school development project will be concerned with a comparison of the existing curriculum provision, the integration of ICT into the different subject areas as well as pupil assessment provision in the four schools.

All these and other aspects will be dealt with at school management level while video links will be provided to make it possible for teachers to observe classroom organisation, typical class lessons, play arrangements, educational outings, use of teacher/pupil produced resources and so many other activities connected with learning and teaching work.

Teachers will be able to compare existing school/class teaching facilities and resources in the four schools. We also plan to investigate the motivation and integration of pupils with specific educational learning needs whether these be emotional, behavioural, social, physical or ethnic.

Our school held Comenius Week between January 21 and 25; 12 representatives from our partner schools (three Danes, five Welsh and four Italians) came to Malta to discuss key issues. They met with teachers, kindergarten assistants, facilitators, members of the auxiliary staff, and spoke to parents and members of the local community.

Most importantly, they saw our pupils at work and play, spoke to them and often got ready answers. The visitors joined the children in their two special displays which gave them to opportunity to appreciate Maltese folklore, cuisine and custom while being entertained by our pupils' singing and dancing.

They watched ITC-assisted lessons and examined the children's Com-enius projects in the exhibition which was put up specially. They saw our kindergarten pupils busily working with their teachers, our facilitators reaching out to our three SEN children.

On January 24, we gave everybody - but especially the children - a special treat when we held a Police Work and Road Safety Day at the school. Our thanks go to the Police Commissioner and his personnel for ensuring that everything went just beautifully!

Mr Grech is head of Marsaxlokk primary school.