St Mary’s Primary School have been extremely fortunate to have a Russian head teacher spend time in their school. The purpose of her visit was to see how children are taught in UK and compare this to Russian schools.
She spent time in all classes, working with children and doing lots of different activities, such as basic Russian greetings, counting and traditional Russian poetry. She retold a Russian version of the Enormous Turnip, which the children loved and were able to act out.
Year 5 children were lucky enough to receive letters from some of Natalia’s students and have replied to them during one of their literacy lessons. They have also learnt the first part of a traditional Russian Christmas poem called “The Forest Raised a Christmas Tree.”
Natalia went with Year 6 children to the safety carousel, held at Aycliffe Business Park, and experienced how we teach children to be safe on the roads, near water, in the home and, also, with information technology.
Natalia very kindly presented the school with a beautiful painting, one of her teachers had painted. It depicts her hometown in winter, a true winter wonderland indeed.
On Wednesday, Natalia was invited for afternoon tea at County Hall to meet the Vice Chairman, who presented her and her colleagues with a memento from Durham.
The children have enjoyed having Natalia in school and have been fascinated to find out about Russia, her school and the children. In saying thank you to her we held an assembly where the children shared some of the lovely things she had taught them during the week and presented her with gifts, cards and mementos for her to take home with her to Russia, including a water colour painted by Thomas Hodson from Year 5. The Mayor of Great Aycliffe Mary Dalton also attended the assembly and presented Natalia with a lapel badge and key ring on behalf of Great Aycliffe Council.
It has been such a very worthwhile and positive experience and we are keen to keep in touch and build up links with Natalia’s school in the future.
