The Global Classroom Partnership

The Global Classroom Partnership South Africa has been operational at South Peninsula High School since 2003. We are proud that it is possible for SP to be involved and to sustain such a unique programme. The programme involves high schools from the following countries: the Shetland Islands, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Germany, South Africa, Australia and Japan. There is a possibility that the USA will join the programme.

The following was written by Jamie-Lee van Niekerk, one of the SP participants in the 2007 programme.

‘The Global Classroom is an organisation consisting of eight participating countries (mentioned above). Every year a number of students are chosen from each participating partner school. They then travel to a chosen country each year for a conference that lasts about 16 days. At the conference they discuss an important issue and its effects on society. This year (2007) our topic is Responsibility. This is sub-divided into social responsibility, ecological responsibility and school responsibility. We have another school working with us, the Academy of Mathematics, Science and Technology. Five of their students will be attending the conference.’ Read more about the 2007 Conference in Diepholz, Germany.

In 2008 the Conference was held at Zlin in the Czech Republic. The students were accompanied by Mrs Dana Marinus and Ms Deidre Bastian. In 2009 it was held in the Shetland Islands. The participants were Abdeah Davis, Tarryn de Kock, Robin Demas, Nadia Darries, Lindsey Sadie, Kristeena Mushfieldt, Jodie Stevens, Tiffany Serenge and Fahmeeda Zalgaonker. They were accompanied by teachers Ms Deidre Bastian and Miss Jill Friester.

This year (in June) the Conference will be held in the USA for the first time, at Ridgewood High in New Jersey. The student participants (below, l-r) are Kaylene Baron, Toni Gapad, Ilhaam Boltman, Maxine Newman, Jarryd  Wilks, Talia Francis, Sean Noble and  Samantha Sprague. They will be accompanied by Ms Georgina Klainhans and Ms Jill Friester.

One of the projects initiated by the Global Classroom is the development and maintenance of an indigenous garden at the school. The Botanical Society based at Kirstenbosch has been extremely helpful in this regard. Click here for some photos showing the development.

For more on the Global Classroom, visit http://globalclassroom.cz or www.schoolofambition.org.

(Updated 16 May 2009)