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Taizhou students visit their Moe Sister School

Moe’s Elizabeth Street Primary School recently hosted seven students and two teachers from its Chinese Sister School, Taizhou Experimental Primary School, treating the visitors to a week of organised activities throughout the region.

By Latrobe City Council - 8th September 2004 - Back to News

The guests visited Powerworks and Narracan Falls, went to a dairy farm and the Moe-Newborough Sports Centre and a concert was also held in their honour.

According to Elizabeth Street Primary School Acting Principal, Margaret Kerr, the student exchange was organised after Elizabeth Street Primary School established a Sister School relationship with Taizhou in 2002.

"Our school is the first primary school in Latrobe City to have a Sister School relationship. The community has shown great support for this initiative, and the visit by the students from Taizhou gave everyone an opportunity to learn about the Sister School connection and also discover another culture. We learn more about tolerance and understanding from personal contact with people from overseas. To share your life, even for a short time with someone from another culture, is a truly enriching experience," Margaret said.

"The Taizhou students, all of whom spoke some English, joined in with the timetabled classes and they thoroughly enjoyed this experience. Friendships were made, stories were told and jokes were shared. These experiences help young children form positive attitudes for life. However, there was also some sadness when the children returned to China," Margaret added.

Latrobe City Mayor, Councillor Darrell White, said Latrobe City’s International Relations Unit had provided a support role for the Sister City School exchange.

"It is very encouraging to see that a number of local primary schools are benefiting from the establishment of Sister School relationships and that these relationships are now advancing with schools regularly hosting students from overseas," Cr White said.

"We live in an age where technology, such as email, makes the world a seemingly smaller place. It makes it possible for children to correspond with their peers in overseas countries sharing day-to-day images and experiences of their life and community in a practical and instantaneous way.

"As such, many children, and adults too, are developing ongoing friendships with those in other lands. The understanding and respect for others that develops as a result of these two-way relationships is being actively encouraged through sister school relationships, and that can only result in a more understanding and harmonious society that will benefit us all," Cr White said.

Deputy Mayor, Councillor Lisa Price, said that the Taizhou Experimental Primary School visit to Moe was followed by a visit to Traralgon Secondary College by middle school students, also from Taizhou.

"This visit was part of Traralgon Secondary College’s Sister School program, which was established in 1999, and further proves that Latrobe’s Sister School and Sister City relationships are going from strength to strength," Cr Price said.

For more information about Latrobe City’s Sister City and Sister School programs contact Leo Billington, telephone 1300 367 700.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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