Banana Island School Pupils Show Talents At Open Day

STUDENTS of Banana Island recently held their Open Day. The event was an exciting one, as it served the purpose of showcasing the children’s artistic talents, output from Maths Week and ICT Week, as well as, the touching social consciousness of the young children selling lemonade and cookies to raise money for the Pacelli School for the Blind, the school’s chosen charity for the year. The School Director, Mrs. Moulin Marriott described the sale as a tremendous experience for the chil- dren. She said its benefits to the children include improvement in Maths skills and overall help to the learning process.

She said: “In the process of preparation, they have to know the quantity of sugar, water and they had to count the lemons. They also had to work out the money, deduct the price and give back change to buyers. Everything is a learning process in the school, even when you are having fun.”

The occasion was also an opportunity to introduce the school’s exciting French immersion bilingual programme commencing in September 2018. Alliance Francaise was duly represented at the Open Day and gave an enlightening presentation. The serene and lush surroundings, the focus on using natural materials wherever possible, the almost retro insistence on traditional playground games and songs, good manners, all made one to relive childhood and ponder ‘la recherche du temps perdu.’ Obviously, the children are being groomed to face the future with courage and confidence with their coding lessons and the varied opportunities for contextualised learning outside the class- room.

One of the highlights of the event was the visit to the Fire Station, which the parents enjoyed as much as the children. There was also the bonfire night, where Guy Fawkes got his comeuppance; the messy colour play of Holi celebration; Purim dress, and then the visit to a real violin factory for the ‘Making and Doing’ theme.

Here, the children not only got a chance to touch, feel and help in the making of violin; the recount and thank-you letter for the follow on English lesson was truly impressive. The Listening Walks incorporate 2D and 3D shape searches, colour and sound discrimination exercises; the mapping skills walk and regular outdoor learning lessons really do utilise the fantastic setting of Banana Island, where the school is located.

With a longing look at the blue waters of the pool and the endearing smiles of the children playing a refrain in the mind, the enduring thought is a wistful one – Ah, to be a child again!