Eight pupils set off to global schools forum
EIGHT South Peninsula High School(SPHS) pupils jetted off to New Jersey, US, yesterday, to attend the Global Classroom Partnership’s (GCP) 20th International Conference.
This international education project is based on a network of schools worldwide, which aims to promote global awareness by extending learning and teaching across boarders.
Excited Grade 11 pupils, Amy Schippers, Jody Jane, Keshia Linnett, Nikita van der Vendt, Ashley Jacobs, Dominique de Villiers, Caleb Wolf, Thaakirah Mosavel, and Megan Hanslow said they had been preparing for a year for the conference.
This year’s theme is education, with pupils having had to prepare multi-media presentations on the history of their schools and the level of education within their countries. Started in 1996 by Stewart Hay, an educator from the Shetland Islands, off the UK coast, the programme was initiated in South Africa by former Harold Cressy High School principal Lionel Adriaan and recently sacked South Peninsula High principal Brian Isaacs. Acting SPHS principal Zeid Baker said the GCP has been made possible through the efforts and tenacity of both Adriaans and Isaacs.
Teacher Dana Marinus said the preparations was stressful and co-ordinating at times a nightmare, but the pupils looked forward to representing their province and country.
“Today, we are excited, but also sad, as we miss Brian. He has been instrumental in GCP throughout.
Participant Thaakirah Mosavel from Surrey Estate said she was excited to be able to represent her country. “We made a video presentation of our school history and we can’t wait to meet all the other young people, and to see the US.
“All of us miss principal Isaacs, and we wish he was here.”