Dolphins make friends across the Channel

ON TUESDAY last week

Dolphin School Year 6 pupils had a great first day back when they welcomed 48 children and six staff from Twyford’s twin town of Cuincy for an afternoon of joint activities.

The French children from the Ecole Joliot Curie had had an early start, leaving home at 5am, but they arrived in Hurst shortly after lunch, excited about what lay ahead.

The children were divided up into four groups with their new English friends and set off for a carousel of activities.

They learnt how to play netball, overcame communication difficulties to participate in team building exercises, drew their partner’s portrait and learnt a new song.

At the end of a busy afternoon the children all gathered in the school hall where the choir of some 80 children performed Proud by Heather Small to an invited audience of parents and Twinning Committee members and friends.

The French children also sang Happy Birthday to

Hazel Evans, the chair of the Twinning Committee.

Headmaster Adam Hurst presented the French Headteacher Caroline

Poupart with a copy of

Dolphin founder, Ophelia Follett’s book Freedom to Learn as a memento of their visit.

In return the French gave Dolphin a calendar from the town of Cuincy.

This was then followed by an afternoon tea with sausage rolls and iced fairy cakes for the children and scones with cream and jam for the adults.

Sadly, it was then time for the French group to leave but it is hoped that the two schools will maintain an exchange link via letters and documents.