In 2012 our school entered into a sister school relationship with Chang An Hua Yuan Elementary School in Wujiang, on the banks of Taihu Lake, west of Shanghai.
The purpose of this arrangement is to enable the development of Asia Literacy across our school. This entails students having knowledge of Asian cultures and how they have impacted on Australian culture, history and commerce, as well as how this will grow in the future.
This is mandated by the Australian Curriculum, but we see it as an important part of our aim to develop literate, numerate, adaptable citizens of the 21st century.
Since it began, the relationship has developed to the point where we are using Skype to enable contact between our 3 – 6 class and senior students in Wujiang. Teachers in the two schools are also starting to make contact to explore the similarities and difference between our two school systems.
Our principal, Rick Scott, has traveled to Wujiang twice since the beginning of 2012 to initiate and nurture our sister school relationship and we are hoping to host personnel from Chang An Hua Yuan School in the near future.