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South African students and St. Mary's students inspire each other in landmark visit

For the past three years at St. Mary’s students have travelled to Kwa Zulu Natal to work in one of South Africa’s poorest communities.  St. Mary’s students have coached sport, taught other curricular lessons, provided in service training for teachers and sports coaches and mentored students in leadership skills.

In June a group of South African students and teachers visited St. Mary’s.  The party included Mr William Vilakazi, Principal, teachers Miss Mazet Langa, Mrs PK Zondi and Mr Zwe Mbambo and students Chris Bhengu, Muthoko Dlamuka, Anna Mbambo, Nduh Khanyile, Spah Ndlovu, Siphakamiso Thamsanqa Ndlovu, Precious Nxumalo, Nondumiso Sibisi, Zamah Zuma, Sho Zuma and Wonder Zazwe. The South African students received a fantastic welcome in Leeds; being special guests at the Rhinos/Bulls game and at the Yorkshire v Derbyshire 20/20 cricket match. 

Their visit coincided with the International Breeze Festival in Leeds and the St. Mary’s International Week where the normal timetable was suspended and all students worked on Global Citizenship themes. At the Breeze International Youth Festival, the South African students had the opportunity to work with students from China, USA, Poland, Sweden and Czech Republic in a range of cultural, sporting and academic activities. 

The students from Mnyakanya School launched the St. Mary’s International Week at an Olympic styled Sports Day at the John Charles Centre for Sport. The group participated in a range of events and even gained second place of eight teams in the 4x100m sixth form relay. 

During the week at St. Mary’s, the students participated in International Week activities and had the opportunity to improve and develop their sporting and leadership skills. They also engaged in creative opportunities in art and music, contributing to the International week mosaic mural and composing a Bambisanani anthem. The African students were also introduced to computing skills by St. Mary’s students.  

The group visited a range of historic and cultural sits in the Yorkshire region. Mr Geldart, Assistant Headteacher and founder of the Bambisanani Partnership said:- “It is wonderful to have achieved “two way traffic” in our partnership work.  This is the first time a group of students and staff from rural Kwa Zulu Natal have ever left the country on such an exchange.  I hope this is the start of many more international visits for students and teachers from Mnyakanya.  Quite simply, we all have so much to learn from each other.  To see the students from both countries working together is inspirational.  The Mnyakanya students and teachers have been outstanding ambassadors for Kwa Zulu Natal and indeed South Africa.” 

Mr William Vilakazi, Principal at Mnyakanya School was equally enthusiastic about the partnership and the visit to the UK:- “We have overcome many barriers to be in the UK and it is wonderful.  The students are inspired and my community is inspired.  Every day we are learning and growing.  Three years ago it was said that such a visit would be impossible but working with David and St. Mary’s School in the Bambisanani Partnership we have done it and we can now do it again.  I cannot believe the welcome we have received from the people of Leeds. The St. Mary’s International week is truly amazing as are the opportunities given to all students to develop leadership skills”. 

Sports Day 2009                                                       

  

June 29th 2009, the day that the first ‘International Week’ hit St. Mary’s !  The whole of Years 7, 8 and 9 travelled across Leeds to the John Charles Centre for ‘Sports Day’, a celebration of all things Track and Field.

Split into continent groups the students sat and worked alongside students from other year groups which added a different dynamic to the day.  The military style operation to transport all students to the stadium allowed events to start early with athletes venturing off to all corners of the mighty impressive stadium.  As ever, records toppled with six being smashed by the end of the day.  Niall Heaton was star of the day with two records to his name.  One of those records, the Year 8 Long Jump, had stood for 20 years when A. Kelly jumped 4.94m.  Heaton added an impressive 13 cm onto that distance, and we’re sure it will be another 20 years before its broken again.  Heaton also broke the Year 8 boys 800m record with his time of 2.34.31 secs to complete a tremendous day for the 13 year old.

Other records went to Sam Gate in the Year 7 boys High Jump who equaled last year’s height of 1.35m.  Michael Waldron threw a huge 33.97m in the Javelin to beat S.Owen’s 1994 record by a narrow margin.

 Olivia Sharp broke the 7 year old record in the Year 8 girls Shot Put, throwing 8.18m.  The day ended with a great team performance in the Year 8 girl’s 4x100m relay when tutor group 8 More beat the 22 year old record by less than two hundredths of a second.

                                      

International Week                                                    

                                           

“Many Nations One Community: Developing Global Citizens

at St. Mary’s and beyond”

The programme for International Week promises to be a really exciting opportunity for all students to experience a different learning environment packed with some interesting and varied activities. Normal teaching groups and time table will be suspended to allow pupils to work in small groups of mixed age range in order to undertake more in-depth study of various continents and the issues we all face as a global community.

 As well as some thought-provoking sessions which will be delivered by outside agencies including Leeds University, Oxfam and the Millennium Goals Agency, there will be many cultural opportunities on offer for us all to enjoy the richness and diversity of other cultures and meet students and adults from other countries who will be in Leeds to celebrate the Breeze Youth Festival.  There will be the chance to try out some indigenous sports and have a go at learning some new dances. Qualified flamenco, salsa, street dancing, and belly – dancing instructors will be on hand to share their expertise.

The acclaimed musician, Ross Moore, will show pupils how to develop their sense of rhythm through Indian and Caribbean drumming.  In true international cooperation some of our well-loved local restaurants have very kindly offered to come into school and share their culinary knowledge. There will be cookery demonstrations from around the world and we are looking forward to sampling signature dishes from The Olive Tree, Saffron and La Cantina Sol and hopefully learn a few new recipes. Perhaps they may even encourage some of our young people to help out more in the kitchen!