Getting ready to board

We are now just waiting in the airport to leave Beirut after an absolutely fantastic week. The teachers at Mohammad Shamel school do such an amazing job in such difficult circumstances. Thank you to everyone for their hospitality this week.

Planning for next year

Today we have also managed to squeeze in some time to plan a timetable of projects for this upcoming year. We have planned a whole range of exciting topics covering a range of global areas.

Sidon

This afternoon we visited the beautiful city of Sidon this is located about 25km south of Beirut. This city has kept its olden day charm with its narrow streets and old buildings. 

Grade 6 English Lessons

For the last two lessons of the day I was lucky enough to teach Grade 6 English, this lesson looked at synonyms for different feelings related to the Special Olympics. 

Lessons

Next we had time to go into some lessons to observe and help the children with their English. I went into a grade 6 science lesson and I was very impressed by the children's level of scientific knowledge then into a Grade 2 English lesson again I was impressed with the value placed on learning English.

Mrs Dagg watched Kindergarten 3 then grade 3 and Grade 4 English.

Final day in school.

Today was our final day in school. First this morning Mrs Dagg and me did a question and answer session with some of the children they were very interested in British cultures and our school life.

Jeita Grotto

This afternoon we visited the Jeita Grotto, this is an amazing cave system located about 10 miles outside of Beirut in the mountains. The stalagmites and stalactites were simply breathtaking it is no wonder this was nominated for the new 7 wonders of the world.

International School Award meeting

This morning I attended the International School Award meeting hosted by the British Council in Beirut. This gave me the opportunity to meet a number of international coordinators many of whom I have set up with partner schools in Lincolnshire. What came across at the meeting was how passionate all the teachers were about developing the international dimension in their schools and the great value they place on partnering with a UK school.

Clowns

This afternoon we had a group of clowns visit school, this was put on by War Child. The purpose of this was bring emotional relief to those children affected by war using laughter, humour and play. It was amazing seeing the children's smiles at the clowns, for an hour this afternoon the pupils forgot all their troubles and were able to be children again.

English Lessons at Mohammad Shamel

Once back at Mohammad Shamel I managed to go into and help in some English classes. 

Makassed Khalil Shehab School

This morning we visited Makassed Khalil Shehab School this again is a private school and is in a partnership with a Lincoln school which we helped set up. While visiting this school we managed to observe some lessons, a mathematics/ geometry lesson, an English lesson and an Arabic lesson. Again like all the schools we have been in this week the children have been constantly enthusiastic, polite and well behaved.

National Museum of Lebanon

This evening we visited the National Museum of Beirut  this is the principal museum of archeology in Lebanon. The collection was begun after World War I, and the museum was officially opened in 1942. The museum has collections totalling about 100,000 objects.

What was also very interesting was listening to the stories of how during the 1975 Lebanese civil war, the museum stood on the front line that separated the warring factions, but most of the artifacts were saved by last-minute pre-emptive measures.

Football Lesson

This afternoon I have been teaching Grade 4 football skills. The children were really good especially as this is something new to them. We worked on passing and dribbling skills.

FaceTime with the UK.

Once we were back in our partner school we got set up for the FaceTime session with my school in the UK. It was great to see the children talking to each other, this was especially valuable to children here as it gave them the opportunity to use the English they have learnt with a real audience.

Hairi III School

This morning we visited the private school (fee paying) Hairi III. This gave a great contrast to our state (government funded) school. The facilities in the school were fantastic from a dance studio and theatre to an ICT suite of computers. Student to adult ratios also seem much lower.

English Lessons

Finally for today at school we went into some English lessons, it is amazing the value that is placed on learning a second language. The lessons are completely taught in English.

The children were so enthusiastic towards the lessons.

Independence Day Celebrations

Following Independence Day on Saturday the school held its own celebrations today with them retelling the history behind their indepence from France in 1943. The children are all very proud in their country and its heritage.