After winning the prestigious International School Award (ISA) in 2015, the school became the pioneers in the city to be formally invited by the British Council as part of the student exchange program.
A team of 10 students accompanied by the Principal Ms. J.K. Sidhu and ISA Co-ordinator Ms. Ruchita Pasricha visited the partner school, St. Mary’s Church of England Primary Academy in Folkestone, Kent, England from 15th to 23rd June 2016. The team was invited at the Headquarters of the British Council in Central London where the students interacted with Mr. John Rolfe (Manager Schools, Programmes and Projects BC) and his team on Sustainable Development Goals(SDG)-2030.
The meeting with the poet, Mr. Phillips Wells, the man behind the ‘Barefoot Billion Project’, who read out a poem by Rumi, especially for the DAV team, was the icing on the cake. Later the team visited the host school. The charts made by the DAVians under the ‘Barefoot Billion Project’ were displayed at the reception of the host school to welcome the DAV team. This thoughtful gesture made by Mr. Traver North(Principal) and Mrs. Colette Cotton(International Co-ordinator) reminisced the old memories and strengthened the emotional bonds.
The colorful classrooms decorated with educative and informative 3D charts showed creativity and the commitment of the teachers. The team appreciated the simple yet effective manner of inculcating discipline and punctuality, extending hospitality and prioritizing teaching over any other commitment. The host school organized the Cultural Event in which students from seven schools of Folkestone, Kent participated and displayed the culture of different countries across the globe including India. The DAV team presented a mime on “Unity in Diversity” and also the Traditional Bhangra which was appreciated by one and all. “The teachers along with their contingent of students walked miles to attend the event. No jostling, no chaos, just being an eco friendly and a compliant workforce- the realization of this gave us a lesson for life,” recounted Ms. Pasricha. Besides the visit to three other schools- Christ Church, Folkestone Academy and Folkestone Grammar School for Girls, the itinerary also included site seeing at Tower Bridge, Tower of London, Big Ben, Madame Tussauds, Trafalgar Square, London Eye, Folkestone Beach near English Channel and River Cruise on the river Thames. The ecstatic children went clicking the Parliament House and the splendid Buckingham Palace.
“The warm welcome received by us at London, the effortless ease with which our students interacted at the HQ British Council gives us a sense of pride. We have returned a lot more enlightened, enriched and energized. Such educative exchange programs shall certainly stand our students in good stead,” signed off the Principal Ms. JK Sidhu. That the coveted visit found place in the official Twitter account of Schools Online British Council the very next day of the visit, speaks volumes about the success of the landmark expedition.