JDMcDsblog

Here’s an interesting slide presentation I found on SlideShare. Given the current concerns about world food shortages and rising prices, it seem more important than ever to consider the world’s food supply and how we can avoid people falling into famine and starvation.

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I am hoping to use this blog, and the associated HutchieInternational wiki to build up an “e-partnership” with two schools in Germany. These are the Hans Sachs gymnasium, Nurnberg, and the Hildegardis Schule in Hagen. Our school has had a long standing exchange with Hans Sachs, and we hope to develop a new kind of e-twin relationship, focusing on curricular matters. I know the Hagen area better, as I used to teach in Gutersloh, which is not far from the Ruhrgebiet and I spent some time exploring the nearby Sauerland. I very much hope that we can begin a dialogue and learn more about the geography of these two very different regions of Germany. We are particularly interested in the concept of “ecoschools” and want to find out how German schools tackle environmental issues. How green are the schools? How much do they recycle? Do they source local food? How much thought goes into building designs and energy efficiency? What can we learn from each other about how to encourage students to respect the environment. Also, we are interested in the local geography-how have the economies changed? Is heavy industry still important in the Ruhr? What are the population issues? In Scotland we have a large Polish community, for example. How has EU enlargement affected Germany?
I hope we can use shared spaces on the wiki or on Flickr to showcase pupil art work, and create a communal, virtual gallery. Please add your comments on how you feel we can use blogs and wikis to develop international links.

Plant Tubs, Hidden Gardens

Originally uploaded by jmmcdgll

Visited the Hidden Gardens at the Tramway today. Came away full of ideas about how we might use this lovely space:

Hold joint Primary/Secondary EcoSchools commitee meeting
Why limit meeting to our school-can we set up an area EcoSchools group?? Meet every term in Tramway?
Seems to be scope for performing spaces or for alternative assemblies.
Can we adopt some iconic ideas for our own “Secret Garden”, eg a wishing tree, to which pupils afix thoughts, wishes, hopes? Do we make full use of our Secret Garden? How do we use our spaces at school?
Tie in with Duke of Edinburgh service or holiday work as volunteer
S2 Media Group project-give something back to the Tramway which they can use?
Attend more Tramway events