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For pupils of the 48th Primary School in Gdansk-Zaspa 23 June marked the end of the school year. The class that now has a “partner class” at Mt Maunganui’s Polish Language School enjoyed not only the usual in-class celebration with parents. In addition to posing for a formal group photo and receiving “diplomas” of achievement every child was also handed a surprise gift from New Zealand.
Small gifts that made a big impression Eva Niedzielski, the Trust’s treasurer, was in Poland at the time. She had brought with her materials from New Zealand: a box of sea shells, a bag of paua shell pieces, and lots of organza bags. To keep the budding relationship going she prepared little gift bags with a message in each sea shell: A little gift for you from New Zealand. Class teacher Malgorzata Pirszel (pictured below) had the honour of handing out the gifts to all pupils. She reported that everybody was very pleased to receive such a special souvenir from their pals at the other end of the world. |
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In October, even more surprises from the other side of the globe arrived in the mail. The children from the Polish Language School in Mt Maunganui had put together a poster showing a map of New Zealand and places or items of interest in the country. Every child in class also received a personal letter describing some typical New Zealand thing, such as a geographic landmark or phenomenon, an animal or a plant.
The class and teachers in New Zealand were pleased to learn that this surprise, too, had worked out well: the Polish children were excited and very impressed with their unexpected gifts. And of course learning by way of personal letters works a lot better than reading about things in a textbook.
The class and teachers in New Zealand were pleased to learn that this surprise, too, had worked out well: the Polish children were excited and very impressed with their unexpected gifts. And of course learning by way of personal letters works a lot better than reading about things in a textbook.
