NIKI JOHNSON, Manager of British Council Jamaica, is expected to present a cheque for the JA-dollar equivalent of £1,000 to the Principal of Mona Heights Primary School, Shirley Jackson on Monday, November 4.
The money was collected by Mona's 'twin' school Godwin Junior - which is also donating teaching resources and gym-wear, now on its way to Jamaica by courier, courtesy of the British Council.
In February 2002, three teachers from Godwin Junior School in Newham, London visited Mona Heights Primary School and were very inspired by the work of the teachers there.
On their return to the UK they teamed up with seven other schools in the Forest Gate area of London and with the help of a local theatre company, put on a musical ('hip hopera') production called "The Crow's Gate", with funding from the Newham Education Business Partnership. The proceeds from the sale of tickets to the show are being donated to Mona Heights Primary, along with over 1,000 pounds worth of gymwear and teaching resources/equipment.
The Crow's Gate was a unique and ambitious project, and one of the largest theatre events of its kind. Altogether there were around 600 performers taking part, with a wide range of ages (infant, primary and high school). Professional playwright Peter Cann visited all the schools involved, and gathered ideas from the performers about what it means to live in Forest Gate today. He also spent time researching the rich history of the area.
A number of Godwin students are of Afro-Caribbean descent, and one Godwin child has a cousin at Mona. The schools have already exchanged penpal letters, and Godwin is applying to the Department for Education in the UK for funds to help develop a curriculum-based link with Mona. Mrs. Johnson will visit Godwin Junior School in November, and is looking forward to seeing a display currently mounted at the school, about the teachers' visit to Jamaica.
Students from Mona Heights will perform at the British High Commission during a joint reception also celebrating the Council's Web School Linking Project, and the Liquid Light Photographers Exchange Project.
