3:25pm Thursday 21st February 2008
By Lois Avery
PUPILS at Hullavington Primary School played traditional rhymes, songs and clapping games to welcome visitors from other European countries.
Older children played the piano and wind instruments at an assembly in front of the teachers from schools in Poland, Sweden and Italy respectively.
The two day visit was part of a partnership set up to promote understanding between different European countries.
The two-year Comenius programme was set up by the European Commission's Education and Training body in 2007.
Pupils from Hullavington have already exchanged letters and cards with pupils in Fagersta in Sweden, Piacenza in Italy and Biale Blota in Poland.
At Christmas they shared information about festive customs and now they are now looking at playground games and rhymes.
The pupils exchange pictures and information by writing letters, and using electronic data.
Headteacher John Barlow said "It was a pleasure to host this visit. The children really wanted to find out about the schools in the other countries and they very much enjoyed speaking to the teachers.
"We are looking forward to finding out much more about life in Sweden, Italy and Poland over the next two years."
The pupils also gave a display of Nepalese dancing and the visitors tasted Nepalese dishes prepared by parents.
Comenius co-ordinator at Hullavington, Mary Wingrove, said: "The idea is that children become more familiar with school life in other cultures so they feel more involved with life in Europe as part of the EU.
"It is also a good chance for teacher development and we have learned from the visits as well."
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