Hasta Luego Colombia...

Well, it has been an incredibly special and memorable time for us in Medellin, Colombia. We are so grateful to all the teachers and pupils of Manuel Mejía Vallejo who made us feel like 'Manuel Mejia Vallejistas!' We have so many incredible memories and we can't wait to share them with the children back at Rise Park. Hasta Luego y gracias a todos. We will keep adding to the blog so you can keep up to date with all our international projects!

Plaza de Fernando Botero - Fernando Botero square - Medellin

One of Colombia's most celebrated artists both nationally and internationally is Fernando Botero. He is famous for creating and painting large curvaceous figures and we were lucky enough to visit the main square in the centre of Medellin that has many of his sculptures. Which is your favourite?

Very Colombian Celebrations!

Thursday and Friday saw some very special celebrations in the school. On Thursday we were treated to an assembly that celebrated the tradition4of Antioquia. The Year 4 children did a traditional dance that was very professionally done!

 This is Claudia who painted the beautiful mural behind her.

 The school organised a fair on Friday with traditional Antioquian food, drink, music and as you can see in this photo displayed a range of artefacts from the region.

 As Friday was the BIG GAME against Brazil the school got into the football spirit and began celebrating the Colombian success of reaching the quarter finals.

 Traditional silleteros - the children made flower arrangements that represent the flower festival that is celebrated in July.

 Andy, a singer who made the finals of the Colombian equivalent of 'X factor' came to sing at the school! Sra. Cooke couldn't help getting a photo opp!

Antioquia museum

Sra. Cooke and Sra. Blakesley had a very interesting visit to the 'Museum' the Year 10 children organised about the writer Tomás Carrasquilla who was from the Antioquia region. They re-enacted some of his stories and shared information about his life. We learnt  a lot as he wasn't a writer we had heard of before.

 You can see us getting into the 'Paisa' mood with our sombreros (hats) and ponchos.  

The children then taught us about different Colombian dances including: merengue, cumbia and regetton!

English tour of the school

The English tour of the school was very successful - the children took us to different places they thought Rise Parkers might find interesting - such as the outdoor classroom and the workshop in the roof of the school. We will share many more videos when we come back but below is a taster! We plan to repay the favour with a Spanish tour of Rise Park in October. 

Eco-Ideas

In Year 2 Señorita Blakesley told the children the story of ‘Dinosaurs and all that Rubbish’ and the children talked in Spanish about ideas for caring for our planet so it won’t get spoiled. They did the same activity that Year 2 at Rise Park had done, writing ideas and advice on a dinosaur. Year 2 at Rise Park will enjoy comparing their ideas with the ones that MMV children came up with.  

Year 2 enjoying looking at Rise Park Year 2's homework projects about reducing, reusing and recycling. 

 At the heart of school life at Manuel Mejia Vallejo is the commitment to helping to care for planet earth.  To help them to do this, the whole school is involved in Eco Ideas. In a cardboard box in the corner of every classroom the children collect plastic bottles and lids for different projects in school.

 Everyone in the school  is involved in designing various items from plastic bottles, from as small a thing as a flower, to tables! Larger bottles are also used as collection containers for the different things that are made in school. They can even make pencil cases from crisp packets!

 Year 10 spent some time with Señora Cooke and Señorita Blakesley showing us their amazing art work, like these football team badges made partly from recycled materials.