By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
INTERNATIONAL relations bloomed during a visit from a Chinese delegation at Berwick Lodge Primary School.
Staff and senior students from Hangzhou Zhaohui Experimental Primary School in the Zhejiang Province even shared in a Mandarin lesson led by Berwick Lodge teacher Wen Tian.
The two schools talked about using digital technology to work together, as well as future student and staff exchanges.
Berwick Lodge principal Henry Grossek said the “enjoyable and productive” visit “heralded the development of closer links between students in China and our school”.
Mr Grossek said the HZE school strived to be a “school without boundary” that developed students’ “multi-intelligence”, health, vigour and individuality.
It hosted a range of gifted programs and diverse extra-curricular groups in film-making, literature, painting, sport and music.
“The school leaders are keen to develop closer educational partnerships with Australian schools as part of their quest to ensure their students reap the benefits of an increasingly globalised world,” Mr Grossek said.
Berwick Lodge students are also open to the world. They learn a Prep-Year 6 Mandarin language program, and their school is a member of the state’s Engage With Asia project.
As a memento, the HZE children were given free copies of five picture-story books written by Mr Grossek and illustrated by Magdalena Almero Nocea.
During its four-day trip, the HZE school visited several Melbourne schools and Phillip Island’s fairy penguins.
