Following a successful application to The British Council, we are creating connections in an exciting new partnership focused on sharing stories and promoting reading for pleasure. 50 schools across the UK have been paired with 50 Ukrainian schools for a year-long reading project. 

Three years ago Ghost’s dad chased him and his mum down the road with a gun. His dad got ten years in prison, and Ghost learned how to run. 

Ghost, real name Castle Cranshaw, is a teenager who spends a lot of time alone and bored whilst his single mother works long hours at the hospital to support them. He is constantly in trouble at school, where he feels an outcast in his non-label clothes and outfits which are always too big as his mum needs to buy him things he won’t outgrow too quickly. 

He walks home from  school in slow-motion each day as the prospect of being alone in the apartment, with its harrowing memories is not an appealing prospect. The highlights of his journeys are the daily interaction with Mr Charles in the neighbourhood store where he stops to buy sunflower seeds to snack on, and watching people working out through the windows of the gym. One afternoon Ghost’s eye is caught by an athletics practice taking place on the running track at his local park… a coincidence that could change his life. 

Running. That’s all Ghost has ever known. But he’s been running for all the wrong reasons – until he meets Coach who sees something in Ghost: crazy natural talent. If Ghost can stay on track, he could be the best sprinter in the city. Can Ghost harness his raw talent for speed, or will his past finally catch up to him? 

Class 2.2 shared ideas and began to create storyboards focused on the scene in the novel

Ghost has never thought of athletics as a sporting option – basketball is his thing. But now, after challenging a sprinter to a race at the local track, he’s won himself a place on an elite running team. To keep it, he just needs to stay out of trouble. That’s easier said than done when Brandon Sanderson is in your face every day at school, you can’t forget your painful past, and when you want a new pair of trainers so badly you’d do anything to get them. 

Pupils shared thoughts on the poem and its themes.

Class 2.2 learned about Auld Lang Syne  and good old times and friendships.

Their video has been  shared with class 8A.

Well done to everyone!

Briliant!

Because, the pupils said, it is about new beings.

Nostalgia and good times, the pupils said.

Sharing what would make us pick up and read a book

Discussing the video

Answering questions 

Remembrance Day facts.

Thoughts about the book How War Changed Rondo

Lots of facts shared

Which was VE Day. 

Collaborating and connecting

UK is 11 November and Ukraine is 8 May - Remembrance Day

 The town is named Rondo because the flowers could sing, and “the vocal performances of the town’s anthem—Mozart’s Rondo alla Turca—were the biggest draw.” Everything in Rondo is normal until a whisper arises that “war is coming to Rondo.” These words loom in menacing letters on a dark page unlike all the other previous colourful images illustrated by the authors themselves. We meet the fictional town of Rondo and the three friends Danko, Fabian, and Zirka in the story.

As war comes to Rondo, the residents learn that “war touched everyone” and “war has no heart.” Danko illuminates humanity once again by singing Mozart with the flowers, and Zirka and Fabian build a machine that promotes the townspeople to sing; therefore, war freezes and the pages get colourful once again even though “not everything in Rondo could be fully repaired.” 

Flowers

Music

National Dances

Sportsmen

It was lovely for staff to have this first online meeting since the workshops.

Katia met Miss Macdonald too.

This was a catch-up  on the project so  far and sharing our plan for the weeks ahead.

We had time to chat, to connect, to look forwards and to laugh. Katia is excited about our project and has been busy researching Scotland and even recited a little Robert Burns to Mrs Toonen.

She is especially excited about the Loch Ness Monster and wants our pupils to tell her more about our real-life Nessie.  We now have a plan in place 

During the workshops, all heard how schools can connect and build cross-cultural understanding through reading for pleasure. 

Our activities focused on sharing effective practice and developing plans for the session ahead.

 We are very excited about collaborating on this joint global learning project which is focused on reading for pleasure. 

Both schools and both countries are excited about this collaboration with Hadyatsky Lyceum No. 1  and Elgin Academy and to strengthening links and learning, developing more international awareness and to lots of reading for pleasure.

The foundational workshops, delivered by the British Council and National Literacy Trust, aim to support partners to develop trauma-informed educational projects and build a sustainable international partnership. 

Lots to share with our partner class in Ukraine.

The Book Team worked on their film of the school, which will be shared with the class in our partner school.

Harrison did a great job describing the project and the journey so far to new Head Student Ben.

Votes in!

Five fantastic tiles were whittled down to three and then to one!

It was an exciting time on 25 June as the class heard about the books nominated by the  class Book Team and voted for their favourite.

The book with the most votes was Ghost by Jason Reynolds and this is the book we will sahre with our partners in Ukraine

Filming on the rugby pitch

The Film Team made plans for a video and began filming in the school's ampitheatre.

Mrs Toonen and Miss Macdonald and members of class 2.2 will collaborate on this project and they aim to roll out it to other classes in Elgin Academy. We are all very excited about this new and innovative partnership programme, which aims to explore reading as a tool to expand horizons, build confidence and boost mental wellbeing. It also helps young people feel more able to deal with difficult emotions and feel more confident. Through reading, children can experience different perspectives and build empathy for people who are different. It can help children facing adversity make sense of their own experiences and give others an understanding of the battles others face.