We’ve had to wait almost a year for our pupils to meet up again with their friends from Parker, and not in the USA this time, but here in Barcelona.
First thing on Sunday morning, a large group of parents, brothers and sisters, and our nine St. Peter’s hosts gathered together at the “Arrivals Gate” at Barcelona Airport to welcome their visitors. Each time the doors opened, levels of excitement rose until finally Arlo, Isa, Ava, Alex, Anya, Adam, Megan, Jackson and Dylan, together with their teachers, Teresa and Kate, finally came out to be greeted by cheers and a sea of smiling faces.
There’s been little time to suffer from jetlag! On Sunday evening the group met up at the bowling alley, near Camp Nou, (thanks Mr Salvadó and Mr. Sam for looking after the group so well!) and then it was off to School first thing on Monday morning. Miss Giner’s informative presentation on Modernism gave both sets of pupils points to look out for during our Modernist Barcelona tour and the trip itself produced photographic material for an Art project later in the week.
Tuesday started with two practical science workshops making cotton-wool-firing catapults with Kate and producing real-life rainbows using prisms and light with Miss Kehoe. It was then back to the city centre to do a workshop on math(s!), in the Barcelona Museum of Inventions, using skills acquired in Miss Trini´s “Thinking Skills” classes. The group strolled down to the port for a picnic lunch at Maremagum before returning to School for a well-earned rest!
As we reach the halfway stage of the Exchange, it is clear that the next few days are going to be equally full. Today, 1st ESO are taking Alex, Megan, Adam and the others to CosmoCaixa, Barcelona’s interactive Science Museum, to continue investigating light and colour and then in the afternoon our Parker friends are visiting Classes 5 & & in Primary School to get an idea of their work.
Have a look at the following slideshow with pictures of the activities done until now:
And what about the rest of the week? Thursday will see our visitors helping our youngest pupils in Foundation and Classes 1-4. Later they’ll be attending normal classes with their hosts before joining in with 2nd ESO making a Gaudí-style mosaic from their Modernist Barcelona photos.
The last day at School will begin with a Farewell Assembly, a final series of classes then it’ll be off to the Sagrada Família to discover the interior of doubtlessly the most famous building in the city. Later in the afternoon Parker will meet up with their St. Peter’s counterparts to witness one of the most spectacular sights the city has to offer: the “Magic Fountain” in front of the “Palau Nacional”.
Apart from seeing and learning lots about the city and, of course, St. Peter’s School, we hope that this leg of the trip will provide lasting memories for both sets of pupils, learning from the differences between Parker and St. Peter’s and celebrating the things we all have in common.
