Education

SELFLESS: Emily Collins with a Ugandan girl and, above, the eponymous school. Inset, Emily and a Ugandan baby. Below, Jill Mumford at her book signing Picture: STEPHEN COLLINS

Memoir of Dorset schooldays boosts school in Uganda

by Lorraine Gibson

The launch of a book about life in a Wimborne village school has secured essential funding for a school for orphans in Africa. Author Jill Mumford, former head of Hampreston near Wimborne, says that the book-signing event, highlighted in our last issue, raised £1,200 (and counting). “Thank you so much for writing about our book launch,” she says. “Several people mentioned that they’d found out about it in the magazine. “It was a beautiful day and so many former pupils and their families came along. “It was wonderful to see them again and hear about their lives now. Some brought their own children along which was exciting, but certainly marked the passing of years!” Jill, whose memoir is called Those Were The Days, adds: “I signed books and was told the queue at one point involved a two-hour wait. It just shows how dedicated Hampreston people are. I would like to thank everyone who made the day such a success.” Copies were distributed free, with recipients asked to donate to the Emily Collins School in Uganda, a project supporting abandoned children and named after one of Jill’s former pupils who died aged 26. Despite being diagnosed with bone cancer at 16 and undergoing gruelling treatment which severely damaged her heart, Emily defied medical advice and travelled to Uganda to do volunteer work that would help improve the lives of abandoned street children. The experience profoundly affected her so she returned the following year with the same friends, alongside social worker Martin Duhimbaze, who then founded Our Father’s House Ministries, (OFHM), an organisation on a mission to get unprotected children off the streets and to educate them for a more secure future. Emily stayed in contact with them and helped Martin to recruit friends in the UK to provide sponsorship for the children to attend school. More than 140 children are now sponsored. She succeeded, but sadly died in 2017. As a lasting testimony to her selflessness, OFHM has named the school after her and so her legacy - and the fundraising - live on through family and friends. Jill says: “Emily’s father was there to explain the charity and show slides of the work being done.” On his website, her dad Stephen Collins says: “Martin humbly says that our daughter was instrumental in encouraging him to follow his dreams to reach out to the children and youth of Uganda, to set up OFHM and to see his vision for a child ministry centre realised. “He and his team therefore asked if they might name the centre the Emily Collins School. “Emily would have been delighted about the kindergarten, infirmary and community hall, but she would have argued vehemently against it being named after her! “However, we see it as an honour and a lovely tribute to Emily’s love and compassion.” stephencollinsphotography.co.uk/whyofhm/.

Creative way of environment learning

by Tony Horitz

Between March and April this year, children at Rushcombe First School, Corfe Mullen, aged between four and nine, have been learning about the environment in an innovative and creative way that has led to a wealth of high quality learning across the curriculum, as well as developing their commitment and enthusiasm for caring for the environment. Gavin White, deputy headteacher at Rushcombe, invited Tony Horitz, artistic director of Colehill-based State of Play Arts, to collaborate with the school developing a curriculum project based on a new version of the classic picture book The Lorax by Dr, Seuss. Written 50 years ago, but still very topical, the story tells of a fictional land called Gricklegrass, where creatures known as Barbaloots, Hummingfish and Swomme Swans live happily, protected by a hobbit-like spirit of the trees, called the Lorax. Tony brought in a team of three actors to begin the creative process with a short performance in the school hall. Working in role as Ecological Experts (‘Wildlife Warriors’), the children were tasked with finding out what happened to the Lorax and working on ways to make Gricklegrass better. As part of the project, the teachers and children utilised a teaching and learning approach called Mantle of the Expert (MoE). In MoE, children work with their teacher in a very different relationship to the conventional model of education, co-constructing the learning experience with their teachers and peers, and solving either real or fictional problems by working in role for an extended time – the Learning Adventure based on the Lorax lasted five weeks – incorporating all key aspects of the curriculum. This approach, combined with three theatrical inputs during the project by State of Play Arts, made for a rich and stimulating learning experience and a buzz all around the school. The children’s work included researching a range of environmental issues at their age level, including making maps, 3D models and composing pieces of music to express their feelings and ideas about the theme. They also wrote poems, diaries and letters of persuasion. Children and staff were extremely positive about the Learning Adventure, which culminated in each class planting a tree in the school grounds, and every child planting a flowering plant. One Year 3 child said: “The environment is important because it keeps us alive. “Trees help us breathe - they suck in carbon dioxide and breathe out oxygen. So please plant more trees!” Another child commented on the value of the use of the mantle of the expert approach: “It teaches us to be inclusive because in the story everyone gets a say”. There was evidence that the children incorporated their learning into their real lives, including inspiring littericking outings with families and the children engaging in gardening activities. The project represented how children are a beacon of hope for the future of the natural world. If you have a child who is of school starting age, and would like to find out more about Rushcombe First School, please contact the school office on office@ rushcombe.dorset.sch.uk or 01202 695722. You can also visit the school’s website at rushcombe.co.uk.