Celia Sanchez Manduley School, Cuba
"We have been very impressed with the teaching we have seen. The teachers work very hard, are well trained and have a lot of resources," said Noelio Floers, an English teacher at the Celia Sanchez Manduley High School who visited Sanders Draper at the end of June 2006 with four other teachers from Cuba.
Mauro Peña Pozo, was equally enthusiatic. "It is wonderful to have the change to build a relationship together and to learn about each other's cultures," he said. "Many problems in the workd today are caused by a lack of communication and understanding."
Noelio and Mauro's school is very different to The Sanders Draper School. Celia Sanchez Manduley High School is a rural school where 300 students board in dormitories during the week. Parents visit every Wednesday and the children's lessons finish early on Friday so they can go home to spend the weekend with their family.
"The school is a community," explained Mauro Peña Pozo, who is Head of Year 11 and a physics teacher. "In addition to their studies, students care for the farm animals and work in the fields for two hours, three times a week to produce food for the school and they help server and clear up after meals. In the evenings they do their homework and watch the news and discuss it."
This picture shows the five teachers (including two from Sanders Draper School) who visited the school in April 2006, to being a five year partnership with schools in the Holguin municipality. It is hoped that in future years the school can sponser more teachers and students to visit our link school.
Update 2008
Over the Easter Holidays we have a group of 6 students from Sanders Draper School, visiting Cuba with St.Edwards and Gaynes Schools.
This visit is for the students to get an insight into how the school works in Cuba.
Ms. Tess Blight, Ms. Adele Minter and Mr Tony Machin will be teaching a lesson while they are there.
We hope that they all enjoy the experience.