Sister school agreement with Indonesian school signed at CSC

It was an historic moment in Castlemaine’s education history this week when a sister-school partnership was signed with CSC and SMAN3 Tangerang Selatan Banten Province Indonesia.

Principals from four schools, a representative  from the Indonesian Consulate and a number of students are participating in an intense three-day cultural exchange program as part of the launch of the sister-school partnership.

Students are being billeted with local families, and participating in local English and Indonesian classes,  while the dignitaries are visiting CSC classrooms, a local primary school, and a presentation on the Ultranet  to gleen best practice examples that will contribute to building a high quality local school system in Indonesia.

The partnership aims to  build up friendship and cooperation between our two schools and promote mutual understanding between Australia and Indonesia.

The sister school program goals aim to:

• To strengthen relationships, understanding and appreciation between people in Indonesia and the Castlemaine Secondary College District
• To deepen the understanding of and respect for each others cultures
• To develop opportunities for students and teachers to develop skills which enhance Australia-Indonesia  relationships
• To support the teaching of Indonesian in Victoria and English in Indonesia and to continue to teach the languages, and,
• To develop ties of friendship through regular communication

Sister school activities to deliver these goals include:

• The exchanges of information about  curriculum, school policy and school events,
• The exchange of teaching resources, course materials and teaching strategies,
• The exchange of student work, letters, photos, student newspapers, and,
• Both schools will Endeavour to maintain student, teacher and administrator exchange program to provide the opportunity to study, work and live in the sister school community

The founding agreement with be reviewed in 2013, although principal Mary McPherson told students they were witnessing an historic event, and in 50 years time, they  will remember they witnessed the inaugural signing of the partnership.