Pupils exchange letters with school in South Africa!

This week pupils at Chuckery Primary School received letters and photos from the children in South Africa to whom they wrote messages which Judy Westwater took to South Africa when she visited.  The letters are the start of a sustained project aimed to improve opportunities for international links, raise awareness of life outside of the UK and to create opportunities for pupils to practice their literacy skills.  Later this term pupils will write letters to link schools in Romania and will also write letters to the future children of Chuckery to go into a time capsule being buried as part of the 80th Birthday celebrations in July.

The pupils were greatly moved by the letters and hope to write back to the children in South Africa soon.  The plans are to link each child with a child in South Africa.

It is hoped that the Junk Music project can be extended later in the year by extending it to Romania and beyond within the European Union continuing the 'chain'.  

Judy Westwater visits Chuckery

Judy Westwater, the patron of the Pegasus Children's Trust, visited Chuckery Primary School to watch Junk Music Performances by the children on Thursday 7th April 2011.  Judy had a fantastic time watching the performances and said, 'I have never seen so many children in one school all playing together.  The children are so talented.'

Following the performances, which came about following a discussion with Judy about Street Music performed by the children which the Pegasus Chidlren's Trust supports in South Africa, Judy spoke about her work.  Captivated children heard how Judy, who herself had been a Street Child in South Africa, established the Pegasus Children's Trust in order to help others in a similar position.  Establishing shelters, and places of safety for the children, Judy's work also extends to 'A Second Chance' project which provides opportunities for Street Children to take part in musical and artistic activities to boost their skills and self confidence.

'When a child faces abuse and abandonment early in their life, they have no sense of self.  For a street child to see that even rubbish on the street can be turned into something useful and productive is a great metaphor for giving hope to children who have no sense of themselves.', Judy told pupils at the school.  Pupils were deeply moved by Judy's presentation and decided to send messages to children on the streets in South Africa.  Messages sent conveyed concern, friendship and messages of empathy and support.  The children also raised £500 for Judy's charity which will all be used to help the children in South Africa.

The school hopes the link will continue long into the future.  

Wow - what a week!

As the week of Junk Music Making workshops drew to a close on Thursday and the pupils at Chuckery performed their final pieces everyone who watched was astounded by the quality of their performances.  The whole week was an a amazing amount of fun and so many of the children engaged with it and loved taking part.  Nick and Karen Ledbury who led the workshops worked extremely hard to produce some fantastic performances, working with children aged as young as 3 on music and dance.

The final performance was great.  Wonderful rhythms, great movement, some very complex beats and lots of children with big smiles from ear to ear.  The parents who attended the events loved watching and were blown away with the quality of what they were seeing.  Children, had made instruments, and learnt to perform with them.

What a fantastic experience for everyone involved!  

Junk Music Week Kicks of at Chuckery!

Today pupils, parents and community members from around Chuckery Primary School took part in a junk music jam session at the school.  As the first event during the Junk Music week about 200 people attended the community day and either took part in or watched others having a go at Junk Music making.  Those who took part had a fantastic time jamming with the Junk Music workshop leader, Scott.  The event was a great kick start to the Junk Music Project which will culminate on Thursday with a series of concerts which Judy Westwater of the Pegasus Children's Trust will attend.  

Heartlands Academy

Heartlands Academy will be contributing 8 year 12 students to work alongside the Year 5 pupils at Chuckery Primary during their Junk Music Instrument making and Junk Music workshops on Tuesday 5th April.  The students will be assisting the pupils in their music making skills and will be working with them during their performance on Thursday 7th.  The students, who are currently studying in health and social care, will develop their mentoring skills during the week and will also have the chance to interview Judy Westwater about the work she does with street children in South Africa.    

Only 3 days to go!

Only 3 days to go now until the first of Chuckery Primary's Junk Music workshops takes place on Saturday 2nd April 2011.  After several months of developing links and exchanging Youtube videos with South Africa it will be really exciting to start actually working on making music and jamming along with the South African Street children.  We very much hope that this project will find it's way all around the world and that children everywhere will be able to enjoy making and performing Junk Music together.