Third Culture Kids (TCK)   Please do also read the poem on page 2

Third Culture Kid Workshops

 

The Third Culture Kid incentive started at the beginning of the school year with a workshop for parents. This workshop was lead by Niki Cooper the ESL Coordinator and Gerda Bonten who is one of the Year 3 class teachers at UWCM Primary .

The aim of the workshop was to highlight awareness of the emotional issues which may arise as a result of moving from one country to another and to offer parents support for themselves and their children.

Towards the end of the school year another workshop will be held to offer the same support for parents who are leaving the school. The TCK staff are also working with staff from the International Secondary School in Maastricht to encourage wider awareness of the TCK issues.

In the mean time the Leavers’ Committee (consisting of five ID Staff members) have been busy creating a Leaver’s Package to encompass the TCK concepts and to prepare the children and their families for their forthcoming departure from UWCM Primary school. Here are the activities introduced to date:

•The child is presented with a Leaver’s Pack. This contains a Personal Journal for the child to complete as they approach their departure from the school.

•Along side the pack the child is given a disposable camera so they can take photographs to help them to make some long lasting memories!

•The child is also presented with a wooden clog and their class mates and teachers sign their names on the clog. This is a very attractive souvenir and a great link to the home country!

•The child leaves their thumb print on a specially designed painting for children who leave the school during that school year. This canvas is displayed in the entrance hall of the school.

Emphasis has also been placed on helping the children who remain at the school when their friend has left. The Class teachers offer opportunities to express feelings through circle time and written/art activities before and after the child has left the school.

Please take a look at the TCK power point presentations by Gerda Bonten and Niki Cooper. You will also find a link to the Leaver’s Personal Journal.