We're looking forward to Benni's arrival. We haven't received him yet and fear that he's having a very trying journey courtesy of the strike hit Danish postal Service. However, he will be met by an assortment of Guernsey relations and an Australian bear. Our collection of bears have all examples of their favourite foods so he won't go hungry! He's going to star in a Bear Neccessities assembly for the infants when children will dress up as famous bears to be identified, drama scripts have been specially written to be acted and extracts and poems rehearsed for delivery. We look forward to taking photos and sending them on. A database is being compiled of favourite foods and names. This weekend has been special in the island as we were celebrating our liberation from German occupation 53 years ago by just 39 British soldiers! My children have prepared questionaires to learn about memories their families and friends had of the occupation. We are hoping to send the most interesting of these with Benni. We have also been researching local legends. We have a Benni board with slogans and clip art designed to generate interest about this mystery visitor. People who see a foreign looking visitor are advised to escort him to Mother Bear Brock's classroom! So you we are ready and eager for his arrival.

Like everyone else I would also like to join in the birthday greetings. Kidlink has significantly enriched my teaching and I am delighted to be a part of such an enthusiastic global organisation that emphasises the dynamic and positive role of teaching in an era when too often it's the negative face which is reflected in the media. May there be many more birthdays to come.

Love Jane.

Jane Brock

I know why the caged bird writes E-mail!

Check out Guernsey, an island in the English Channel.

What excitement as the Benni box was brought into the room. Unfortunately half the class were out rehearsing a presentation for Thursday night to which I think Benni will be invited. Then we had a four school's athletics meeting so we had to contain our curiosity until last thing this afternoon. Three quarters of an hour was devoted to examining the contents, children disappeared off to the library to research the origin of the flags, notes were made about ideas of things we want to include and ideas for photo opportunities. The local newspaper was contacted and is dropping in at 11:30 am on Thursday. An Infant Assembly has been scheduled for the Wednesday after half-term, June 3rd and we'll send Benni on to Austria that day. The kids are applying in writing with their proposals for giving Benni a wonderful and 'safe' time at half term. I even had one of my boys ring me up at home tonight asking me if he could type out his application on his computer at home and would it be feasible for Benni to be taken to some of the other Channel Islands, so with any luck his photo album should be varied. I've just watched Rosa's introduction and you crazy Danish kids, it gives me a great feeling to be in contact with like minded enthusiasts across the world. I'll try to get my kids to e-mail yours in the next couple of days before our halfterm which starts on Friday.

Long live Kidlink!

Jane

Hi! It's Sarah Wadley here from Guernsey. Benni arrived on May 19th. He's really sweet and he can try some traditional Guernsey foods. I promise he'll be well looked after. He's missing you loads.  

Dear all Benni fans!

Benni arrived  yesterday  19/5/98 we were all very excited when we saw his box on the shelf. Three of the boys opened it while we all waited, eager to see Benni and his rucksack, he is so sweet. We are all taking turns to look after him during the school hours and after school.   We are doing an assembly about bears and Benni is in it too, he seems to be enjoying himself.

From class 6JB Castel Primary School Guernsey.

Benni has been very happy during the day. He's been taken to all lessons, had picnic lunches on our field which overlooks the best beach in Guernsey, played on the climbing apparatus and slid down the slide and he's also joined in the cycling proficiency lessons. Different children have volunteered to take him home at night and he's been meeting their pets and cuddly toys. Mothers have spoiled him by preparing special meals! The only problem he's had is sleeping: he's been reported to have fallen out of bed, wet the bed and sleep walked! It must be very confusing sleeping in so many different beds. Tomorrow is half term and the children have given me written applications to have him over the holiday. They had to include ideas to entertain him and show an awareness too of his safety. I thought you might like to read one of them.

WHY I SHOULD LOOK AFTER BENNI DURING HALF TERM.

Over half term I will be doing lots of activities with him, here is what they are: we will go out on my boat quite a few times to all the little islands around Guernsey. We will go to town, maybe to the Bowl and Beau Sejour. We will go on bike rides, Benni being strapped on securely of course. Do a bit of sun bathing down at some of the beaches, have some local walks. He will also have a little guided tour of Guernsey, I will take some pictures and some notes of all of this. He will have his own little bed for himself, 5 star rating of course. He will be fed sufficiently as well. He will also watch some football with me and if there are any Newcastle players we will support them. I have discussed this with my parents and they think it's a great idea. Benni will be in good hands if you leave him with me.

From The Newcastle Supporter

Tom.

P.S. Newcastle is the best football team.    

The children certainly have a far better idea of the place of Iceland and Denmark on the map and a greater awareness of the cultures from this project. They were surprised and delighted at the variety of objects and information included in the box and delighted in dreaming up photo opportunities, diary entries and significant objects to include from Guernsey. The focus of Benni has created an assembly for the infants, script writing, story writing, diary writing, non-narrative writing, research, video and audio cassette recording and a strong feeling of class and island identity coupled with a feeling of membership of a global child organisation. What a magician Benni is!!!!!

Greetings and thank you to all participating schools.

Jane Brock

Check out Guernsey, it's an island in the English Channel.

Castel Primary School

Guernsey