Ocean Stars Trust Volunteer wins Lundie Memorial Award
Ocean Stars would like to congratulate Alice on winning this award.
Naomi Booth :: Wednesday 8th May 2024 :: This Story
Alice Bagshaw was one of the 21 students from Calthorpe Park School who visited Sri Lanka in October 2023 with Ocean Stars Trust.
The Team raised £18,000 which was the biggest Total raised by a team from Calthorpe Park School.
Alice raised £3000 herself during the 10 months leading up to the trip. Ocean Stars would like to congratulate Alice on winning this award.
We would also like to thank CPS Team 2023 for their tremendous fundraising efforts for Ocean Stars.
Best wishes for GCSEs
Stay calm and do your best students.
Naomi Booth :: Monday 6th May 2024 :: This Story
Ocean Stars Trust sponsors over 130 children in Sri Lanka through our Sponsorship Programmes. Some of the students who have completed their sponsorship have gone on to become accountants, doctors, entrepreneurs, and teachers.
This week some of our current sponsor students will be starting their GCSE exams. We would like to wish them Good Luck and hope they achieve the results they want so they can proceed to A Levels. Stay calm and do your best students.
If you would like to sponsor a child please visit https://oceanstars.org.uk/sponsor-a-child-sri-lanka
Mahadeva Children’s Home
an oasis of calm, love and friendship
Naomi Booth :: Friday 26th April 2024 :: This Story
In Kilinochchi Ocean Stars Trust has been supporting Mahadeva Children's Home since 2012 which was set up by the late Mr Rasanayagam. Initially set up for children orphaned by the Civil war in Sri Lanka today it is home to children whose parents are unable to look after them and those sent through social services and the court system. Our staff and volunteers find the home and its environment an oasis of calm, love and friendship. The children excel at school and at sports and are always pleased to see us. If you would like to sponsor a child at Mahadeva then please contact us.
A month of celebrations
for the diverse population of Sri Lanka
Naomi Booth :: Friday 12th April 2024 :: This Story
April 2024 has been a month of celebrations for the diverse population of Sri Lanka.
Following Easter celebrated by the Christians and Eid al-Fitr celebrated by the Muslims it is now time to celebrate the Sinhalese and Tamil New Year.
The Sinhalese New Year, generally known as Aluth Avurudu in Sri Lanka, is a Sri Lankan holiday that celebrates the traditional New Year of the Sinhalese people and Tamil population of Sri Lanka. It is a major anniversary celebrated by not only the Sinhalese and Tamil people but by most Sri Lankans. It marks the end of the harvest season and also coincides with one of two instances when the sun is directly above Sri Lanka. Cultural rituals begin shortly after the beginning of the Sinhalese New Year, with the cleaning of the house and lighting of an oil lamp. Fireworks play a major role in the celebration of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. Traditional New Years food is consumed.
Eid al-Fitr
the ‘Holiday of Breaking the Fast’
Naomi Booth :: Wednesday 10th April 2024 :: This Story
On 10th April our Ocean Stars Muslim communities along with Muslim communities around are celebrating the festival of Eid al-Fitr. At the end of Ramadan Eid al-Fitr takes place the 'Holiday of Breaking the Fast'. This celebration is marked by up to three days of special prayers, acts of charity (Zakat al-Fitr) and plenty of food and drink. Some Muslims also decorate their home for the occasion and host get-togethers with their loved ones. The celebration begins at sunset on the night of the first sighting of the crescent moon, known as the Chand Raat.
We wish all our communities a Happy festival of Eid al-Fitr.
Ramadan and our preschool in Vellaimanal Trincomalle
Find out more..
Naomi Booth :: Monday 8th April 2024 :: This Story
Our preschool in Vellaimanal Trincomalle is located in a Muslim community and our teachers along with other members of the community are currently fasting for Ramadan.
Ramadan started on the 10th of March 2024 and will end with he festival of Eid ul- Fitr on the 10th of April. During Ramadan people fast from sunrise to sunset consistently for 30 days. They are not allowed to eat or drink even water, during daylight hours. For our staff working during Ramadan can be challenging but we thank them for all their hard work and dedication during Ramadan.
Fine motor skills!
Developed at OST preschools
Naomi Booth :: Friday 5th April 2024 :: This Story
Our preschools students have been developing their fine motor skills by using their hands, fingers and eyes to create images using sand and paste. Like all children they love getting messy and but are also developing the small muscles in their hands and wrists. By using sand the students are also exploring colours and textures in objects around them. Some beautiful works of art were created by our students recently.
New term!
Our preschools have now started back with the new intake settling into their life in education.
Naomi Booth :: Wednesday 3rd April 2024 :: This Story
Recently our students were learning to describe objects according to shape or size.
They had great fun looking at everyday objects and working out which was bigger/ smaller and longer / shorter. This is one of the point descriptors of the Mathematical Development part of our Assessment Tool.
Happy Easter 2024
We wish all our communities in Sri Lanka, our global supporters, donors and friends a Very Happy Easter 2024.
Naomi Booth :: Sunday 31st March 2024 :: This Story
We also think about the families still coming to terms with the Easter Sunday Bombings of 2019 and at this Easter time we wish for a Happy future for the children of Sri Lanka.
School Sports Day
Organised at one of the link schools
Naomi Booth :: Friday 29th March 2024 :: This Story
One of the highlights of the time in Sri Lanka for the students of Calthorpe Park School is a traditional sports day organised at one of their link schools. Last year it was held at Navalady school. Sac races, egg and spoon races, three-legged races, balloon races bring students together in an international gathering like no other. Lots of laughter is had and lifelong friendships are made between the student groups. Sports equipment brought by the UK students was donated to the SL school at the end of the morning.
If you would like to have a cultural link with a school in Sri Lanka then please contact us at oceanstarstrust@gamil.com.
