School Link Fund-raising
See what a difference you can make...
Naomi Booth :: Wednesday 27th March 2024 :: This Story
Over the last 10 years the students of Calthorpe Park School have fundraised for the building of two new preschools in remote villages in Eastern Sri Lanka. Thanks to their generosity hundreds of students now have access to a high quality early years education in a stimulating classroom with resources. The staff, parents and community leaders of Chenkallady and Ammankulam are truly grateful to Calthorpe Park School for transforming the lives of the children in their communities. Fundraising from the students also goes towards the provision of resources and teacher training.
Thank you Calthorpe Park School for all your support for the children of Sri Lanka. If you would like to have a cultural link with a school in Sri Lanka then please contact us at oceanstarstrust@gamil.com
School Cultural Links
If you would like to have a cultural link with a school in Sri Lanka then please contact us
Naomi Booth :: Monday 25th March 2024 :: This Story
Calthorpe Park School in Fleet has been working in Partnership with Ocean Stars Trust since 2013 so we are celebrating 10 years of working together !! Over 150 students have visited Sri Lanka with Ocean Stars. The fundraising efforts of the students have transformed the lives of thousands of students in rural Sri Lanka over the years. Navalady School in the eastern province has benefitted from a whole Samba Band kit, a new music room, a laptop as well as visits from UK students. The SL students look forward to October every year when the Calthorpe Park Students visit. We would like to thank Mr Kevan John the Headteacher for his continued support for Ocean Stars and Mr Ross Walker , Head of Music and trip leader.
We would also like to thank all the staff who have visited Sri Lanka with the students as well as all the students and parents for their support for our work.
If you would like to have a cultural link with a school in Sri Lanka then please contact us at oceanstarstrust@gamil.com.
Smart Classroom fund-raising
for air conditioning
Naomi Booth :: Friday 22nd March 2024 :: This Story
Ocean Stars returned to Royal Hospital School in February and met with Laura Mumford the Chaplain, the students who belong to the committee of the Philanthropic Society and members of staff. The committee members are hoping to do some fundraising soon to raise money for an air conditioning unit for the Smart Classroom.
The Sri Lankan heat makes working in the Smart classroom very uncomfortable during the dry season. The fans though providing some relief do not provide enough cooling for the equipment in the smart classroom. Students showed us around the school, and we did a presentation to the school in the morning. We would like to say a huge thank you to Headteacher, to Laura, the students, and staff for their support for the work of Ocean Stars Trust.
If you would like to have a cultural link with a school in Sri Lanka then please contact us at oceanstarstrust@gamil.com
The Smart classroom
Unprecedented and ground-breaking
Naomi Booth :: Wednesday 20th March 2024 :: This Story
The Smart classroom was opened in April 2022 by John and Dilanee from Ocean Stars during their first visit to Sri Lanka after the pandemic. The classroom is used daily and is booked out for every lesson during the day. Students come in early and stay after school so they can work in the Smart Classroom and have access to up-to-date information by using the Internet.
Over a thousand students have benefited from the Smart Classroom and we thank Royal Hospital school for transforming the lives of so many students. Having a Smart classroom in a secondary school in rural Sri Lanka is unprecedented and groundbreaking.
Cultural links
Connecting students from Sri Lanka and the UK
Naomi Booth :: Monday 18th March 2024 :: This Story
Cultural links and connecting students from Sri Lanka and the UK is one of the main focus areas of the work of Ocean Stars Trust. Royal Hospital School in Holbrook, Ipswich is linked with Vigneshwara Maha Vidyalaya in Mandoor.
Students from SL and the UK have exchanged messages and written letters to each other. Royal Hospital School donated funds to build a Smart Classroom for the students of Vigneshwara Maha Vidyalaya.
Thanks to their generosity the SL students now have access to world of technology and are able to access a high-quality education with access to a Smart Board and the internet. Royal Hospital School has warmly invited Ocean Stars to visit their school and meet students and staff and do presentations on the work of Ocean Stars.
Batik patterns
During Sri Lanka week at Dogmersfield Primary School
Naomi Booth :: Friday 15th March 2024 :: This Story
During Sri Lanka week the students at Dogmersfield Primary School also had a go at making Batik patterns on fabric . Batik uses wax-resistant dyes and is applied to cloth. Batik is very popular in Sri Lanka and lots of different types of clothing are made from Batik.
The students also researched facts about Sri Lankan animals and food. Some classes cooked milk rice and lentils.
The week ended with a whole school assembly where each class presented the work they had done on Sri Lanka to the whole family. At the end of the day parents were invited to have a look at all the Sri Lanka work done by the students.
Rangoli Patterns
During Sri Lanka week at Dogmersfield Primary School
Naomi Booth :: Wednesday 13th March 2024 :: This Story
During Sri Lanka week the students at Dogmersfield Primary School created Rangoli Patterns using crayons and coloured rice and displayed them in the classrooms. Rangoli represents happiness, positivity and liveliness of a household and is intended to welcome Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and good luck.
Traditionally, Rangoli is an art of decoration drawn on the floor or the entrances of homes. It is thought to bring good luck, prosperity on the house and in the family and to welcome guests. Some mothers in India do this activity every morning, or on a special festive occasion like Diwali, Onam, and Pongal.
It is believed that making rangoli on an auspicious day brings prosperity and good luck in the family. Rangoli is prepared from different items such as flour, rice, flowers and colours. People make different patterns and designs at the front of their door and other places inside the house.
Sri Lanka Week
At Dogmersfield Primary School
Naomi Booth :: Monday 11th March 2024 :: This Story
Dogmersfield Primary School recently had a Sri Lanka week where the students spent the week learning about Sri Lanka. The week was launched with an assembly where students came dressed in the colours of the Sri Lanka flag. The teachers wore sarees and sarongs for the day and a traditional lamp was lit to mark the beginning of Sri Lanka week.During the week the students read Sri Lankan stories, sampled Sri Lankan food, did craft activities, and learnt about Sri Lanka dance and music. The children learnt greetings and numbers 1-10 in Sinhalese and Tamil - the main languages of Sri Lanka.
Dogmersfield is linked with Sri Murugan preschool - one of the 30 preschools supported by Ocean Stars Trust. A huge thank you to the Headteacher, Mrs Nicholass, the staff, students and parents of Dogmersfield Primary School for bringing Sri Lanka to Dogmersfield for the week!
International Women's Day
Celebrating under the theme Invest in women: Accelerate progress
Naomi Booth :: Friday 8th March 2024 :: This Story
On this International Women's Day, 8 March 2024, Ocean Stars Trust would like to join with join the United Nations in celebrating under the theme Invest in women: Accelerate progress and celebrate our work empowering women in Sri Lanka.
Over 75 women teachers work at our 30 preschools and have a secure income and are able to provide for their families. Over 100 women have attended sewing classes at our women's empowerment centres called Hope House 1 , 2 and 3. Having completed a 6 month course and gained an accredited certificate these women go onto finding employment at local garment factories or set up their own business from home sewing garments for family and friends.
By investing in women, we can inspire change and speed the transition towards a healthier, safer, and more equal world for all.
Interview on our trip
Watch our interview with London Api
Naomi Booth :: Thursday 15th February 2024 :: This Story
