‘Breaking Bread’ – Ellesmere drama students join hands across the ocean

It's not quite the school trip they're used to, but students from Ellesmere College have not missed out on an American exchange because of the Covid pandemic.

Ellesmere College - an Artsmark Platinum Awards school - is the only UK partner school of Tabor Academy in Boston, a partnership which has been hugely beneficial to students from both schools with a drama exchange trip every two years.

But being unable to travel to Boston this Easter, the students instead enjoyed an online programme of enrichment in a cultural exchange with their American counterparts called 'Breaking Bread'.

Rachel Schubert, Director of Drama at Ellesmere College, said the biannual exchange was a valuable asset to both schools and it was important for it to go ahead - albeit online.

"There are so many advantages to these trips, the chance to soak up the culture of a different country, enjoy a free and frank exchange of views and ideas and how contemporaries are using the wonderful medium of drama in an educational setting," she said.

"We have a unique relationship with Tabor Academy and it was felt to be in everyone's interests for the exchange to go ahead this year in whatever way could be arranged. It cannot replicate the usual trip they enjoy, but students had a great experience and we believe it is still something they will remember for the rest of their lives. In fact, the virtual exchange programme has been so successful it is likely to continue as the world comes out of the pandemic as it has proven an excellent way for students and staff to engage in discussion and common goals from across the world."

More than 280 students aged between 14 and 19 and 34 staff met via zoom, exchanging views, hobbies and interests, sharing their experiences of the pandemic, ideas for human empowerment and global partnerships. The exchange programme has been going for over 20 years and is open to all senior school students. It is hoped it can happen in person again at Easter 2022.

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5th May 2021  Back to News