The Italian connection at Alsop High

Alsop High School hosted a group of Italian school children as part of their friendship with the Scuola Primaria Don Milani in Modena. The young people were welcomed to Liverpool at a special welcome assembly in the presence of The Right Worshipful, The Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Mary Rasmussen.

Students from Alsop High School, Arnot St Mary CE Primary School and Kirkdale St Lawrence CE Primary School organised the special assembly at Walton Parish Church.

Students from Arnot St Mary performed several musical items, accompanied by musicians from their school orchestra. The young people from Modena reciprocated and sang a rendition of The Beatles song Yellow Submarine and Il Viaggio, The Journey.

The teachers had previously visited Alsop in 2017 to learn about the award-winning FAITH 17 initiative. The partnership between the schools was maintained and Alsop students shared the films they recorded for collective worship. More recently, the schools have worked on the ‘Together We Can’ initiative.

The students spent a day at St Mary’s CE Primary School, West Derby, and met the students who they had met via joint lessons conducted over Zoom. An international England v Italy football tournament was arranged.

Mrs Franca Gambari, who teaches in Modena, said: “We are delighted to visit again and share activities with Alsop High School, Arnot St Mary, Kirkdale St Lawrence and St Mary’s. We, the teachers and pupils from Modena, will remember this visit forever.”

Mr Peter Bull, co-ordinator of the Together We Can initiative, said: “We were so privileged to host our Italian colleagues and a group of amazing young people. We greatly value these international bonds of friendship and we hope that the links with Don Milani School will continue to prosper and grow.”