Last Week a Successful Multimillionaire Businesswoman Visited Your School Which Was Where

Dear Students,

As you might have already seen in the local press, last weekMsGrainger, successful multimillionaire entrepreneur and businesswoman, visited our school – the school she attended when she was young. She has announced that she wants to give something back to the place where she was taught.

During her visitshe met with a group of students. MsGrainger wanted to know what they liked about the school and what facilities or services they would like to see in school. She spoke about her school memories and how she felt as a student. She said she didn’t feel students had choices about the way that the school was run. She also said that there were always things that she would have liked to have had as a student.

Generously, she has decided she wants to make a difference to today’s students. She will provide funding for youto make improvements. She has come up with some categories and wants youto decide how her money should be spent.

Please discuss the following ideas. If you have any questions please speak to your teachers, who are,I know,as excited as I am about the possibilities.

The Head

IDEAS FOR CONSIDERATION:

DECORATION

1)Total repaint of the school in lively colours, to be bright and modern and cheerful.

2)Money to be spent on art for all around the school. A group of students will select the pictures.

3)A professional photographer hired to photograph students doing various activities. Huge photo prints displayed around school.

LIBRARY

4)Ten students from each year group choose and buy new books for the library.

5)Ten students from each year group choose and buy new compact discs and audio books for the library.

6)Fifty magazine subscriptions chosen by students.

CATERING

7)Redesign the dining hall into a ‘Food Court’ with different style foods available in sections.

8)Set up a milk bar where students could buy milkshakes, lattes, hot chocolate and other drinks.

9)Sponsor the catering budget so that all food is organic and/or locally produced and/or Fair Trade.

CLASSROOMS

10)Large flat screen televisions for 30 classrooms.

11)Scrap all current chairs in use in school. Replace with more luxurious padded chairs.

12)Provide new ICT suite designed as an internet café.

STUDENTS

13)Palm pilot for every student for use in school.

14)Laptop for every student in years 10 and 11.

15)Money to be placed in school trip fund which will make all school trips for 5 years 50% cheaper.

OUTDOORS

16)Landscape the outdoor area to include the creation of a nature garden. Provide more benches and seating for students.

17)Build an amphitheatre for drama lessons and outdoor performances.

18)Build an activity centre and assault course.

OTHER

Ms Grainger will provide up to £50,000 for any alternative improvement suggested by students.

Tasks

1)Pair discussion
Go through the list and choose what you think is important – perhaps one from each section, plus one original idea. Share with a partner and discuss. Try to agree on a list.

2)Group discussion
Shareyour list with another pair. Can you come up with a final selection of ideas that you all agree on?

3)Prepare a persuasive speech foroneof the ideas. You will be speaking at the school council meeting. Think about what you want and how you can convince people to vote for your ideas.

4)Class debate
Make your speech and take part in the class vote! Which project is chosen?

5)Write a formal letter to MsGrainger, thanking her for the money andexplaining which project has been chosen and why.