University of Gloucestershire link with Annecy Animated Film Festival

A senior lecturer from the faculty of media, arts and technology at the University of Gloucestershire visited Annecy from 5-7 December  2012 to discuss possible links between the animation programme at the university and the Annecy international festival of animated films (FIFA).  A comprehensive programme was planned for Mr Panks for him to meet with and visit the relevant people and departments with a view to discussing the possibility of students showing  their film work in the student category of the festival, as well as looking at work placement opportunities for the students during the duration of the festival.   The visit was very beneficial with great potential for links and concluded with the aim to submit students’ work for the 2014 festival.

Exciting projects with Annecy for 2013

As a result of the working meeting held with Annecy colleagues at the end of October, various projects are all in the pipeline:

The University of Gloucestershire’s faculty of media, arts and technology are looking at forging a link with Annecy’s international animated film festival with a view to students on the university’s animation programme showing their work as part of the student category at the film festival.  The possibility of students assisting at the festival are also being looked at.

National Star College’s director of development is planning a visit to Annecy in February to look at the possibility of  links or a visit for college pupils.

Pittville School is linking with St Michel School in Annecy and planning a visit in March.

Cleeve School 6th formers studying A level French are looking forward to work placements in Annecy’s council departments during the Easter holidays.

Cheltenham Bridge Club has been invited to Annecy for a tournament in May.

Woodmancote Primary School is linking with La Plaine and Les Vaugelas primary schools in Annecy and plan to visit with a small group in May / June.

Cheltenham College is planning a sport based visit to Annecy at the end of June.

Cheltenham Camera club is interested in assisting with a joint photo competition with Annecy, on the theme of ‘My Town’.

The Rencontres Europeennes will be held in Annecy from 1-15 August. This exciting stay in Annecy for 14-17 year olds is a fantastic experience for those wishing to improve their language skills in a fun and friendly way with other European young people.  See more about it on the Annecy website and contact twinning@cheltenham.gov.uk  for further information.

Ribston High School visit Göttingen

A group of 30+ pupils and staff from Ribston High School visited their link school in Göttingen from 28 November – 7 December.  Year 10 pupils experienced a range of activities with their German partners and developed their German speaking skills in preparation for their oral GCSE assessments.  Year 12 pupils embarked on week long work experience placements, with students this year working with a vet, a lawyer, German police force, primary school, a library and fitness centre, giving them valuable confidence in the language in a German work place.  Some of the participants on this trip have benefited from a grant from Cheltenham twinning’s inspiring young people fund.

Bach choir members joined Annecy sing-in

Hotfooted from their visit to Göttingen, 7 members of the Bach choir visited Annecy over the weekend of 1-2 December to take part in a ‘sing-in’ of the Messiah at the St Maurice church on Saturday 1 December.  The event was part of the ‘Noel des Alpes’ in Annecy and was sung by choirs from Annecy and Annecy’s twin towns.  The Cheltenham singers stayed in the homes of Annecy choristers and had a great weekend taking the opportunity to visit the lovely Christmas markets in Annecy.

Cheltenham Bach Choir visit Göttingen

Cheltenham Bach Choir is travelling to Göttingen in October to perform a massed concert with their longstanding ‘twin’ choir, the Göttingen Stadtkantorei and the Göttingen Symphonieorchester.
The Bach choir will depart on Wednesday 24 October and the group will number about 50 singers and almost all will be accommodated in families once in Göttingen. Some of the personal links across the two choirs go back well over 30 years.
The Stadtkantorei came to Cheltenham three years ago and performed Mendelssohn’s oratorio Elijah with the Bach choir, under the baton of their conductor Bernd Eberhardt. The compliment is being reciprocated this time as the conductor will be Stephen Jackson – Cheltenham Bach Choir’s own Music Director, who is also Music Director of the BBC Symphony Chorus.
The concert will take place on Saturday 27 October in the Johanniskirche in Göttingen and the programme will include Edward Elgar’s The Music Makers, and two pieces – Missa Angelorum and Ave Maria – by Carl Rütti.  Deborah Miles-Johnson, mezzo-soprano, will be the soloist in The Music Makers.
For those who won’t be in Göttingen, there is the chance to hear the choir at a closer venue, as they will preview their Göttingen programme in All Saints Church, Cheltenham at 7.30pm on Saturday 20 October.

Work placements for Göttingen apprentices

As part of the Movida work placement apprenticeship scheme with Göttingen, we currently have Julia Neuschl and Sophie Westphal working in the Commissioning division at the Borough Council for 6 weeks up till 19 October.  20 year old Julia is part of the Business Transformation team, whilst Sophie is helping out with the elections team.
This follows on from some very successful placements over the summer:
Jasmin Reslan completed a 4 week placement in August with Cheltenham Chamber of Commerce, setting up a new data base of Cheltenham based companies for marketing purposes.
Sophie Zapfe, an 18-year old fashion retail trainee, did a 4-week work experience placement with ‘Cousins of Cheltenham’ at the end of August.
Daniel Gassmann, a vocational trainee started a 4-week work experience placement with IT Schools Africa in Leckhampton on Monday 24 September.
June Freitag, a 17-year old student started a 4-week placement in October. June will spend two weeks working at the Cheltenham Animal Shelter followed by two weeks at the Riding for the Disabled Association based at the Cheltenham Racecourse.
All the apprentices stay with host families in Cheltenham and have opportunities to explore Cheltenham and visit other towns and cities in the Cotswolds and beyond, as well as gaining valuable practical work experience.  If anyone has a business and could offer a placement, please contact the Twinning Officer.

Göttingen’s Olympic Association Visit

On Saturday 11 August, 57 members of the Göttingen branch of the German Olympic Association visited Cheltenham for the day, taking time out from a week attending various Olympic events in London.  The group had a reception with the Mayor and a tour of the town, before having free time to shop and visit our restaurants.  
The group, which included a past Olympian who won a gold for canoeing in the 1960 Games in Rome, spoke very highly of the organisation and friendliness of the London Olympics.  Germany picked up 11 gold medals in London, putting them in sixth place behind the 29 golds won by Team GB, but the group were far from bitter saying it was the best Olympics they had seen.  Many of the group had been to  the Beijing Olympics, with some also having travelled to Athens, Sydney and Atlanta.

Annecy’s Fete du Lac

Annecy’s Fete du lac

The annual Fete du Lac took place on Saturday 4 August and was attended by the Mayor and Mayoress Cllrs Colin and Rowena Hay, Cllr Garth Barnes Chairman of the twinning association and Brian and Alexis Cassin Honorary Aldermen and members of the association.  Together with delegations from Annecy’s other twin towns, they were amazed by the fantastic display of fireworks and lighting effects to music which take place over the lake of Annecy.   They also had the opportunity to discuss various ideas for further links and exchanges with members of the Cheltenham /Annecy twinning committee.

Enriching experience

As part of our work placement exchange scheme with Annecy council, two students from Cleeve School who have just completed their A level French, were selected to take part in this scheme and spent the month of July on work placements in Annecy.   Ceri worked in the Youth Information Office and Alex worked with the parks and gardens team.

Meanwhile, Valentin and Lucille from Annecy spent four weeks in Cheltenham.  Valentin spending his time with the parks and gardens team and community rangers, whilst Lucille was with the parking and travel plus team.
All the students found it a very valuable and enriching experience and a fantastic opportunity to improve their language skills and gain confidence in a foreign work place.