Principals, teachers and students are returning to school for the start of a new year. Everyone has a summer story to tell and for one group of teachers, students and parents it is an exciting one about a visit to a distant land.
Last school year, Palm Lake adopted Nkomo primary school in the Kwa Zulu Natal province of South Africa as a sister school. Over the summer break, some Palm Lake teachers, students and families took a very special trip to South Africa to help support the children who attend Nkomo primary school.
While in South Africa in July, a group of 21 people from the Palm Lake community helped paint Nkomo primary school. Paint and supplies were provided by Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund who also assisted in helping the teachers introduce a wildlife conservation program at the school.
Upon returning to Orlando, the group was thrilled to learn that Nkomo had received recognition from the National Board of Education for being the most beautiful school in the Kwa Zulu Natal province of South Africa.
During the 2008-2009 school year, Palm Lake Elementary families raised money to provide playground equipment for their sister school. They also collected books and stuffed animals and held lemonade stand fundraisers. A portion of the money collected allowed a water filtration system to be built to provide Nkomo students with fresh water. Other dollars were used to build classrooms and buy uniforms for the children.
For more information, contact:
Shari Bobinski, Senior Specialist, Media Relations
407.317.3200 extension 2905
