Designing glasses for a dinosaur isn’t an everyday task for a managing director of an opticians, but Matthew Conway of Dipple & Conway Opticians was only too happy to help a budding group of young artists do just that at Recreation Road Infant School in Norwich this week.
Pupils at the Norwich school have been busy designing and painting a dinosaur sculpture this term, as it is signed up to take part in this year’s GoGoDiscover Learning and Community Programme. Sponsored by Dipple & Conway Opticians, the programme has recruited 100 schools, clubs, and community groups, each one tasked with designing, painting, and decorating a three-foot Breakasaurus sculpture for the GoGoDiscover trail organised by the charity, Break in partnership with Wild in Art.
Giving children in Diss, Swaffham and Norwich the chance to participate, Dipple & Conway Opticians donated a Breakasaurus sculpture to Diss Junior Academy, Heartwood Primary in Swaffham, and Recreation Road in Norwich. As a result, these schools (all based in the local communities in which Dipple & Conway has practises) have been able to get involved in the project for free.
On Friday (28 January) Matthew Conway, managing director of Dipple & Conway Opticians visited Recreation Road Infant School, rolled up his sleeves and got stuck into an hour-long dedicated dinosaur design lesson, while sharing some top tips for how to craft glasses for their tiny T. Rex.
He says, “We decided to donate three dinosaur sculptures to schools in our local communities to give children the opportunity to sink their teeth into this brilliantly fun and educational programme; something that generates lots of smiles while learning about art, science and working together as a school community to create something they can all be really proud of.”
“It’s clear to see the children have worked so hard on their sculpture, and everyone has been able to share ideas and get creative. This programme gives schools, colleges, and community groups the chance to decorate their very own dinosaur sculpture and see it go on display as part of the main 2022 GoGoDiscover trail, which we’re excited to have back on the streets of Norfolk this summer, raising money for children’s’ charity Break.”
As well as a Breakasaurus sculpture to design and paint, each school taking part has received a creative educational resource pack for teachers filled with lesson plans and fun activities. This year, 100 schools and community groups are taking part.
Once painted, these Breakasaurus sculptures will be exhibited across public spaces in cultural and leisure hubs across Norwich in the summer of 2022, before being returned to the pupils and groups who designed them.
Ellie Edge from Break explains; “The GoGoDiscover Learning & Community Programme gives schools, colleges and community groups from across Norfolk the chance to get involved with our dino-themed trail and get creative by designing and painting their very own mini T.rex sculpture. It’s brilliant to have Dipple & Conway Opticians on board as our headline sponsor and we thank them for generously donating their three smaller sculptures to these schools.”
Michael Bunting, Headteacher at Recreation Road Infant School in Norwich comments; “As a school, we’re always trying to create ‘wow’ experiences to open our children’s eyes to the joy of learning. Many thanks to Break for creating this wonderful project, and to Dipple & Conway Opticians for supporting us to take part. All the children have been absorbed in the challenge of dreaming up ideas, voting for their favourite design and then working together to create a wonderfully colourful creature. With Dipple & Conway supporting us, we thought it was only fitting that the dinosaur have some seriously stylish spectacles to wear too!”
GoGoDiscover is delivered by East Anglian based children’s charity Break in partnership with Wild in Art and aims to raise vital funds and awareness for vulnerable young people and children on the edge of care, in care and leaving care.For more information about Break visit www.break-charity.org Text TREX to 70085 to donate £3. Texts cost £3, plus one standard rate message. #GoGoDiscover
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