Island Advisor launches the Menorca | Long Beach Island ¨Sister Islands¨ Schools Project

June 8, 2012 - PRLog -- Simultaneous live video press conference between Menorca and Long Beach Island joins school teachers, officials and students in a new educational exchange


Menorca, Spain & Long Beach Island, New Jersey – 8 June 2012 – A simultaneous live video press conference to officially launch the Sister Islands Schools Project, took place between school teachers, officials and students today on Long Beach Island and Menorca. The press conference also served as an opportunity for the participants to say hello and meet each other for the first time, and express first impressions and goals.

The education exchange will formally start in the new school year starting in September 2012. It will involve students of the 4th and 5th grades at the school, La Consolación, in Ciutadella de Menorca, and 5th and 6th grade students at the schools of the Long Beach Island Consolidated School District.  To begin, approximately 50 students on each island will participate in the exchange, which will give them the chance to practice reading and writing English and Spanish, and share knowledge of each other´s cultures and local customs. They will begin by sending photos and letters and student ambassadors will be appointed to give updates from each school on a regular basis. These will be posted on the website which is the hub of the project: www.islandadvisor.com

There are plans to expand the project beyond the initial 50 students. There are two parent coordinators of the schools project for each island. Corinne Ruff is the organizer for Long Beach Island, and Rosa Girona will coordinate for Menorca. The goal is to facilitate further exchanges focused on diverse activities and learning experiences such as scouting, surfing, cooking, recycling, etc. Expressions of interest are welcome. Please contact info@islandadvisor if you have an idea for a project and wish to get involved.

The participants of the press conference, which took place today at 12noon (Central European Time) / 6am (Eastern Standard Time), were as follows:

Long Beach Island Participants:
•   Karen McKeon (Superintendant, Long Beach Island Consolidated School District)
•   Lori Pepenella (Destination Marketing Director for Long Beach Island Region and representative of the Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce)
•   Rosa Warfel (Spanish teacher)
•   Janet Greco (Island Advisor)
•   Corinne Ruff (Coordinator of the Menorca / Long Beach Island Schools Project)


Menorca Participants:
•   Richard Gomila – Director - La Consolación
•   Irene Coll – English teacher  -  La Consolación
•   Maria Calafell – English teacher  -  La Consolación
•   Alejandra Bagur – English teacher  - La Consolación
•   Rosa Pons – English teacher for the CEI Poriol, CEI Xipell i CEI Joguina
•   Lluc Pallejà – Island Advisor
•   Rosa Maria Girona – Coordinator, Menorca / Long Beach Island Schools Project
•   And the entire class of 5th grade students from La Consolación.

The two main newspapers of Menorca (Diario de Menorca, and Última Hora) were present at the event today.

Photographs are available, please email info@islandadvisor.

Background: The project to link Long Beach Island (LBI) and the Spanish Mediterranean Island of Menorca in a ´sister islands´ project was launched in May 2012. The idea behind the ¨Sister Islands¨ project is to showcase and generate publicity for both destinations, and facilitate a ´Cultural Exchange´. The principal objective is to learn and share experiences, and explore similarities and differences.

Island Advisor, http://www.islandadvisor.com , supports both the Sister Islands cultural exchange and also provides a platform for marketing both locations, which have a number of things in common. Menorca and Long Beach Island share nearly identical latitudes on the world globe. Both places have a defined summer tourism season, with a population that grows significantly during the summer months, and both are well-known family vacation destinations. The islands also share economic, touristic and environmental concerns such as beach and maritime preservation, and business growth. Menorca and Long Beach Island each have a rich history, fishing culture and their own distinct traditions. There will be many things for both communities to explore and learn about.

The promotion of Menorca and Long Beach Island has already started and this will continue on an ongoing basis as the project develops. The founders of Island Advisor, Lluc Pallejà and Janet Greco, are now keen to invite local businesses and non-profits in both locations to directly participate in the project.

Island Advisor can be accessed online at http://www.islandadvisor.com

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ALL ENQUIRIES: Janet Greco (in English) Tel: (856) 861 6159 (USA)
Mail: info@islandadvisor.com
http://www.islandadvisor.com

Lluc Pallejà (in Catalan and Castellano) Tel: 644 500593 (Menorca)
Mail: info@islandadvisor.com
http://www.islandadvisor.com