History of Ciputat 2 - Weeroona Friendships

An intention has been established to create educational friendship and linkage between SMA Negeri Ciputat 2 Tangerang and Weeroona College, Bendigo, Melbourne. An initial initiative was convened by Bapak Herli Salim, educator from Serang who is also a doctorate student at Deakin University and mediator for Indonesian Schools. He went to Weeroona College, on behalf of SMA Negeri Ciputat 2 Tangerang. This initiative is a further development and incorporation with another school in Tangerang Regency. Formerly, in that school, Pak Dedi Rafidi was the school principal. He has just moved to become school principal at SMA Negeri Ciputat 2 Tangerang and wishes to extend his idea as he was developed in the previous school. Pak Herli Salim works with Dr. Peter Waterworth, an Australian and formerly of Deakin University lecturer. A number of outcomes were agreed upon at the meeting.

Cooperation
The two schools are well suited to explore positive educational links and are both keen to continue to investigate the nature of the cooperation that can be set in place. The linkages could initially focus on language learning and could assist Australian students to learn Indonesian and Indonesian students learn English. The objectives of the linkages should be further developed. Peter and Herli agreed to explore the kinds of objectives that may be appropriate or that have been used at other schools with educational links or Memoranda of Understanding.

Formal or Informal Agreement
It is necessary to determine the type of educational linkage desired by each school and required by educational or government agencies depending upon the cooperative activities envisaged. For example, a Memorandum of Understanding may be required by Indonesian authorities to approve any educational tour or funding. Such factors need to be confirmed. Any Memorandum of Understanding would need to be confirmed and endorsed by the School Councils at both schools.

Contact
Contact between the two schools should start as soon as possible by email and post so that information about each school may be exchanged and possible cooperative activities be discussed. It was encouraged that Weeroona and Ciputat 2 start to contact by emails or mails to build relationships. Any expression of interest please send via relmi@bigpond.net.au (Ms. Robyn Elmi, Weeroona Indonesian Teacher) or herli_slm@yahoo.com ( Pak Herli Salim) (Posted by: HS 2009).