A message from Minimus

salvete omnes!

It’s time to get creative for our annual Mythology Competition!  You can make a painting, drawing, collage, piece of craftwork, write a poem or a play or record a DVD of your play on the topic of either Perseus and Medusa or Pegasus.

Download the information sheet and entry instructions here, or email the organiser, Linda Soames, at lindasoames@home.3b.co.uk for further details.

NB The closing date is MONDAY 2^nd MAY so get cracking now!

Minimus is really looking forward to seeing all your ideas!

Latest news from Barbara...

January 2016:

Helen Forte and I were delighted to receive our copies of the Portuguese version of Minimus.  This is a translation for those in Brazil and it is thrilling to think of children in Rio enjoying the same stories about Vindolanda and its family.

February 2016:

I was invited to speak at a conference for Welsh Classics Teachers in Swansea organised by Evelien Bracke.  Anna Donnelly, who runs the Solihull Project, and Jayne Treasure, a Minimus Trainer, also spoke about their work with Minimus, so the mouse had a good airing on the programme!  Exciting things are happening in Wales and we are following the spread of Classics there with interest.

On 26th February I was invited back to work with Classics students at Birmingham University by Elena Theodorakopolous , they were an enthusiastic bunch and it was fun exploring ways in which they might use Minimus in the future.  Some of them are certainly considering going into teaching.

Barbara Bell

Book up for the BM Day!

There are only a few weeks left to book for the British Museum Minimus Day!
Click here for more information, and here for the booking form.

I hope to see you there!

Website housekeeping

We have tidied up a few loose ends on the website recently. The set of schemes of work devised by Sara Wilkinson have their own page, here. The site map has been reorganised as well, and the inset page reflects the new pattern of training that has replaced the old training days.

British Museum Day

We're taking bookings for the 2016 British Museum Day! It's on Saturday 18th June, and is suitable for children in years 4 to 8. There are two sessions, morning or afternoon, which cost £10 per pupil. For more info email pam@nethaus.co.uk 

Download form here

It has been an incredible week...

It has been an incredible week. Last Saturday over 50 Minimus supporters- sponsors, teachers, teacher trainers et al met at the excellent Ioannou Classics Centre in Oxford for a party to celebrate worldwide sales of 150,000 copies. It was a fantastic evening- so much so that I couldn't sleep on Saturday night- far too excited as I relived it all! 

As always, Classicists love to meet and chat and offer mutual support ; we are, after all, an endangered species. 

Each member of the PLP committee spoke briefly about their area of PLP work. These talks were so clear and showcased all that we do. People were surprised that Minimus is far from just a book.

We even had messages from our 2 committee members in the USA- Ruth Ann Besse from Baltimore and Zee Ann Poerio from Pittsburgh  sent a video clip of her Minimus students ;Zee Ann herself also spoke and sent an inspiring message, reassuring us that all our work for PLP continues to spread " across the pond." 

The food was delicious and I am so grateful to Chris Pelling and Mai Musie for allowing us to use the Classics centre and for the events manager- Kate DelNevo, and her team, who arranged such an excellent evening for us. 

I have received a host of encouraging messages this week from those who attended. 

Here's to 200,000 !   Barbara

Jeremy Patterson (PLP Chairman) and Barbara Bell

Barbara and Nick Bell

Barbara Bell and Helen Forte

Catherine Jarvis, Barbara Bell, Helen Forte

Diana Sparkes, Michele Anderson

Brian Sparkes, Pam Macklin

Roger Davis, Barbara Bell

Jeremy Patterson, Michael Crawford

Barbara Bell, Sir Jeremy Morse

Zee Ann Poerio's video message from the USA

Jeremy Patterson, James Morwood

Wendy Hunt

Anna Donnelly

Jane Maguire

Elly Watson

Minimus cupcakes!

Minimus riding a discus

Minimus and a friend

Helen Forte

PLP committee meeting tomorrow...and British Museum day in 2016

Tomorrow we have our PLP committee meeting. We meet twice a year and this time we will be convening at Beechwood Park Prep.school, where Michelle Anderson teaches. I am looking forward to spending the day in such elegant surroundings .I last visited two years ago to judge their Latin play competition and to enjoy a Roman banquet! 

On a separate trip I visited  Michelle's classes. I especially remember the children acting "Odysseus and the Cyclops" with some impressive Greek  soldiers moving across the classroom floor hiding under the sheep... all great fun. 

We will be discussing future plans for Minimus  including our next day at the British Museum - Sat. June 18th -as well as long-term plans to develop the Project even further. Exciting times!