Issuu

Program Erasmus+, Strategic Partnerships for school education ”School 21, Digitally and Socially Yours” eTwinning & Erasmus+ project 2017-1-CZ01-KA219-035484

Project coordinators: Alena Jandlová , Tábor, Czech Republic Kerstin Bellemann, Schwetzingen, Germany Molnár András , Pápa, Hungary Ewelina Pawlowska, Pulawy, Poland Adriana Maris, Lugoj, Romania

Students’ contribution to newsletters also coordinated by: Silvana Huber, Schwetzingen, Germany Dabóczyné Lenkefi Éva, Pápa, Hungary dr. Kozma Zoltánné, Pápa, Hungary Gacs Mercédesz, Pápa, Hungary Csortos Melinda, Pápa, Hungary Agnieszka Picheta, Pulawy, Poland Agnieszka Gutkowska, Pulawy, Poland Mihaela Ioncica, Lugoj, Romania Violeta Popovici, Lugoj, Romania Loredana Anca Drinovan, Lugoj, Romania

ISBN 978-973-0-29896-3

School 21

No. 1 October 2017

Digitally & Socially Yours eTwinning & Erasmus+ project 2017-1-CZ01-KA219-035484

Foreword of the project coordinator

Special points of interest: 

Team presentations



How we volunteer

Inside this issue: Foreword

Czech Team Introduction

How we volunteer

German Team Introduction

Volunteering in Germany

Papa Team Introduction

AFS

Pulawy Team Introduction

Community Service in ZSO

Lugoj Team

Welcome to the project! It´s a great pleasure to start project activities in an environment of five European schools from Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Czechia. We hope to establish a lively relationship, learn from each other, carry out a lot of catching activities and have fun. What are the goals of the project? A connecting idea is community service and volunteering viewed from a number of aspects. During the project life cycle we´ll meet and work with destitute people, children with the Down syndrome, physically handicapped and disabled, socially excluded children, we´ll also visit an animal shelter, a fire station, NGOs, social enterprises or companies with strong CSR (corporate social responsibility). All participants will have a chance to experience, share, compare and discuss the ways of community service, charity and volunteering in partner countries. Another

value which is brought by the project is digital skills which will support our main topic. We´ll focus on 4 Cs which are critical thinking, communication, communication and creativity in both f2f and online work. Assessment rubrics and digital badges will be an integral part of our activities. Participating students will work together in transnational teams on different tasks, discuss them, agree on main ideas, create and present outputs. Undoubtedly, there will be enough time and possibilities to chill out and meet new friends, explore new places and, hopefully, gain unforgettable experiences. Good luck to all! See you soon in Pápa, Schwetzingen and Pulawy. J Alena Jandlová Project coordinator, Tábor, Czech Republic

School 21 Digitally & Socially Yours

Page 2

Czech Team Introduction

Students of Class 3 work in London companies as part of their school placements, other classes travel to different countries for project meetings with students

We´re a group of 22 students attending a project club at Commercial High School Tábor. We are from 2 different classes of Year 2. There´re students of an economical lycée who prepare for jobs in tourism and of a business academy who study for positions in business administration. The truths is, though, that a lot of students continue their studies at universities and colleges. It´s quite difficult to mention our hobbies, but generally boys enjoy sports and computer games while girls admire shopping and watching films or series. Our main subjects are Economics, Accounting, IT, Typing, English/German/ French/Russian, general subjects as Maths, History, Geography, Civics, Science or PE. In lessons we often use multimedia and smart boards. We regularly participate in sports competitions (ball games, track-and-field running or athletics), in summer months our PE lessons take place in a swimming pool, we go

roller skating on boating on a nearby lake. There is also a skiing course organized every year, recently mostly in Austria. We also travel to foreign countries on study trips, such as Germany, Austria, Poland, France or Britain. Regularly, exchange stays with a German school in Landshut are held. For many years our school has taken part in international projects (Comenius, Leonardo da Vinci, Erasmus+ or eTwinning). Students of Class 3 work in London companies as part of their school placements, other classes travel to different countries for project meetings with students from different European schools (Spain, Luxembourg, Iceland, Germany, Poland, Hungary or Romania). Tábor Team

from different European schools

How we volunteer in Czechia and at school

Czechia helps in different ways through a number of charity organizations or NGOs. Who to? To seriously ill people and their families (Good Angel, Czech Day Against Cancer, Beauty of Help, Medical Clown, Hope), disabled people (Jingle Bell Foundation, Paraple Centre) or disadvantaged people and international help (Red Cross, People In Need). Others help the environment or animals in numerous shelters. Especially in villages, we have voluntary firefighters, a very strong helpful organization where we have 2 of our girls from the project club. At present, food banks are gaining on popularity, customers can donate food straight in shops, this is delivered directly to people in need. Moreover, if you want to donate money you can do it via DMS, which are text messages which send € 1 to a chosen charity (you

can send as many as you want). At Christmas time charity concerts take place in many places. What is the situation in Tábor like? We have here volunteer centre to help people in distress, Jingle Bell and Blot to help disabled kids, a community centre Cheiron T helping disadvantaged children and many others. Every year in the Tábor theatre there is a charity concert to collect money for stranded dogs and cats. Various street money collections for charity organizations are under

way throughout the year. Our school takes part in many of them. We particularly work with the Jingle Bell Foundation which helps people with mental illnesses or disabilities. Students collect money into money boxes or bags, they ask passers by to buy a small jingle bell/ badge. This year the money went to buy a new special van for people on wheelchairs. Some people are happy to donate, others don´t like it very much. Our class earned about € 814, which is really a lot. Another way of our help is a charity run. Run for Africa is a project which collects money for building a school in Ethiopia. If you want to run, you have to have a sponsor who gives you some money for every lap you complete. We ran last school year on June 6 and we ran 238 km and collected € 682. Tábor Team

Issue 1, October 2017

Page 3

Volunteering in Germany Our school year started in the middle of September. Since then, our project group has been very busy with various projects: Every Wednesday afternoon, some members of our group take care of refugee children while their parents either participate in meetings of a women’s café or take German lessons. Our pupils play and talk with the refugee children, thus offering them an opportunity to get into contact with Germans and enabling their parents to improve their knowledge of German and exchange their experiences. Furthermore, our project group is planning a Christmas party for refugee children and children who are mentally or physically disabled. The party is supposed to take place at our school

German Team Introduction

on 21st December, and the afternoon will be filled with playing games, doing handicraft, making cookies – of course and eating them! Finally, our group has already supported Schwetzingen’s local food bank for a few years and is now planning another event in December to collect food for the food bank in front of several local supermarkets. All in all, we Schwetzingen Team

concentrate on enabling our pupils to take responsibility for themselves and show an appreciation

Our school is a co-educational secondary school in Schwetzingen, a small town in the south of Germany. We have approximately nine hundred pupils and eighty teachers. Our aspiration is for all our pupils to become independent thinkers, who are confident and compassionate to others. Both our syllabus and numerous extracurricular activities provide opportunities for our pupils to develop a full range of academic, sporting, creative, social and cultural skills. For instance, they can choose from a variety of foreign languages such as French, Latin and Spanish (English being obligatory) and apply their language skills in exchanges which our school organizes with other schools in Europe and the USA. Next to our pupils’ academic and creative skills, we would like to equip

them with good communication and for others. interpersonal skills, which they do not only achieve in their classes or extracurricular clubs, but also in their roles as mentors for younger pupils or in their commitment for refugees or homeless teenagers - activities which are all supervised by teachers of our school. All in all, we concentrate on enabling our pupils to take responsibility for themselves and show an appreciation for others, which is reflected by the aims of their obligatory subjects as well as their chosen focuses and extracurricular activities.

School 21 Digitally & Socially Yours

Page 4

Papa Team Introduction

Several famous and successful Hungarians have studied here, including scientists, artists and politicians; 3 of them became prime ministers.

Türr István High School was founded by the Pauline Order in Pápa in 1638, so it’s almost 400 years old. Altogether 18 forms study here, which incorporates 3 kinds of classes. On average we have 570 students. Several famous and successful Hungarians have studied here, including scientists, artists and politicians; 3 of them became prime ministers. The school can be found in the town centre. We have some regular events. We make commemorations on our national holidays, when we remember all the people who fought for our country. We have some funnier events

too. Every year we organise a show for the freshmen. At the end of the year, we have two days, when we don’t have to learn, but we can take part in different performances we go to a nearby lake to play interesting games, sports, cook and have a great day to finish the year. We go on a class trip every year in September. This year we visited Pécs and Mohács in the south of Hungary. It was a 2-day tip. We spent a night together in a pension and everybody had a great time. Last year we visited the capital of Hungary, in our first year we visited an amazing volcano park and climbed a mountain. We like these trips because we can learn new things and we can get to know each other better.

AFS – intercultural learning and volunteering On 18 October our class (10.A) took part in a presentation about AFS. AFS stands for American Field Service, it is an international, voluntary, non-governmental, nonprofit organization that provides intercultural learning opportunities to help people develop their knowledge, skills and understanding needed to create a more just and peaceful world. Csikós Gábor who is an AFS trainer and coordinator of intercul

(source: https://www.facebook.com/AfsPapa/ )

tural learning talked about the organisation and its activities. He highlighted the most important parts of intercultural learning: understanding each other, learning about foreign cultures and developing our social awareness. He mentioned the opportunities of exchange programmes which include studying abroad and hosting foreign students. If you don’t want to leave your beloved country or you aren’t able to be a host family you still can be a volunteer. These things are important because they help us get more

welcoming for other cultures’ customs which forms us to become a better person. By knowing people all over the world we wouldn’t fight against each other because we know they are just as worthy as we are and it leads to world peace. Paraicz Petra, AFS volunteer of 10.A Türr Grammar School, Pápa

Issue 1, October 2017

Page 5

The Pulawy Team Introduction Our group consists of 20 students aged 16 to 17 years old and 3 teachers. To become the team members they had to write the English test and after being chosen they were supposed to write the application letter. Some participants of the project are volunteers in our school Volunteering Club. All the members together with the teachers meet regularly to work on the project tasks. We try toget to know about one another as much as possible, exchange ideas concerning the project. Although all the students attend the first form,

they have different interests, attend variuos after school classes and can share their different points of views. They are eager to develop their interests, broaden their minds by learning about other cultures, countries.

They are eager to develop their interests, broaden their mindsby learning about other cultures, countries

Community Service in ZSO nr 2 im. F. D. Kniaźnina w Puławach

The School Volunteers Club in our school was founded in 2002 by Mrs Halina Osiecka, the school headmistress. There are around 30 members every year and three teachers taking care of them, From 2002 the club started the cooperation with the Daily Adaptation Centre in Puławy where the disabled and the Down syndrome people aged from 10 to 25 years old attend. In that place they can develop their interests and learn basic skills with the help of our students who

regularly visit them to lend their hands to their teachers. The most popular forms of the volunteers’ activities are organizing Valentine’s Parties and fancy dress parties or taking part in crafts workshops. Our volunteers used to attend kindergartens in our town. They prepared performances, games and reading sessions for children. Another field in which members of the Volunteering club are involved in are charity actions. Our students raise money for different organizations for example the Hospice in Puławy. They sell candles during All Saints’ Day, Christmas and Easter decorations which they prepare themselves. Together with the PE teachers they organize the Charity Handball Match. The

profit from selling the tickets goes to “Zarażamy radością Foundation” which helps all the people who are in need. Our volunteers help in organizing various sporting events, for example marathons, Nordic Walking for the elderly people or International Table Tennis Championship for the people moving in wheelchairs. Finally, our students help individual people. They are usually lonely, disabled, elderly people moving in wheelchairs. They talk to them, do the shopping or clean their flats.

eTwinning & Erasmus+ project 2017-1-CZ01-KA219-035484

We’re on the web: https://twinspace.etwinning.net/44282/home

Lugoj Team Introduction & Volunteering in Our School Our team consists of about 18 students in the same class—10B and one student in 11B. We have a curriculum with intensive English language learning and computer classes. We like to spend time together and we get involved in many extracurricular activities, including volunteering actions.

Students choose to volunteer for a variety of reasons. For some, it offers the chance to give something back to the community or make a difference to the people around

them. For others, it provides a chance to develop new skills or build on existing experience and knowledge.. Opportunities to volunteer vary continuously throughout the year from baking cookies, organising holiday fairs and environmental cleaning, to helping put together Halloween and Valentine’s day parties. All our high school pupils can be volunteers, regardless of their age. There is no discrimination, all you have to do is really want to get involved. Our school is involved in partenerships with NGOs whose main purpose is to foster the spirit of volunteering and promote it at different levels and in various fields. Children perform volunteering activities in different ways. In the ecological field, through the national projects "Let's do it Romania" and "The recycling patrol" we

Partners

With the support of the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union

managed to clean a part of our city and recycle household appliances. We also carry out charitable activities. Every year, a Christmas fair is organised and the money is donated to a social case. Moreover, students are involved in the national project "Shoe Box". This event offers the chance to donate Christmas gifts to children in need. We also support sports competitions dedicated to people with disabilities. You will probably have some reasons of your own. Remember to think about how much you receive when you give and consider why you want to volunteer. Anda Subţire, Romanian Team The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents which reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

School 21

No. 2 December 2017

Digitally & Socially Yours eTwinning & Erasmus+ project 2017-1-CZ01-KA219-035484

Christmas traditions and Christmas charity actions Christmas in Poland Special points of interest: 

Christmas traditions



Christmas charity

Inside this issue: Christmas in Poland

Christmas in Czechia

Xmas voluntary activities

Christmas in Hungary

Today you give!

Activities at Hebel Gymnazium

Romanian Christmas Customs

Wigilia- Christmas Eve is an important day in our tradition. From the early morning families decorate their homes with christmas trees, prepare the meal, which traditionally consists of twelve dishes. The Christmas Eve dinner starts just after we see the first star in the sky and it includes many kinds of fish, beet or mushroom soup, dishes made from cabbage, mushrooms, dried fruit compote and pastries for dessert. An extra place setting is added on the table in the memory of those who cannot be with the family for Christmas Eve and the hay is put on the table and covered by a tablecloth. It is related to the fact that Jesus was born on a hay in the

stable. Next a prayer is said first and then the family members share the wafer ( opłatek) and exchange wishes, before sitting down to the table. After the dinner we exchange gifts and sing carols. Next we go to Midnight Mass called Pasterka. The Christmas Day in Poland means going to the church for the Christmas Mass and showing children Nativity Scene – Szopka the wooden figures that are hand-carved and beautifully decorated. They include the Holy Family, stable animals, shepherds, and angels and present the story of the birth of Jesus. In the afternoon there are a lot of family gatherings, the family members meet, have some festive dinners, chat and sing carols.

Christmas charity actions in our school The oldest tradition in our school is preparing a Christmas Fair during which thet sell Christmas decorations which are made during Art. Classes. The money raised from the fair goes to the Hospice in our town. A week before Christmas our volunteers go to two places: the Daily Adaptation Centre and The Centre for mentally ill people. They prepare Christmas decorations, sing Christmas carols and exchange wishes. Our students take part in various charity events to suport people in need, for example they sell candles for Caritas- the Catholic Charity Organisation . Another action is „Szlachetna Paczka” during which people buy products of basic needs for the families in need. What is more, our school help the Homeless shelter in Puławy by collecting food. To make the christmas time more pleasant for these people our students visit the place and sing Christmas carols together. Polish team

School 21 Digitally & Socially Yours

Page 2

Advent in Czechia Advent is Christmas time which comes 4 weeks before Christmas Eve. Every Advent Sunday we light a candle on a Christmas wreath which is made of fir branches and some decorations. On 5th December comes Saint Nicholas with angels and devils. He gives out some sweets and small presents

to good children; potatoes and coal to bad ones. During Christmas time we bake sweets like gingerbreads and cookies. We sing Christmas carols on squares and streets. In the cities there are Christmas decorations like Xmas trees and light chains on lamps. We also visit our relatives and give and get gifts. The most important final part of Advent is Christmas Eve. . Tábor Team

Christmas in the Czech Republic Christmas is a holiday of peace and love. We should celebrate them with family and people we love

Christmas is a holiday of peace and love. We should celebrate them with family and people we love. We celebrate Christmas on 24th December. During the day we watch fairy tales and movies with Christmas themes, for example, Three Nuts for Cinderella, Goldilocks and No Jokes With Devils. We eat sweets and enjoy these moments.

or a Christmas cake. After dinner, the bell rings and we come to the Christmas tree. There are lots of presents for us and we open them with joy. Carols are heard in the background all the time. This day ends with a midnight mass in church.

In the evening we have our traditional dinner with whole family. Dinner starts with fish soup, as the main meal is served carp (for those who don´t eat it – schnitzel or salmon) with potato salad. And then we have sweets

don´t do this.

We have numerous traditions in the Czech Republic, e.g. if you don´t eat all day, you will see a golden pig and you will be lucky. But most of people Tereza, Linda, Adéla, Tábor Team

New Year’s Eve in the Czech Republic In the Czech Republic we call the event Silvestr, it’s a name in the calendar on 31st December. Silvestr is based on old traditions and it’s very informal for most of us. Usually we celebrate it community of our friends or families at home, clubs, restaurants or on squares. On television there are funny New Year’s Eve special programs or comedies. When it comes to midnight every medium is counting down the seconds. There is no special food for this event, but we all drink alcohol (18 + only). The most common drink for the toast is champagne or sects. Together we countdown the very last seconds of the old year and then we welcome the new one with a toast. At midnight we fire fireworks and other pyrotechnics! Such fun! Celebrations last to

morning hours or sometimes even longer. A lot of people hate the midnight fireworks, because of the danger of fire or hurting animals. There are a lot of hurt people too, because they do hit and hurt themselves. It’s one of the wildest nights of the year. Tábor Team

Issue 2, December 2017

Page 3

Xmas voluntary activities in Tabor Christmas time is time when people have open hearts and donate money and different things to charities and people in need. Our school takes part in two money collections which help ill children and raise awareness of AIDS „Days of Hearts“ Collection It´s a collection for seriously ill children, children without a family as well as for handicapped children, it takes place 3 times a year all over the Czech Republic. You can donate money on the NGO bank account or in a form of a donation text message all the year round, but our school helped collecting money on the street on 7th December. We got into 13 groups of 2-3 people. We got a sealed cloth bag and

a plastic bag with many items such as plastic hearts, biros, CDs and fridge magnets. Every product cost € 1,17. We collected money for about 4 hours in the centre of Tábor and its vicinity. When we asked people for donating money somebody was kind and gave us more than he had to, but others were a bit reluctant. So altogether, we collected a sum of € 417. So far (since the year 2000) the Czech Republic has coll e c t e d € 8, 406, 000, 000. This year, we know that Lidl supermarket joined the event and provided ill kids with a huge sum of over € 971,000. Adam, Ingrid, Barbora (Tábor Team)

Christmas time is time when people have open hearts and donate money

World AIDS Day, Red Ribbon Day It has been reminded every year on 1 December since 1988. In the Czech Republic is an organization called the House of Lights, which helps people with AIDS. But the main reason of this collection day is to inform people about the danger of AIDS and HIV. By the way, when a doctor says you´re HIV positive, it´s only 50% chance that you´re really positive. On 1st December… we walked through the streets and asked for money from people.

and different They didn´t really want give us money, because when they heard about AIDS, they weren´t really happy. They started to blame the people that they´re ill with AIDS. But anyway, our school collected about 5, 000 CZK, which is € 195. Petr, Kristýna, Simona, Verča Tábor Team

things to charities and people in need

School 21 Digitally & Socially Yours

Page 4

Christmas in Hungary Christmas in Hungary is celebrated with traditions similar to those found in other Central European countries as well as customs unique to the region. In Hungary, Christmas Eve is very important and is called 'Szenteste' which means Holy Evening. People spend the evening with their family and decorate the Christmas tree. Sometimes only the Our school’s Christmas tree with shoeboxes for charity adults decorate the tree (without the children there), so when children come in and see the In Hungary, tree, it's a great surprise and they are Christmas Eve is told that angels brought the tree for them! very important The main Christmas meal, which is and is called also eaten on Christmas Eve, consists 'Szenteste' which of fish (often fish soup called 'halászlé'), stuffed cabbage (the leaves means Holy are stuffed with rice, minced pork, onion, garlic and other spices) and a speEvening. cial kind of poppy seed or walnut roll called ’bejgli” is a popular dessert. Gingerbread is also a traditionally eaten at Christmas in Hungary. The gingerbread is often wrapped in very bright colours and decorated with Christmas figures. Traditional Christmas drinks are alcoholic drinks such as beer, wine and, pálinka (Hungarian fruit brandy) and soft drinks. Walnut and poppy seed bejgli The Midnight Mass service is very popular in Hungary. Most people go to church after their Christmas dinner. On Christmas Eve children also hope that they will find presents under the Christmas tree. They're told that the

presents are brought by Baby Jesus, called "Jézuska". Children wait outside the room where the tree is and when they hear bells ringing, they can enter and the presents await them under the tree. Hungarians like singing and listening to carols such as "Silent Night" and other traditional songs. We also light candles on the Advent wreath during the four weeks before Christmas. On Christmas Day people visit their families On the last at school day before our winter holiday we give each other some small presents. A group of lower class pupils call at each class and perform a nativity play. At midday we go a nearby church and listen to our school’s choir’s concert. In Hungarian we say: 'Boldog karácsonyt (kívánok)' - it means I wish you a happy Christmas or 'Kellemes karácsonyi ünnepeket' (pleasant Christmas holidays) Sass Dóra, 10. A Hungarian Team

Sources: https://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/hungary.shtml https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_in_Hungary http://www.hungarianreference.com/Greetings-Basicshow-to-say-introductions-hello-beautiful-i-love-you.aspx

Pupils from 7G performing a nativity play in our class

Issue 2, December 2017

Page 5

Christmas Charity Fair On the 7th of December, we got into the Christmas spirit at the Christmas Charity Fair held at the” Drăgan” European University of Lugoj. Students from all the schools and high-schools in town created handmade Christmas decorations which w e r e sold that night. There was also a tree auction

and all the money we collected was sent to charity. In the middle of the event a choir formed of students performed, singing carols but also starred in a theatre play. The whole event was a success and the atmosphere was amazing. Evelina Frăţilă, Romanian team

you give!” is a food rising campaign organized by members of Rotaract and Interact, with the support of Rotary Lugoj. This two youth clubs are for volunteers willing to make a difference, teenagers fighting for a better world, starting with our own town, Lugoj. This project is now at its ninth edition and every year, near Christmas and Easter holidays, it invites the good willing citizens to come and share whatever they can afford with the needy families in the city and its surroundings. Volunteers are collecting donated food in one of the city’s supermarkets, for three days. Afterwards, they make packages to be distributed to the

schools in town created handmade Christmas decorations which were sold and all the money donated to charity.

Today You Give! “Today

Students from all the

families in need. This year, before Christmas, the campaign managed to raise food for almost 250 packages, each of them hav-

with the principal of the school, came to donate in order to encourage the students and the world to try bringing a ray of sunshine on the faces of the less lucky ones. This project is one of the most beautiful actions taking place in our town, providing volunteers the opportunity to make a change and encourage people to good deeds.

ing approximately 10 kilos, Raluca Trandafir, Romanian Team bringing a huge amount of joy on the faces of many families. Our school, The National College Coriolan Brediceanu has shown once again its support for the young volunteers, many of which are students of the institution, and genuinely promoted the action. Moreover, many teachers along

School 21 Digitally & Socially Yours

Page 6

Activites at Hebel-Gymnasium Schwetzingen in November and December these countries to support, together with Amnesty International, the liberation of wrongfully imprisoned people. A group of students presented a little theatre play during which their mouths were taped to make the other students aware of the importance of freedom of speech, which is not guaranteed in every country. From 11th to 15th December 2017 students and teachers organized a taped to make the “Human Rights Week“ at Hebelother students Gymnasium in Schwetzingen, with different activities to remember aware of the 10th December 1948, when the importance of United Nations passed the Declarafreedom of speech, tion of Human Rights. At the beginning of the week a which is not group of students sold home-made guaranteed in every cakes and donated the money to the country Catholic charity organization / aid agency “Malteser“, who send staff members to crisis areas all over the world to help people in need, for example refugees. During the rest of the week students started a campain for Amnesty International; they put up partitions in the assembly hall to inform students about human rights violations in different countries. All students of our school could sign letters to the governments of their mouths were

The week ended with a big charity run. Two students of each class ran in the gym of our school for 45 minutes and thus raised money for “AIDS-Hilfe“ in Heidelberg, an organization that does research on AIDS and its prevention and helps people who suffer from this disease.

Issue 2, December 2017

Page 7

Apart from the “Human Rights Week” our charity club supported Schwetzingen’s local food bank with an event on 16th December, when our club members collected food for the food bank in front of several local supermarkets. Finally, the charity club invited refugee children and their mothers to our school on 21st December. We had a great afternoon playing games with the children, doing handicraft with them, making and eating cookies, while the children’s mothers had time to exchange their experiences. German Team

We have a logo! All project participants were involved in our logo competition. Three logos, created by Adam, Bianca, Georgiana and Raul, were proposed on the designated page in Twinspace. To vote, we used Tricider and some of us added comments together with our votes. The competition was tight, but, in the end, the most “human” logo won! Congratulations, Adam! We are going to use it on our further documents and materials, as you already noticed on the first page of this newsletter and on Twinspace as well.

eTwinning & Erasmus+ project 2017-1-CZ01-KA219-035484

Weâ€™re on the web: https://twinspace.etwinning.net/44282/home

Romanian Christmas Customs Since in Romania the majority of the people are orthodox, Christmas is a cherished holiday, almost everyone celebrating it. It comes with its traditions and although they may vary from one person to another there are some preparations we are all involved in. The Christmas tree is the star of every house and it is especially loved by children. For those who strictly follow the unwritten rules of Christmas, the tree is only decorated on the Christmas Eve. Not everyone can wait that long, but no matter when this is done everyone is sure to have around them family and friends, entertaining themselves. The tree has a special role in the holidayâ€™s spirit because when Santa Clause arrives he leaves the presents underneath it, to be found by those who have been good and kind. Santa is quite special; usually, a parent or a neighbor comes disguised and talks to the children. Before reciving their gifts they have

to confirm that they have behaved and, sometimes they are asked to recite a poem. Of course, they might get nervous and not even remember their name, but thatâ€™s fine because Santa knows they are good kids. But that is not all that happens during Christmas Eve. The kids go caroling, either by themselves or with a priest who coordinates them. This also involves the grown-ups since they have to be at home, preparing to meet the carolers. They bring wishes of health and good luck, so they are rewarded with fruits, sweets and, if they are lucky, money. Finally, on the big day of Christmas most people go to church, expressing their gratitude for what they have been given; after which they gather and have a good time with their relatives. Sergiu Novac, Romanian Team

Partners

With the support of the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union

The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents which reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

School 21

No. 3 February 2018

Digitally & Socially Yours eTwinning & Erasmus+ project 2017-1-CZ01-KA219-035484

Impressions from Schwetzingen Special points of interest:  Impressions from Schwetzingen  Descriptions of team presentations

Inside this issue: Impressions from Schwetzingen

Class experiences

Appel + Ei

Czech presentation

Refugees in Hungary in the 2010’s

Romanian presentation on

SeaLife & Women’s Cafe

Freezone

This meeting was an unforgettable experience for us. We met awesome people who’ve became our friends. We have learned some new words in other languages, and we also have taught our new friend some Polish expressions. Thanks to our host families, we had a chance to see a simple life of German families, their hospitality and warmth. We saw presentations about refugees in other countries and found out about their situation. We are different but we have the same aim to help people in need. We are sure that our work has a sense. We also prepared presentations about food banks in every country and the problem of homelessness of young people in Europe. What is the most important, we could work in international teams, so we could integrate with our peers from Czech Republic, Romania, Germany and Hungary. It was really nice to see how refugee’s children smile and satisfying to help other people, for example by collecting food for ‘Appel+Ei’ in front of local supermarkets. We went

for a trip to ‘Sea life’ to see some exotic fish with refugee families. For some us it was the first time we had a contact with refugees. The representatives of every country took part in the meeting with refugee mothers and their children. We were talking and playing with them. We also brought them some traditional sweets from Poland. On the last day of Erasmus+ project in Germany we had a meeting with refugees from Gambia, Syria and Afghanistan who were at the same age. They told us about their experiences in Germany and what difficulties they had at the beginning of their stay. We hope that next meeting in Puławy will be as good as in Schwetzingen. Alek & Sara, Polish team

School 21 Digitally & Socially Yours

Page 2

Class experiences

To sum up, this experience was highly useful for both the German and foreign students, as we could exchange opinions and discuss on various topics.

During our week, starting Monday 5th of February 2018, we were given the opportunity to attend classes at different subjects such as English, for the students that do not understand the German language, and Mathematics, Politics and Spanish for the ones that do. What we liked best were the English and Politics classes because they gave us a clue of how German students improve their language skills and keep informed about the political issues in their country. The participation at this classes offered us the possibility to learn more things about Germany and its school system. We also could spot the differences and similarities between the learning proc-

esses and what are they focused on here and in each of our countries. In comparison to our countries, the school system is very similar, but differences do exist. From our conversations with the German teachers and students we found out that we are having most of the same subjects, with very few exceptions. However, we noticed that the German teachers give their students more freedom of speech and also the students show more confidence in expressing their opinions. What is more, we came across strict rules such as no smartphones on the school territory or a control break schedule, which means the pupils canâ€™t stay in the building during breaks. To sum up, this experience was highly useful for both the German and foreign students, as we could exchange opinions and discuss on various topics. We are looking forward to experience as many meetings as this one in the closest future! Adam Hastrman, Czech Republic Blanka Molnar, Hungary Raluca Trandafir, Romania Gabriela Gregorczyk, Poland

International teams During this week we had an opportunity to work in international groups and to get to know each other. We were divided into multinational teams. Each team contains students from Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Hungary and Germany. Every team had a presentation about homeless teenagers, food banks and refugees. We had to work 2 hours per day to prepare the presentations and to rehearse our speech. We presented our work on Thursday morning and we found out what the others had prepared. It was useful practice and it was really interesting to see what the other teams were working on. We had no

problems collaborating with the other colleagues. This experience helped us improve our communication skills and overcome our language barrier.

Issue 3, February 2018

Page 3

Appel + Ei WHAT IS APPEL + EI? Appel + Ei is a food bank in Schwetzingen which gives the food that is taken out of the supermarkets because of the expiration date to the people who don´t have enough money. The "Schwetzinger Tafel Appel + Ei" is an ecumenical project of the Caritas Association and the Diakonisches Werk in Schwetzingen. It is supported by the Protestant and Catholic Church, as well as the city of Schwetzingen. The opening times are between 10 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. and Saturday between 10 a.m. to 1 p.m

WHAT DID WE DO ON MONDAY? We were standing in international groups (each group consisted of at least one student of each country) in front of the supermarkets and we asked people if they want to donate food or money for the organization.

The reactions and our experiences There were various reactions; Negative reactions: they ignored us and just walked away Positive reactions: they were very friendly and donated much, they came and told us that it´s fantastic that we help other people in need. Since it was a Monday afternoon and there are not that many people as e.g. on Saturday morning we did not collected as much as usually. Julia, Barbora, Olga, Hannah

“Although it was very cold, we had much fun together and we´re glad to be part of this project. We would do it again!”

Abbildung 1: http://www.evkircheschwetzingen.de/Images/AppelundEi_banner.jpg

School 21 Digitally & Socially Yours

Page 4

Czech presentation

Czechia is a transit county and it means refugees since recent years have just gone through our country to Germany.

Czech presentation is about people on the move (foreigners in the Czech Republic). It consists of three parts: a talk about foreigners, immigration and asylum centres. In the Czech Republic live 500,000 immigrants. The largest part of them are Ukrainians (25%). Ukrainians works on building sites and in industry. Next ones are Vietnamese, they are shopkeepers. There are over 20, 000 small Vietnamese shops in the country. Czechia is a transit county and it means refugees since recent years have just gone through our country to Germany. They ask here for asylum the least from the European Union. In the 20th century there were

large numbers of immigrants from Russia, Greece and Vietnam. Jews came here later in the 1930s, they were scared of the situation in their country, they wanted to protect their families and be safe. Greeks came in the 1940s. In Greece there was a civil war. Vietnamese came in the 1980s. We described a true story about a man from Syria and his family. He took his family and escaped from Syria. There was really hard life because everywhere were falling down bombs. And now he is with his family in an asylum centre. In the Czech Republic are asylum centres in many regions. There are refugees from Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia and Syria. There refugees can sleep, get food or learn a language. When a refugee wants to get asylum in the Czech Republic he must go to the local police station and ask for asylum and then he goes to an asylum centre. After 90 days he can get an asylum. He must to learn Czech language and after 5 years he can ask for the Czech citizenship. Around every asylum centre there is a fence, so living there isnÂ´t simple, the place is nice inside, there are gyms, libraries or playgrounds, but the fence as well. There are mostly immigrants and they often works in industry and agriculture. Anna, Pavla Czech team

Issue 3, February 2018

Page 5

Refugees in Hungary in the 2010s The main topic of the first Erasmus Plus project meeting in Germany was “Refugees”. We read a lot of articles and watched a video made by the students of QSI, a multinational school in our town, Pápa. It is called “Refugees are not anonymous”. Also, we had some discussions in our class. Our whole class helped us search pictures and some sources. Petra and I started to turn it into a presentation. It was a lot of work and time. We were really excited to present about this controversial issue. Lili took part in the final work and gave the presentation with us. On Tuesday we were talking about the migration situation in Hungary. We explained who a refugee is and spoke about their rights. We showed some pictures of the Hungarian situation in 1956. After the revolution 200,000 Hungarians left the country and they were received warmly and all of them could find a new home in the free world. In our country even the first Hungarian king, Saint Stephen was really open to foreigners and enriched our economy and culture more than one thousand years ago. However, these days our government does not seem to be friendly

with the refugees coming from Africa and Asia. They built a fence on the border with Serbia and Croatia. On the other hand, there are some migrant solidarity groups in the country that help foreigners. Left wing and liberal opposition parties also NGOs are more welcoming. We displayed a little chart with the numbers of asylum-seekers in the past 5 years. We showed the Hungarian government’s opinion about this topic and some examples of the posters and newspaper advertisements on the topic that have appeared throughout the country. We closed our presentation with a sentence in the languages of the partner schools: ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ (Matthew, 25) Dóra, Petra and Lili Hungarian team

We closed our presentation with a sentence in the languages of the partner schools.

School 21 Digitally & Socially Yours

Page 6

Romanian presentation on refugees

Those things are happening at the present moment, so we should not be indifferent because this problem is affecting us.

The purpose In just a few minutes we succeed to introduce a meaningful story which helps the viewer understand the origins of the refugee situation and the everyday problems these people have to face. The First Drib Everything has a beginning, therefore the Syrian Civil War was the first drib of blood. The chaos had started when the people were forced to leave their countries and find another way to survive. Some of them did choose to stay at home but the possibility of not waking up made them flee. Even though Germany was their target, on their way they spread in different countries like Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania. Here they found shelter and support.

The story of a real hero After giving you general idea about why refugees came to our country and decided to stay here, we thought that the best way to understand what one is going through, we interviewed a Iraqi that saved his daughter and parents from the war. He came to Romania before the war had started and got married to a Romanian lady. Their daughter grew up in Irak with her grandparents. When Hassan saw that things were getting bad there, he went and took his family to Romania.

Listen to their stories A movie always has a story behind itself. The story that we go showed you was a real one. Those things are happening at the present moment, so we should not be indifferent because this problem is affecting us.

Anda & Amanda, Romanian team

Issue 3, February 2018

Page 7

SeaLife On Tuesday 6th of February we were in Sealife in Speyer. We spent time with refugee children and their moms there. We saw lot of water animals for example a shark, turtle or other fish. We also saw interesting and colorful corals. Moreover, we had a chance to play with refugee children and talk to their moms. At the end of the meeting we took a photo of all participants of the meeting. It was an unforgettable experience for us. Most of the students hadn’t had a possibility to spend time with refugees before. They were very nice and told us their stories about why they move to Germany or how they get here. Weronika from Poland, Darina from Czech Republic, Vivi from Hungary

Women’s Café in Schwetzingen What is the Women’s Café? The Women’s Café is a place where refugee women can meet. Men are not allowed to go there. The women go there to drink coffee, eat cake, talk about their lives and learn German. There is a language course which starts 1h before the Café. During the course and the café there are a few people who take care of the children. It was founded in 2016 by Susanne Störmer. When does it take place? The Women’s Café takes place once a month on the first Wednesday, but the language course takes place every week on Wednesday. The courses begins at 3 pm and last till 3.45 pm and if there is the Women’s Café it begins at 4 pm and last till 6 pm. What does our school do in the Women’s Café? The project group of the HebelGymnasium have a partnership with the Women’s Café. Some students support the childcare weekly. The program is very various so for example about two weeks ago they tinker mask because carnival is coming soon. Contact data: Schlossplatz 9 Schwetzingen, In den Räumen der Landeskirchlichen Gemeinschaft Tel. 06202 1270935 (Susanne Störmer) info-frauencafe@asyl-ak-schwetzingen.de Interviews How long did you already help in the child care from the women’s cafe? “I helped in the child care since the beginning of this school year.” (An Ngo, Germany) Do you have some special rules there? In the beginning the child care staff have to explain the rules to the children in English and in German: Be friendly to each other!

No violence! Food and Shoes aren’t allowed in the room! If the kids break the rules they get punished. First they get a yellow card, this a warning. If they break the rules twice they get a red card, so they aren’t allow anymore to visit the child care. (Linh Ngo, Germany) What impression do you have from the Women’s café? “This Wednesday we went to the Women´s Café and we were impressed by this place. I think it was a great experience, because I love kids. Here in Schwetzingen we were able to meet some refugee women and their children and play some games and also take a lot of photos with them.” (Jessica Polk, Romania) “On Wednesday I was in Women’s café. It was very important moment for me, because their stories about their life are interesting and often sad. When I asked children where they are from, they didn’t answer.” (Ingrid Machova, Czech Republik) Do you have something similar in Romania? “I´m used to taking care of little children, in Romania I have the chance to do it every month in an organization, where I read stories for them and play some games.” (Jessica Polk, Romania) How do you think the children care from the women café was this Wednesday? “On this Wednesday there were exceptionally many kids, because of the carnival party. So it was very good that the exchange students helped us. I think it was very nice this week, although the organization wasn’t very good. Everybody was lucky and the kids had fun. We played some games and took many photos and at the end we made polonaise.” (An Ngo and Linh Ngo, Germany)

eTwinning & Erasmus+ project 2017-1-CZ01-KA219-035484

We’re on the web: https://twinspace.etwinning.net/44282/home

Freezone Freezone was founded in 1997 in Mannheim in Germany. It gives a place for teenagers and adults who live on the streets. It is for teenagers from twelve to twenty-five. They can sleep, relax, have a shower, eat and spend some time with other homeless teenagers. These people can bring their pets, too. This place is free for them. We visited this place on Thursday and it was really exciting for us. We took a train from Schwetzingen to Mannheim and we went to Freezone by tram. When we saw that building we were confused because it looked different from other homes or buildings. We did not know what to expect. After that we went in and we met a man. He spoke about this place. How they live, learn and about the history of Freezone. We learned about their ups and downs and how hard it is for them to find an apartment or some job. It was interesting to see their beds and the way they are living.

We saw their rooms which were messy, pictures of their success in school. We also saw this school which was built for the homeless. They call it “street school”. The aim of this Freezone is to help to disadvantaged people to find a good job and live a better life. They are just trying to make their everyday life easier. You can visit this place in Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 13:00 to 17:00 and on Thursday from 16:00 to 20:00. Sára (CZ), Naema (GER) Laura, Bálint (HU)

http://www.freezone-mannheim.de/ http://www.freezonemannheim.de/ https://www.mannheim24.de/mannheim/mannheimhilfe-ankommt-freezone-einrichtung-obdachlosejugendliche-junge-erwachsene-4741135.html

Partners

With the support of the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union

School 21

No. 4 April 2018

Digitally & Socially Yours eTwinning & Erasmus+ project 2017-1-CZ01-KA219-035484

Impressions from Puławy Special points of interest:  Impressions from Puławy  Descriptions of team presentations

Our first breakfast was at 8:30, on breakfast we had buffet style, for example salad, ham, cheese and other things. At 9:15 we went to school and first we saw the other students from partners school (Czechia, Germany, Romania, Hungary and Poland). We performed our presentation, which we prepared at home. After the presentation we danced to a popular song called Belgijka together. Then people with down syndrome performed a dance for us, it was very lovely to see that dance, because they all seems to had a great time. Because we had so much fun dancing, we danced for the second time. After this effort we went to lunch at the school canteen. Eliska, Veronika, Emely and Maximilian

Inside this issue: Impressions from Puławy

National presentations

2-3

Visiting DOA

Center for mentally ill people

Creating presentations

Integration in Puławy

Warsaw

The first day in Puławy First we met at 9.00 a clock in school we drove to a organisation which is helping people with down syndrome. They presented a performance of ”Zodiac Theatre” (a group of Down syndrome people) and showed us their skills at Zumba. Before lunch the partners from the different countries showed presentations about different organisations for people with Down syndrome. Later we went sightseeing in Puławy. We saw the park „Czartoryskich” and took photos of the sights there, for example the Greek house and Sybilla temple. After the exciting visit in the park we went to sushi studio which is also in Puławy. The dinner was delicious and all of us really enjoyed this day. Weronika, Lara, Julia , Adela, Zsoka, Eveline

School 21 Digitally & Socially Yours

Page 2

National presentations

“Everyone is unique and everyone deserves respect.”

Czech presentation

German presentation

The main topic of Czech presentation was mentally disabled people and centre Rolnička which works with them. It was devided to three parts: what the centre offers, events and how to help. Diakonie Rolnička is for people who are limited in a mental way and they want to live a normal life without any problems with their families and friends. They have really nice mission which says “We’re different, but we belong to each other. Everyone is unique and everyone deserves respect.” They offers social, educating, therapeutic, working and rehabilitative services. Their clients can use help by specialists, protected housing, transfer to centre, personal assistance in special schools – kindergarden, primary school and practical school. They like music and playing games, their own sport is iBoccia which is similar to petanque, but it’s modified for disabled people. They’re really good in it and they like it! Also Rolnička gives work to disabled people in their Protected workshop, Tea and coffee bar and in shop of Goodwill. If you want to help you can buy any of their products which are made by them – bags, toys, plates or mugs. You can become a volunteer or regular donor too. You can send donate message or you can just talk about it. There is support event called Run for Rolnička too. We added a summarizing video about Diakonie Rolnička in the end of our presentation too.

At the first meeting we sat together talking about our topics in the presentation. We decided to present something about school (the Comenius school in Schwetzingen), life (Lebenshilfe) and work (Diakoniewerkstätte Rhein-Neckar) from disabled people. We made groups for every topic and the individual preparation began. One week later we met again comparing our results. Finally some students prepared one big presentation at home. After that we started practicing the whole presentation.

Of course school is important. That’s why every person needs to have the chance going to school. The Comenius school offers this possibility for persons with disability. To get information about this school, we interviewed a teacher. Our second topic was about the daily life of disabled people. The members of the Lebenshilfe try helping and supporting people with disabilities to live as independently and “normally“ as possible. We all need to have a task and also to earn money. The Diakoniewerkstätte Rhein-Neckar has five different workshops for every individual (e.g. metal or wood work). Because of this work they get more self-confidence and are integratTereza, Pavlína, Tábor team ed in the society. Leonie Strobel and Linh Ngo German team

Issue 4, April 2018

Page 3

National presentations Hungarian presentation The topic of our presentation was to collect the most important pieces information about Down-syndrome. It seemed to be very interesting and unusual, because we don’t meet Downsyndrome people very often in our everyday life. Nevertheless we must learn more about the difference of people in order to accept it. We had a great help of the internet and we searched a lot for the organizations and foundation that deal with problems of Down-syndrome people. We found out that there were lots of special organizations like these, and finally we have chosen 3 to introduce them. These are the following: DownFoundation, The Wonder castle located in Budapest in our capital, and Down Association located in Nyíregyháza. We checked their goals, how they help the Downsyndrome people and their families. We discussed the topic with each other in the group and gave a final format to our presentation in PPT (prezi). We found a very nice and touching videofilm on the net and added it to our performance. While making the presentation we got interested in the topic even more and were deeply involved in it and we eagerly waited for the travel to Poland, where we could meet Down-syndrome people in Puławy and Warsaw. We learnt much about their everyday life, we took part in craft-workshops with them and had lots of fun with them. Zsófia and Hajni from Hungary

Romanian presentation “Alexandru Rosca” is a special school for the children with mental deficiency. As we had volunteered there before we knew how things were carried out there and we also knew that the Principal, Viorica Paraschivu, would happily answer to our questions.

We were accompanied by our teacher when we went there and started filming parts of the video. Our team was welcomed by the devoted teachers and by the cheerful kids who were glad to see us. They were excited to show us their crafts and how they work. In each classroom there were children of different ages but with the same capacity. We had been given information about every room where kids work individually. We were deeply impressed by their willingness to learn and participate in different projects and activities. It was a touching experience for us as we have encountered incredible people who are pleased with themselves and the things they are offered. Evelina and Roxana Romanian Team

While making the presentation we got interested in the topic even more and were deeply involved in it

School 21 Digitally & Socially Yours

Page 4

VISITING DOA – Daily Adaptation Centre for people with Down syndrome

We can agree that it was such a wonderful day with lovely people and all of us enjoyed it

DOA is located on the outskirts of Puławy and it is a center for disabled people. They can spend their day there together with special trainers and instructors. When we got there we were divided into 4 groups. Our group had to make plates out of clay featuring disabled people. It was an amazing experience for us because we had an opportunity to learn more about their disabilities and the things they can

do. Other groups prepared snacks for everyone, designed jars and did other interesting activities. After finishing our work we gathered at the gym and everyone had a great time during dance classes. We got to know some Polish traditional dances as well as other funny dances. We also had a chance to talk with disabled people during small breaks. We can agree that it was such a wonderful day with lovely people and all of us enjoyed it. Gabriela PL, Viki HU, Emilia DE, Martina CZ, Bianca RO

Center for mentally ill people On Thursday we visited the center for mentally ill people. The center is in Puławy. The main focus of it is helping mentally ill people by:  Teaching them social skills and how to live on their own  Training them to function in everyday live  craft therapy  psychological and social help  integration of the mentally ill people with their environment  giving them the opportunity to take part in different social actions During our visit we had the chance to work on crafts. The disabled people had prepared some artistic activities for us, for instance we made some animal figures out of wood. A part of the group was painting

masks made of flavor, glue, water and paper. Another part of the group made some pom pom with woolen string. After finishing the workshop, the patients of the center served us delicious cheese cake, which was baked by them. In the end there was some karaoke with polish music. For the not-polish speaking people it sounds original. When the time was up we had to left them. In our opinion it was a great learning experience and we had a really nice time with them. The people there were so cute. Maybe we can visit them again one day. Tereza Pochyla, Sara Eciak, Bence Hauser, An Ngo, Jan Bronikowski

Issue 4, April 2018

Page 5

Creating presentations On Wednesday afternoon every group began making two presentations. The first one was supposed to show the results of our sightseeing Puławy. It all began on Tuesday when we were divided into 8 groups. Each group was given some instructions. Then we were completing the tasks and taking some photos. We used everything we saw and learnt to make a presentation. After finishing work each group got a different topic. The main topic of second presentation was addiction (to drugs, alcohol,

cell phone, etc.). We had to search for as much information as we could on the Internet. Then we put it all together. Some groups managed to finish their work on Wednesday evening. The others had some more time on Thursday afternoon. We all practiced a lot on Saturday and then came the time to show our presentations up to others The Polish team

Integration in Puławy On Tuesday we had to work on the presentation together, it was hard AT first; we did not know how to divide the work and the foreign pupils had a hard job with understanding the computers. But we spent a lot of time together, not just with working but talking, singing, and so on. On Wednesday and Thursday we took a long walk along the river Wisła and we ended up staying at a playground. And the talented Karolina or Jędrek played the guitar and some of us surrounded her/him and sang Riptide, and some other songs. We think this program was very useful for everybody, because everyone had the chance to practice the English language and learnt interesting things from foreign people. Maybe some people even get a good friend. David, Karolina, Alek, Petr

We think this program was very useful for everybody, because everyone had the chance to practice the English language and learnt interesting things from foreign people. .

eTwinning & Erasmus+ project 2017-1-CZ01-KA219-035484

Weâ€™re on the web: https://twinspace.etwinning.net/44282/home

Warsaw Warsaw sightseeing We got on the bus and left at 8 a.m. on Friday. The journey long but worth it. We saw the square near the Royal Castle, then watched short historical clips about the castle in it. Than we took around the old town by a guide, who was speaking about the history during the walk. During the sightseeing we had a short half hour break at the Old Town Market Place to buy some souvenirs or ice cream. After that we continued our walk and ended up in the place we started. The guide was talking to us even while we travelled through the city by bus to the shopping centre to have lunch. Judit, Linda, Simona, Emilie

Partners

With the support of the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union

Rehearsal In Warsaw After our sightseeing tour through Warsaw we went to the rehearsal of a show from people with mental disabilities. There are about 67 disabled persons and their teachers. The groups name is Mazowiacy and they dance, sing and play traditional music together. When we arrived, their dancing teacher first told us something about the group. Then they started dancing and after a while, we all joined them and had a lot of fun. After this they presented us a show which they had practiced a long time and which they will perform in front of an audience on Sunday. It took about one hour and was very professional and impressive. We all enjoyed the beautiful show.

School 21

No. 5 June 2018

Digitally & Socially Yours eTwinning & Erasmus+ project 2017-1-CZ01-KA219-035484

Graduation ceremonies in the partner schools End of the school year activities at HGS Special points of interest:  End of the school year activities  Graduation ceremonies

Inside this issue: End of the school year activities at HGS

The end of the school year in Poland 2 Graduation and Prom in Papa

End of the school year activities in Tabor

Graduation and Prom in Tabor

Graduation ceremony in Lugoj

The end of the school year is marked by the final exams (Abitur). In April the students had to pass the written exams and in June they must pass the oral exams to finally get their Abitur, which enables them to go to university. On the 6th of July thre will be a prom with a graduation ceremony in the assembly hall of our school building, during which the students are solemnly given their high school graduation certificates by Mr Ade. Our school’s charity club has been and is still very active at the end oft he school year. The students have prepared posters against environmental pollution and collected money for the local food bank. In May Mr Stürmer, who runs the food bank in Schwetzingen, was invited by the charity club to a discussion about food banks. The students who take part in the charity club are also planning an afternoon (with cakes and biscuits) with refugee children from a refugee accomodation in Ketsch (near Schwetzingen), and of course they still look after the refugee children at the

women’s café in Schwetzingen. One of our classes (7b) sold selfmade cakes at school and gave the money to the local animal shelter, so that the women who run that shelter came to school to thank the students and to give them more information about their work. There have also been two school exchanges, one with our twin town Lunéville in France (in April) and one with Pápa in Hungary (in March), and of course there was our visit in Pulawy (Poland) in April with the Erasmus + project! In May we had a talent show at the HGS, during which the students of all ages could prove their talents as singers, dancers, acrobats or musicians . In the same month the students of the literature club of our school presented their first detective story, written by 16 students, at a press conference. Schwetzingen team

School 21 Digitally & Socially Yours

Page 2

The end of the school year in Poland

...the events that are celebrated in this time become an unforgettable experience and stay in young people’s minds forever.

When students are in their final year in high school, during which most of them turn 19, there are a few important things to crop up in their lives. One of them is the pre-graduation ball, a little similar to American school proms, However, in Poland, these proms are organised at the end of January or the beginning of February and they are called studniówka, as they normally befall one hundred days before the graduation exam. But what exactly are such proms? Well, all (or almost all) of the students who are going to graduate from school in a given year dance, eat, sing and have fun with their teachers and sometimes even parents! Such parties usually take place in restaurant halls, or, which is becoming less and less common nowadays, in schools gyms or canteens. During such parties students and teachers talk to each other, dance with each other, and they appear just like close friends. It is the time of final relaxation before the hard part of the year, namely, their final school leaving exams. Such exams are perhaps one the most important events in their lives. They are called matura, the so called maturity exams. Matura is a series of exams which consists of taking three compulsory subject tests at a basic level. Typically these are: Polish, Maths and English as a foreign language. Additionally, the languages have to be taken in both written and oral part, which makes it five compulsory exams altogether. For those schoolleavers who are planning to start a university education, there is an opportunity to take additional subjects, which must be taken at an extended level only. If they do well at them and their score is decent, they will certainly be accepted by best universities. If not, you will find your place at less popular or less renowned colleges. Finally, there is a graduation day ceremony which typically happens on last Friday of April and it is before the school leaving exams. It is a moving school celebration

where young people sing songs, recite, bid their final farewell with the younger students. At times, there is an exchange of small gifts or souvenirs. Once the ceremony is over, graduates walk to their classrooms for a final meeting with their form teachers. At these meeting, young people are given their final certificates, they hand out flowery bouquets to the teachers as tokens of gratitude. The best graduates receive special certificates with a white and red stripe distinction. The colours are an obvious reference to the Polish national colours. After that, former students go out to a restaurant, a club or for a picnic to

celebrate this day in private. All in all, a final year in high schools has always been a hectic time. Nevertheless, the events that are celebrated in this time become an unforgettable experiences and stay in young people’s minds forever. Unsurprisingly, most young people look forward to this time.

Jędrzej Batyra, Puławy team

Issue 5, June 2018

Page 3

Graduation and Prom in Pápa Prom – Türr Grammar School, Pápa Our prom always takes place in January. We go to the town’s theatre where the graduating classes perform a colourful show. It consists of dances, poems, mostly funny plays (sometimes impersonating teachers). Sometimes we can see short films about the classes’ lives. The highlight of the event in the Waltz. Especially girls look forward to wearing beautiful white dresses and look like brides.

At the end of the event the formteachers pin a small ribbon on the students’ collars. Prom in Hungarian is called szalagavató – ribbon inauguration.

After the show the student and teacher have a festive dinner. Then there is a party. Graduation Graduate students in Hungary leave school a month earlier than their younger peers. The graduation ceremony in Pápa always takes place on the first Satur-

day in May. In other towns it can be Friday though. Students of the lower classes are asked to collect as many flowers as they can. On Saturday morning the school is full of the scent of lilacs, roses and pine. The graduating classes walk along the nicely decorated corridors to the schoolyard where speeches are made and the best students are awarded. The most popular song is called Gaudeamus igitur … . We sing it in Latin and Hungarian. Our town has a nice tradition of celebrating graduates. It attracts thousands of people watching the parade of some 600 students of 6 six secondary schools through the main square to the open-air stage of the town where there is a nice ceremony. After that students reunite with their families and have lunch with their guests. Two days later on Monday they start their written examinations. One subject a day. The oral examinations always start after 15 June. Graduation ceremony in Hungarian is ballagás – walking away slowly. A week before the graduation ceremony classes visit their teachers and serenade them. Traditionally they finish it at their form-teacher’s house around midnight. After passing the school leaving examinations the classes hold a banquet. It is a much more informal event. Szabó Zsóka and Varga Hajnalka, 10. A Papa team

Our town has a nice tradition of celebrating graduates. It attracts thousands of people watching the parade of some 600 students

School 21 Digitally & Socially Yours

Page 4

End of the school year activities in Tabor Excursions Classes of our school go on excursions during each school year. They are one day long and students visit either various companies or museums/sights. Every year we have one excursion in winter and one in spring. Every class must choose an excursion focused on history and curiosities. We can travel only in Czechia and most of the time we visit Prague. Last year we were in the Prague National Theatre. We had an amazing guide that showed us round. He told us about history of the Every year we theatre and Czech culture. After that we were on have one the Charles Bridge. We learned that history of the bridge dates back to the 14th century. It’s excursion in the oldest bridge that leads across the river Vltawinter and one in va. There are also a lot of musicians and artists. We saw a lot of sights such as Bethlehem Chapel, where Jan Hus, a famous Czech reformer of spring. Every the 13th century, preached in the Czech lanclass must choose guage . Our second excursion was about bioloan excursion gy and anatomy. It also took place in Prague. focused on history We saw every parts of body and many organs. There was an exhibition of human development and curiosities and evolution of human babies. The amazing part of exhibition is that everything was from real humans. At the end of the school year each class has a chance to go on a two-day school trip. They can choose where to go and plan the programme. Most common destinations are within 50 km from Tábor, often in campsites with a lake and sports facilities. J Last year we decided that we wanted to visit a car campsite in Třeboň for two days. On the last week of June we travelled by train there. Our journey wasn’t too long because it took only around one and half hour. When we arrived, we checked in. We lived in cabins for three or four people. We were to explore new things, so we visited Třeboň square where

we found a pizza restaurant and had the best pizza ever. After that we visited the castle. It was fantastic! We spent our evening by bonfire and we sang songs and ate sausages and marshmallows. It was a funny awesome evening. We also played games like volleyball, football, we danced and we swam in the nearby lake which was cold, but refreshing. It was nice to spent our last days of school together before summer holidays. The last day was sad because we had to say goodbye for two months, but we are really looking forward to our school trip this year. Tabor team

Sports day Every year our school organizes a sports day, usually towards the end of the second school term. There are many sports to choose from like volleyball, baseball, football, but the main thing is the Run for Africa, which is a charity event. How does it work? Every runner finds sponsors. They give them money for every lap. One lap has 800 metres. Sponsors choose what amount of money they donate for one lap. After, the students bring the collected money to school which confirms that they handed in the money and sends it to the bank account of the charity called „The People In Need“. They will build a school in Africa. Pavla, Johana, Pavlína Tabor team

Issue 5, June 2018

Page 5

Graduation and Prom in Tabor Graduation exam – Maturita exam in Tábor At our school we have two fields and each have different graduation exam. The first one is business academy and the second one is economical lycee. The state graduation is in the Czech language and a foreign language (English/German/Russian/French) or Mathematics. Czech and English languages are composed from three parts, in case of English it´s a 100 min didactic test (listening, reading, use of English), a 60 min essay and a 15 min oral exam. In Mathematics is there only a 100 min test. All the students have to do a 5 -hour practical economical exam. At business academy the school graduation exam consists of Economics and Accounting, at economical lycee it is in Economics and Tourism. When taking an oral exam, each student chooses from 25 topics in English and 20 in Czech, then they

Proms in Tábor Proms at high schools in Tábor begin in October every year. Every week a different class has the prom in the Hotel Palcát or elsewhere. The Palcát is the most popular one. Preparing already starts in the first grade and each student gives some money for four years. Because we have to collect roughly € 7, 400 for prom costs (the rent for the venue or the band are among the highest). Then students choose the date of their prom and a place, of course. Our class made the booking this school year. Lately, it’s getting more and more common to book a moderator, a cameraman for a prom video and a professional photographer. After that, in the third grade we have to choose glasses, sashes and roses and usually students choose special performances for the evening, too. In the final year, one day comes a cameraman and makes a short video where all of students are actors. In the prom it is traditional to prepare our group performance. When the D Day starts, every participant is

have 20 minutes for preparation and finally 15 minutes to tell the teachers what they learned and remembered. Every day four people sit for their oral exams in the morning and four people in the afternoon. There are two teachers – examiners and a committee. One is the teacher who taught us the subject and the other one is assisting and there is the head of the committee, who comes from a different school, the deputy head is another teacher from the school. When the students pass their finals successfully, they are, together with their families and friends invited to the town register office in whose ceremonial hall the certificates are handed over to new school graduates. Tábor team When the students

pass their finals successfully, they are, together with their families and friends invited to the town register office in whose ceremonial hall the certificates are handed over to new nervous. All visitors must pay about 4 € and school graduates. they can win in a raffle if they want to take part in it. Then, all the students are introduced to visitors because they have an opening ceremony. After the ceremony a big party begins where all participants are invited to enjoy themselves, drink and dance. At midnight comes the Midnight surprise and there students most often show show a funny performance. And . . . the prom ends at about 3 a. m., but the prom students continue celebrating until next morning. Tábor Team

eTwinning & Erasmus+ project 2017-1-CZ01-KA219-035484

We’re on the web: https://twinspace.etwinning.net/44282/home

Graduation ceremony in Lugoj Wednesday, 23th of May 2018, was the day when the National College “Coriolan Brediceanu” from Lugoj has said “goodbye” to another generation of promising students. About 100 excited pupils had entered the doors of our dear school for the last time as pupils on the morning of the 23th of May in order to attend their last lesson along with the teachers that had been not only a person to give them lessons to learn at school, but also a person that during the 4 years together has got to form them as families. Moreover, the students were also welcomed by the future generations following them which decorated the classrooms that had been home for them during the years, and also gave them an encouraging speech for what was next to happen. Soon after their last lesson was over they left the school to become future students, but before that, the actual graduation event took place. It all happened at the “Casa de cultura Lugoj” which hosted about 500 people. Besides the students with tears in their eyes, some sad because it was over, a beautiful time of their life that was surely going to affect the adults they are meant to become, others excited and keen on living the new experiences that are about to happen, there were also the teachers waving goodbye to another generation of children that had grown up under their own eyes and wishing their best in life. The room was also full of emotional parents, grandparents and relatives

that had come to see and support their children in their process of growing up, as graduation is an important step in the life of a child. Other from that, there were students of our school that came to attend the event and support their older colleagues and friends. It was an emotional and touching moment for all of us that were there that day, I believe. The headmaster of our school along with the teachers and the best students of each class have managed to cause the audience not only to cry because it was over ,but also to laugh and smile due to all the good things that had happened during their time in high school. Graduation is a moment in the life of a person when everything is changing because it’s the end of childhood and the beginning of adulthood. However, it is a moment of important change that will forever remain in our memory. This year, everything was there: a little bit of sadness, a little bit of happiness, a lot of hope, excitement and enthusiasm and many, many students looking forward to a new stage in their lives. As far as I am concerned, I wish all the graduate students the best of luck and I hope for them to live a life of fulfillment. Ralu Trandafir. , Lugoj team

Partners

With the support of the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union

School 21

No. 6 October 2018

Digitally & Socially Yours eTwinning & Erasmus+ project 2017-1-CZ01-KA219-035484

Impressions from Lugoj The Erasmus+ project continues in Lugoj… Special points of interest:  Impressions from Lugoj  Descriptions of all activities

Inside this issue: Impressions from Lugoj

City hunt throughout Lugoj

Afternoon at the University Dragan

Sports competition

Work with international groups

Our trip to Timisoara

The first day started with some tongue twisters to divide us into six groups. In those we had to play a kahoot, which was a quiz game about our home countries. Afterwards we moved to the gym to let the atmosphere swing with a dance called follow the leader. To make the atmosphere even funnier the Romanian team planned some ice breaking activities, which started with the game named “two truths and one lie”. As the name of the game already says everybody had to write two truths and one lie about themselves. Then they got mixed up and everyone had to found another truths about themselves. Next, we played a very complex game with the name “Dardiens”, that was a lot of fun and a real ice breaker. In this

game everybody learned some “new traditions” from a lost society. In the following activity everyone got the chance to improve their drawing skills and creative minds. We drew some modern pictures and built some really nice and creative spaghetti-marshmallowtowers. In conclusion, we can say that the activities and all the games were the perfect opportunity to know each other’s better.

Bianca, An, Pavla, Roxy, Hajni, Johana, Max, Julia

School 21 Digitally & Socially Yours

Page 2

Cityhunt through Lugoj On Monday our whole group enjoyed an interesting trip through the town while we could discover a lot of famous places of Lugoj.

All in all we had a great time learning a lot about Lugoj in a playful way.

The city tour was arranged in form of a game in order to make it more fun: Each team had to find 13 sights and buildings in a useful order so that it was possible to find many places in little time.

The game consisted of a challenge between the teams and the goal was to be the fastest group. We had to find the QR-codes that were placed on every sight and then scan them with our mobile phones. As a proof of being there we had to take a group selfie on which you should be able to see the famous place in the back-

ground and upload it on this website: https://repedeamanda.wixsite.com/ lugojguidedtour That way we had the chance to see the greatest parts of the town and to discover a lot of Romanian culture.

After every group has finished we met in front of the university and exchanged our impressions about the day and our new experiences. All in all we had a great time learning a lot about Lugoj in a playful way.

#RollingTeam â€“ Alessia, Luca, Jessica, Olga, Julia, Sophia, Veronika

Issue 6, October 2018

Page 3

Afternoon at the University Dragan After a beautiful day of ice breaking activities we all gathered in front of the Statue of Coriolan Brediceanu. We started our city hunt there and we walked all

Mr. Stoica shared with us his travelling story. He travelled all around the world. It took him whole year and about 36.000 km. He is in the book of Guinness World Recaround the city and the final stop was at the University. When we arrived, all of us sat down in the auditorium and we waited for our special guests. The special guests arrived in a few minutes and they were ready to tell

It was very interesting and educational day, full of funny moments and great memories.

us about their life story and about the center for disabled people. There were two of them - a lady, Dorina Vargatu, who runs that organization and a man, Vasile Stoica, who is a traveler. Both of them have had the same disability since they were young, but they got used to it and learned how to live a â€œnormalâ€? life. Mrs. Vargatu told us about the center for disabled people and about the way of living with that kind of disability.

ords for his travels on the wheelchair After the meeting we saw some presentations from each country that participate in the School21 Erasmus+. We learned new things about Paralympics and their successes. It was very interesting and educational day, full of funny moments and great memories. Article by: DREAM TEAM

School 21 Digitally & Socially Yours

Page 4

Sports competition â€œAll different, all equalâ€? It happened on Tuesday. We met at the gym at about 9 a.m. and after we started training for the games, darts, table tennis and basketball. After training the games started.

After the darts competition ended we went to have the lunch and after regaining new power we started playing basketball. This was also a new experience because there were wheel chair drivers too. At first, it was quite confusing for us, the players, because they were sitting, but in the end it felt just like a normal game.

All in all, the day was very nice and we enjoyed it. The best thing we learnt is that we are all equal and all different

First of all, there was the table tennis competition where we played against people with physical disabilities. Many of them play table tennis as a hobby so they were quite good at it. Because of this it was hard for us to score points. Nevertheless, it was quite funny and we made new friends.

During the table tennis matches there was also the darts competition which was interesting because we had to learn that you should not use that much power to throw the darts.

In the end, Mrs. Maris, the Romanian teacher, announced the winners. Every winner got a medal and a certificate. Every country received a trophy for participating in the competition. All in all, the day was very nice and we enjoyed it. The best thing we learnt is that we are all equal and all different . Victory Team

Issue 6, October 2018

Page 5

Work with international groups We’ve been working in international groups during the Project – week in Romania. How did we find our groups? We formed the groups on Monday with a little game: We had the word “Europe” written on the board and every group, still in their countries group, got an envelope with cards with different words on it, one card for each student. Then we started with the first letter “E” and were looking for the words building a tongue-twister with this letter. The students who had the words forming this tongue-twister were the first group and we continued like this with the other letters of the word “Europe”.

present on Friday. We worked in different ways, all as one group or we divided our work inside the team. In many groups it was like that the members said something in every of the five languages, but not from their own language. For example a Romanian said something in Hungarian. We were talking in English together all the time but still we exWe were talking in English together all the time but still we exchanged some words in changed some words in different languages. It was also interesting to learn about the different traditions

The different groups then had to give themselves names when we played the first game in our groups, kahoot!. We had different activities in our groups, like the tour through Lugoj or the school and the presentations we’ve been working on on Wednesday. Every team had their own topic about healthy lifestyle they had to

and schools from our countries. It was a good way to get to know each other better. It was a lot of fun, playing games when we had to work as a team or just some breaks from working when we talked a little. Radu, Nabi, Maria, Anda, Aron, Patrik, Sara, Karolina

different languages.

eTwinning & Erasmus+ project 2017-1-CZ01-KA219-035484

We’re on the web: https://twinspace.etwinning.net/44282/home

Our trip to Timisoara We went to Timisoara on October the 4 . We met early in the morning in front of the high school where a bus has been already waiting for us. When we arrived in Timisoara we first did a guided city tour by Ludovic. th

After learning a lot about the interesting history of the city we went to “Liceul Teoretic Special Iris Timișoara” which is a school for children with visual impairments. They showed us how they teach those children by using other senses than the visual. Subsequently they taught us using the writing machine for the braille alphabet and let us draw on special papers which are usually used by blind artists. We have learnt lots of new information about visual impairments and the everyday life of

people with those disabilities. The following point on our schedule was an hour break in a shopping center. Being rested we went to a presentation about Exo-Skeletons. We learnt about the inventing process and how it works. We also got to know the price -(at the moment between 100.000-150.000 euros) and their future. Afterwards we got some time to become acquainted with Timisoara on our own and buy some souvenirs. It was a very nice and enlarging day. The Peter Pipers

Partners

With the support of the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union

School 21

No. 7 December 2018

Digitally & Socially Yours eTwinning & Erasmus+ project 2017-1-CZ01-KA219-035484

December activities in our schools Our School’s Anniversary Special points of interest:  December activities  Charity actions  Holiday season celebrations

Inside this issue: Papa school’s anniversary

Milos’s story

December in Lugoj

December activities in Pulawy

December in Hebel-Gymnasium

Our fingerprint in our school

November and December were really busy in Türr school. This year we are celebrating the 380th anniversary of our school which was founded by the Pauline Order in 1638. At the end of the 18th century it was taken over by the Benedictines. Since 1948 it has been a state school. At the end of November, a whole week was devoted to commemoration. Our class was in charge of organising one day – 29 November. It was a special day without lessons. In the morning we had 36 presentations. We invited 18 former students of our school – university professors, a secretary of state, a librarian, a doctor, a Benedictine monk, a dog trainer etc. to deliver lectures on various topics, such as psychology, art, economics, politics, medicine, media, forestry, archaeology, mathematics etc. We organised about 30 presentations in the morning. Students could sign up for them. Our task was to assist the guests. In addition, we organised a general knowledge quiz. A month earlier we formed 6 work-groups in our class spe-

cialising in various topics: art, science, history, environment, sport and even gastronomy, and created task sheets for classes. The week was full of events: we had and art exhibition, our school almanac was introduced, we had various competitions. Also, we spent a whole day at the town sports hall playing games and having fun. 1 December was a career day. While some classes visited local companies we attended lectures of students from universities. The highlight of the project week was a gala performance in the town’s theatre on Thursday. Some students of our class performed on stage plying the trumpet or drums or singing in the choir. In addition, we had a charity event during the week. A girl in our school suffers from leukaemia and needs special care. We could raise about half a million forints for her family. Mógor Bence, Nagy Luca, 11.A Türr School Pápa HU

School 21 Digitally & Socially Yours

Page 2

Miloš´s Story We´d like to share with you a story of our classmate, Miloš. A story with a happy ending. Miloš was born without a left arm, but he does all things that others do with only some exceptions. He´s an enthusiastic sportsman and nowadays he plays as a goalkeeper in floorball team. If he had a bionic arm, he could do everything like all of us. To help Miloš to get it, there was a large national fundraising held at the end of 2018. The sum needed for his bionic arm was over CZK 700,000 (€ 27, 300). Now you can learn more about I am very happy Miloš. The first prosthesis which Miloš that the fundraising got was at the age of 7 months so that he would be able to was successful and crawl like other chilthanks to that I can dren and not to delay his motoric developlive a new life, it is ment. The doctors like a dream which encouraged the family and worries slowly has come true declined. The shock changed into the belief that even with one arm, he can live a happy life. „Nobody will ever come to terms with such a situation, I should not be his mother, but over some time, we realized that disability could be worse. It's just one arm, no illness, otherwise Miloš is in a perfect shape," says his mum, who has always been able to help herself and Miloš too because she works as a nurse. Miloš has said since his young age that it would be perfect if he had both arms. He knew that a bionic arm is over his family budget. He wanted to win in a lottery, but it failed… „Miloš is really social, energetic, smiling, cheerful and active, often stubborn as

well. In our team (floorball) it is Miloš who leads the team and everyone in it,“ says his coach. When he was little, he went to an ordinary school without bigger problems. Now when the fundraising campaign has finished, Miloš will get a chance to live as an ordinary young man. „I don’t know if it's all a dream. Within a week, from 22 to 28 December 2018, happened so much. I guess I know how a person feels winning a big prize. Even now, I cannot believe it. The sum has been raised We are sitting here and have no words," says Miloš's mother, Petra, who didn´t even hope that her son would meet his great dream a month ago. Miloš wishes all people who have physical disabilities to be strong and believe in a happy ending because it is possible as we can see. “Of course, I would like to thank all of you for your nice messages, support, it is really incredible,” says his mum. Miloš says: “I am very happy that the fundraising was successful and thanks to that I can live a new life, it is like a dream which has come true.” Of course, his trainer explains that results in floorball will be better and better now. We wish Miloš good luck and hope that he will fulfill his further dream which is driving a car. Jiří and Matouš with the help of Miloš, Tábor Team Online article and video: http://bit.ly/ MilosFundraising

Issue 7, December 2018

Page 3

December in Lugoj In our school, December is a month full of activities. Artistic, voluntary, charity actions, plus decorating our classes and school for Christmas, we are always very busy and involved in many and various quests. This year was a special one, since we celebrated, on December the 1st, our national day, a hundred years of united Romania. We dressed up in national blouses and danced our traditional unity dance. Then we started to decorate the classes and the school halls to welcome the holiday season.

We participated in a charity fair, together with other students from Lugoj. Each school produced as many Christmas decorations as they could and sold them in the hall of the European University Dragan, during the fair called “Be better, be Santa!” The money raised were donated for charity purposes. We had a talent show where we sang traditional and international Christmas carols. Our talented colleagues were on stage and the rest of us watching the show, we all gathered donations for other charity purposes.

A group of students and teachers from our school went to Orleans, France, for an exchange project with another school, Lycee Pothier. They were accommodated in French families and they are going to receive and accommodate their peers in March, when they come to visit Lugoj. … it was a busy Outside the school, our students December, with and teachers got involved in other specific charity actions: “Today you give” cam- plenty of actions to paign gathered donated food from one get involved in, […] supermarket in our town to be distributed with joy, laughter, to people in need. Another special event are the “Story taste evenings”, where we energy, good vibes like to volunteer, creating fairy tale at- and time spent with mosphere for small children. Not to menfriends for good tion caroling our teachers on Christmas causes eve. All in all, it was a busy December, with plenty of actions to get involved in, with lots of concerts, charity events and fairs, with joy, laughter, energy, good vibes and time spent with friends for good causes. Romanian team

School 21 Digitally & Socially Yours

Page 4

December Activities in Our School The beginning of winter is always time when people in Poland work hard, prepare to Christmas time and help one another. Like we do in our school. There were some new charity events this year. At the begining of December we organised The International Day of Volunteering. On 5’th December we took part in the workshop on how to help people moving on wheelchairs. It was also a good opportunity to thank the volunteers for The beginning of their good heart, hard work and dedication. We could learn how to help winter is always people with disabilities and how to use time when people wheelchairs. The 6th of December is the day in Poland work when all children are looking forward too. hard, prepare to It’s when Santa Claus brings teenagers Christmas time and and children presents. In our school the youngest students had the chance not only help one another. to get a gift, but also to meet, talk and take a photo with Santa Claus. And it turned out that everyone was polite and could receive a unique present. We also visited Daily Adaptation Center to spend some pre-Christmas moments with our friends. There were some wishes,traditional Polish food, and carroll singing. It was very emotional time for them, for us as well. In the same month we also preaperd carnaval masks for Hungarian children for the Erasmus+ Project Training Event. The last week before Christmas is always a little bit different than usual. In the classrooms we can see Christmas decorations, Christmas trees and fairy lights. And on Friday we celebrate

Christmas Eve with our classmates and teachers. It is a magical day, which we spend with our friends from school. We eat delicious, traditional Christmas dishes, sing carols and share wafer while exchanging Christmas greetings. On the same day, after the Christmas Eve, a nativity play was also celebrated. All students, teachers and parents took part in this official meeting in the gym. The students presented an artistic performanc referring to the upcoming holidays. Singing carols brought everyone into a reflective mood. We were impressed by the performance of the youngest students of our school, who beefed up them with beautiful costumes and dancing.

As always in December each class prepared some big boxes with gifts for the poorest families in our school. They contained everyday objects like food, cleaning supplies or even clothes. There were also some sweets or toys. It is one of the most important things to remember about needy people at Christmas time. So as you can see December in our school was really exhausting, but it was worth it because we could see that everybody got closer to one another and feel the atmosphere of Christmas. Antoni Sarba, Jędrzej Batyra Polish team

Issue 7, December 2018

Page 5

December 2018, Hebel-Gymnasium, Schwetzingen Christmas time is always an ex-

On 20th December, a Christmas

tremely busy time for our charity club service was organized by teachers and members – but also filled with lots of students of our school. In order to supjoyful and memorable activities!

port the work of our charity club, the of-

At the beginning of December, fertory of the church service was devoted most students of the charity club collect- to the women’s café, too. ed food for a food bank in Schwetzingen, which they have supported for years. The students concentrated on the same four local supermarkets they chose during our

Christmas time is

project meeting in February.

always an extremely busy

Finally, as last year, our project group organized a Christmas party for refugee children. The party took place at our school on 21

activities!.

dren while their mothers either participated in meetings of a women’s café. Our pupils divided the refugee children into groups and played and talked with them, thus offering them an opportunity

their experiences.

of joyful and

turned out to be a joyful afternoon filled

continued to take care of refugee chil-

knowledge of German and exchange

also filled with lots memorable

school year, some members of our group

abling their mothers to improve their

club members – but

December, and it

On Wednesday afternoons, as on with playing games, doing handicraft, all Wednesday afternoons during the making and enjoying cookies.

to get into contact with Germans and en-

time for our charity

German team

eTwinning & Erasmus+ project 2017-1-CZ01-KA219-035484

We’re on the web: https://twinspace.etwinning.net/44282/home

Our Fingerprint in Our School For taking part in the competition named "My fingerprint in our school" we had the chance to paint the students’ council room. We were supported by our school principal and teachers. So, we proved that, together, everything is possible when each member takes part and fulfils the tasks they were given, when we know how to respect and help each other. It is wonderful what just some ordinary people can do, when they work together in a team without any preconceived ideas. A cold place, that had no spot of color, that both students and teachers found unappealing, is now a

gloomy room for all who appreciate creativity and originality, but also for those who want to relax in a warm and happy room. It now shows our joyful, colorful fingerprint, because student’s council represents us all Iasmina Petcu Romanian team

Partners

With the support of the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union

School 21

No. 8 February 2019

Digitally & Socially Yours eTwinning & Erasmus+ project 2017-1-CZ01-KA219-035484

Impressions from Pápa The Fire Station Special points of interest:  Impressions from Pápa  Descriptions of all activities

Inside this issue: The Fire Station

Dogs—Humans’ Best Friends

Our Trip to Budapest

Sports and music in a special school 4

We all like handcraftong

The 1st of March in Romania

From 1823 every town needed to have a fire station in order to ensure the safety of the people. In 1871 the volunteer firefighter brigade was founded. On Monday we had the chance to visit this fire station which is located in the city of Pápa and its name is Pápa Hivatásos Tűzoltőság (Pápa Professional Fire Station) .We were introduced to its brief history regarding their achievements and their responsabilities that each one of the firefighters has. We happened to shortly meet the head of the fire station who proudly greeted us. After the beginning, one of his colleagues walked us around and inside the building, explaining the procedures in case of an emergency. Two of the firefighters managed to simulate an emergency, quickly answering the call of duty. They

only had 2 minutes to fully change their clothes and prepare the trucks for leaving. This is only a matter of seconds when it comes to saving a life. We had the opportunity to wear the uniform and feel the actual weight that it has with all the tools,which is 30 kilograms. Later on, the guide showed us the special trucks equipped with the right gear for every type of problem, giving us the feeling that people can always rely on these heroes. Based on the tour and the detailed information that was offered to us, we can say for sure that we won’t regret not even a second of this wonderful and inspiring experience. Red team: Georgian, Madalina, Viki, Martina, Ingrid, Barbora, Eszter, Vivien

School 21 Digitally & Socially Yours

Page 2

Dogs—humans’ best friends

dogs give us a lot of love, and we should give them the love that they deserve as well, by taking care of them in the right wayy.

This week our first experience with the dogs started with a dog trainer, who spoke about how you should act around a dog, how to take care of a dog and also how to teach a dog some basic manners. First of all, she told us that we should play with our dogs and have an energetic life because this will make them cheerful. Although we love our puppies, we should be careful not to imprint any fears or bad behaviours, because it will influence their whole life. The next thing she taught us was that dogs give us a lot of love, and we should give them the love that they deserve as well, by taking care of them in the right way. Another experience we have made was, how important dog shelters are. Shelters are important bringing communities together by creating ways for volunteering and learning about being a humanitarian. Animals need a second chance to be part of a family.

The manager of the shelter was very kind and made us understand the everyday life of a shelter dog. They get medical treatment when they need it, they get cleaned on a regular basis. Taking care of the dogs also includes feeding them which is very expensive, thats why they relay on donations by volunteers. Those volunteers are allowed to walk the dogs two times a week. We had the chance to walk them as well and we had a great time because they were compassionate and made us feel positive. Maybe one day we will adopt a dog as well. Yellow Team Emilie, Eliska, Anna, Sára, Dávid, Dóra, Réka, Viki, Anita, Luis, Iasmina, Alek

Issue 8, February 2019

Page 3

Our trip to Budapest

On 20th February at 6:30 we left for Budapest. We had to drive for 2.5 hours until we arrived and finally could see the capital of Hungary. We were very excited because we had a very full timetable and a lot of things we were going to visited. The first thing we visited was the Invisbile Exhibition, where a blind person showed us how their everyday life is. The guide led us through a flat with three rooms, a kitchen, a living room, a bathroom and the entrance hall, we also got to experience how blind people buy food on a market, cross the street, how to identify a car brand and we got to feel some statues from an art museum. One of the most intresting things got to know was, how blind people experience a walk in a forest. After the invisible exhibition we went to a cafe where disabled people work as waitresses and

served us a full course meal, which contained a green pea soup, a chicken leg with fries and for dessert we got to choose between diffrent cakes. Afterwards, we had a sightseeing tour which started in the bus and continued in the city. We got to see a lot of different sights like the Hungarian eye, the Chain Bridge, the Hungarian statue of liberty on Gellert hill, the Parliament and a lot more. In the end we came back to Papa. Exhausted but happy we knew that the day was worth the trouble. It was an amazing experience, both entertaining and educating and all of us would love to do it again.

It was an amazing experience, both entertaining and educating and all of us would love to do it again.

Orange team Judit HU Emily GE Zsรณfi HU Jasiek PO Darinka CZ Tereza CZ Pรกja CZ Emanuel RO Lili HU

School 21 Digitally & Socially Yours

Page 4

Sports and music in a special school in Pápa

On Thursday, February 21, we visited a special school for opened our eyes to disabled people in Pápa. As soon as we arrived there, we were divided the problems we into 2 groups. Each of them took simply hadn’t part in 2 events. noticed before and The headmistress welcomed ensured everyone us in the library and familiarised is equal no matter with the short history of the school. Then one group went to the gym what where they faced the difficulties inconveniences associated with everyday life of he’s going through blind people. We found out how complicated it gets when you are deprived of sight. Some of us also tried using the wheelchair. At the same time the others stayed in the library where they were given a chance to listen to the Such experience

unforgettable concert. The music group was made up of 9 people in different ages. Although their disabilities simply stop them from many basic activities, their devotion and undoubtable gift for music completely took our breath away. They were playing on xylophone, guitar, keyboard, triangle and bells. What’s more, one of the girls sang to us beautifully with all her heart. Such experience opened our eyes to the problems we simply hadn’t noticed before and ensured everyone is equal no matter what inconveniences he’s going through. Green team

Linda CZ, Alice CZ, Anna CZ, Olga PL, Julie PL, Ionuț RO, Nóri HU, Tamara HU, Petra HU, Laura HU

Issue 8, February 2019

Page 5

We All Like Handcrafting There is a place in Pápa where disabled children and their parents can do craft work for example wood or paper crafting and painting. It takes place every day and is runned by the parents from the disabled person or volunteers. The children can go there after school to have fun and meet friends. People at any age can do handcraft there whenever they want to. On the 21th of February 2019 we visited this place and could choose between two tasks: either decorating masks or painting wooden magnets. We had to use our creativity to make beautiful handcrafts. The kids were

everyone of us will remember. The best thing was that our handcrafts could be sold and the money will be used for new projects in the future. Emilia GER, Leonie GER, Gabriela PL, Adam CZ Hajni HU, Áron HU, Luca HU, Máté HU Alessia RO

overjoyed that new people came to meet and work with them. They offered drinks and snacks such as homemade cookies and pretzels. But not only the kids enjoyed it, we also did. It was a great experience and we had a chance to go back to our childhood. At the end of our stay a deaf girl wanted to say goodbye because she was leaving, said „Thank you” to all of us and hugged a few people. This was a heartwarming moment, which

It was a great experience and we had a chance to go back to our childhood.

eTwinning & Erasmus+ project 2017-1-CZ01-KA219-035484

We’re on the web: https://twinspace.etwinning.net/44282/home

How Romanians celebrate the 1st of March You noticed by now. We have a special way of celebrating the first days of spring. We call it Martisor (a sort of diminutive for Martie, the Romanian word for March), and we celebrate it with traditional gifts and plenty of joy. It is a bustling, but very special time of the year, when every city, town, and village in the country is brought to life by heaps of colorful stalls selling the so-called Martisoare. Martisor is an authentic Romanian celebration that dates back to the time of the Thracians, but also the name given to the little talismans with red and white strings, offered during this holiday. From March 1st to March 8th, when Romania celebrates not only Women’s Day, but also Mother’s Day, everything revolves around these tiny gifts. Men and children usually scour the markets and shops in order to find the most beautiful martisoare for the ladies in their lives, while women are looking forward to wearing them pinned to their fanciest

clothes. Their reputation of lucky charms might be long gone, but their design seems more eye-catching than ever. Options are plentiful and can range from simple red and white cord bracelets to precious stones and luxurious pieces of jewelry. It all depends on the buyer’s budget and imagination, but also on what impression he wants to leave. A unique and ingenious handmade accessory will make your grandma’s heart sing with joy, while little girls will love the cute, colorful figurines. Overall, it’s a game that everyone enjoys, and a beautiful way to welcome the spring. In our school, we love to handcraft martisoare in our art class and to give them to our dear ones or exhibit them on the halls. Here are some of this year’s creations. Romanian team Source: https://travelaway.me/1st -march-martisor-romania/

Partners

With the support of the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union

School 21

No. 9 April 2019

Digitally & Socially Yours eTwinning & Erasmus+ project 2017-1-CZ01-KA219-035484

Impressions from Tábor ICEBREAKERS On Monday the project Erasmus+ started in Tabor. In the morning people from Germany, Poland, Romania, Hungary and Czech Republic met for the first time in school in Tabor. First we were splited into 8 groups to get to

Special points of interest:  Impressions from Tábor  Descriptions of all activities

Inside this issue: Impressions from Tábor

Tabor Rally

National team presentations

Cheiron T Center

NGO People in Need Prague

A guided tour of Prague

Charity run

Online work in computer rooms

know each other better and started with the icebreakings activities. We introduced ourselves to our team mates and made a poster with our commonalities and presented it to the others groups. After that we drew each other and showed our portraits, that was so funny. The first task took us a lot of time, about two or three hours, that was such a long time for us. The tasks helped us to find out about the hobbies, interests and favourite food and

drinks of our team members. Unfortunately first part of our day came to an end. We were invited to go downstairs to the school yard and learn how to dance a dance called Belgijka and Disco Dance. The Belgijka is a dance where the people dance in the circle and change partners, while the Disco Dance is danced alone. Everybody was enjoying the dances and we had a lot of fun. Around twelve we finished our icebreaking activities.

Team 1 Pavlina, Tereza, Kacper, Julia, Raul, Jennifer, Eszter

School 21 Digitally & Socially Yours

Page 2

Tábor Rally On the first day of the week in the afternoon we had to do some type of challenge called Tábor Rally. We had to discover the city and its history and take photos during the activity.

We had to discover the city and its history and take photos during the activity.

Our first station was river Lužnice where we had a beautiful view to the other part of the city. We should took different kinds of pictures such as funny ones or one in which we should had something blue and so on. The second station was Theatre of Oscar Nedbal where we took a photo all together. After that we went to Žižka‘s Square where we saw the Church Tower and Town Hall in reconstruction. Then we

continued our trip to Water Tower where we met other groups and took photos again. Town Walls were our next destination to go to and Czech students told us that these walls used to protect the town against foreign militarities. Last but not least we took a look at lake Jordán where we finished our photo challenge like we took a photo in which someone was picking up trash like cigarettes. At the end we had enough free time to try the best ice cream

in the city, so we went to the Mocca Café and enjoyed our time there. Team 2 Pavla, Jiři, Jędrzej, Claudia, Nóra, Liana

Issue 9, April 2019

Page 3

National team presentations On Tuesday all teams had to present their presentations about CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility). It certainly was not the most thrilling experience, however, it certainly was educating and important. First, there was the german team. They talked about Volksbank Heidelberg, A Bleistift for everyone, SNP, and last but not least SAP. All of these companies help people with cancer, AIDS and some of them help children in developing countries. Then it was time for the Hungarians. They focused on iCare. The programme is about helping people in need. It is carried out by Yanfeng and it is supposed to represent everything the company stands forrespect, integrity, teamwork, sustainability and putting people first. They also mentioned the voluntary programme called Teszedd, encouraging people to pick up litter. And so we moved to the polish presentation about companies helping the enviornment by using natural fertilizers (Ziemia Polska Sp. Zoo.), donating money for educational projects (Citi Handlowy), introducing new, ecofriendly equipement (ING Bank Śląski) and others (Provident Polska, Zaklady Azotowe Pulawy, ZOTT, Procter and gamble, Servier).

The Romanian team showed us a video about their policies. They mentioned a charity run, blood donation, funding scholarships and hospital renovation. All of it organised by Honeywell with the help of the town council. There was a Czech presentation as well, they talked about the O2 Fundation and its

We believe it was a valuable experience and we all benefited from.

different fields of commitement such as, for instance, a line for the deaf and the blind or a senior line. The presentations taught us a lot about CSR. We believe it was a valuable experience and we all benefited from. Team 3 Adéla, Tereza, Jan, Carolina, Bence, Selma

School 21 Digitally & Socially Yours

Page 4

Cheiron T Center On tuesday 9th of April we went to the Cheiron T (community centre). First we got to know about the services that Cheiron T provides to our community. How they help the minorities and people in need. They help them with doing their homeworks, education or giving information about the The most parenting. The most important important part part is giving them place to have fun and meet other people. Also, is giving them they keep them motivated to improve their skills. Next, they place to have showed us the whole building and fun and meet all rooms. One of the most other people important rooms is the study room. There were a separated room where they could talk about their problems in private. Downstairs they have a music room where a music concert took place. The children who visit Cheiron T played for us and it was lovely. They were really talented. Then we could dance and talk with them. Also, we played table tennis and it was so much fun. Even our teachers joined us. In the same room they also had a table football.

Cheiron T is not all about fun because they also have strict rules. People who go there are not allowed to smoke, drink, steal,

fight and bother girls. Overall it was a really interesting experience. Team 4 Barbora, Darina, Adam, Emilia, Maria, MĂĄtĂŠ, Julia

Issue 9, April 2019

Page 5

NGO „People in Need”, Prague On Wednesday morning we went to Prague. First point of our programme was visit NGO, where we had an opportuninty to meet people who work in this organization. At the beggining we saw a prezentation of three employees of this company. We found out that every person has different type of work. Some of their work. We were interested for example in which countries do they work and if it is easier to work with adults or children. We heard about their biggest successes and the biggest failures. Then they gave us satisfying answers which sometimes turned out surprising them help people abroad for for us. We really like this visit. example in countries where are wars, another help homeless, poor Team 5 and children from families with Sára, Anna, Martina, Antoni, difficult situation in Czech Sara, Rieke, Laura Republic. After the prezentations we were talking in our groups about what we heard and we had to come up some questions concerning on

We heard about their biggest successes and the biggest failures.

Issue 9, April 2019

Page 6

A guided tour of Prague

We enjoyed our tour and we definitely want to visit Prague again.

Yesterday afternoon we went on a guided tour in Prague. We saw a lot of interesting things like Charles Bridge and Old Town Square. We started our tour at Wenceslas Square and with our guide we took the underground and it was time for the first task. We had to write the colors of the metro stations and we had to count how many stations are in Prague. If we had the correct answers we got coins, and the team who got the most at the end won. At the station we had a competition with paper planes. Then we took a tram to Castle Town. We saw the Prague Castle and the beautiful and impressive St. Vitus Cathedral. Here we got a second task, we had to draw a picture of one of the scenes of the gates of

the cathedral. Then we walked down a street where we had to do another task, we had to pay attention and had some questions about characteristic things about the street. After this we walked to the John Lennon Wall and the Love Lock Bridge. We went on Charles Bridge and had our forth task in connection with the monuments of the bridge. On the bridge we had a beautiful view of the city and Vltava. After this we went to Old Town Square where we saw the

Astronomical clock and had some free time in the Easter market. We saw the book tower in the library and we took some photos there. At the end of our tour we met the others at Powder tower and said goodbye to our guide. We enjoyed our tour and we definitely want to visit Prague again. Team 6 Eliska, Emilie, Albert, Tamara, Paulina, Julia

Issue 9, April 2019

Page 7

Charity run The Czech team organised a generous event which worked on the principal of a charity run for us on Thursday. The main goal was to raise money for Hospic Jordan so for every finished lap the participants had a sponsor who gave them money for it. Their concept was to help people in need and do it by run that can encourage people to do sports. When we arrived to the local sport center they gave us our own race number. After that there was an official opening of meeting. The organizers gave us some speeches and the race started. Everyone could run with their speed. After every lap we got an x on the number of our back. Everybody could run as many laps as they could. Round by round we motivated each other, so there was a nice atmosphere and the music which they played was also helpful to create a good mood for us. Another good thing was that our fitness level wasnt important to take part in this event., because if we started to get tired we could also walk , collect some energy and run again when we felt fit enough. When the race ended , they were waiting for us with some water to be fresh again. The record was 21 laps by a boy from Germany. They collected our cards with numbers and they counted how many laps we got.

Finally they collected a lot of money and everybody was happy to help others by taking part in such a nice event. After all we had a break to drink and chill, then we had some

The main goal was to raise money for opportunities to continue the morning and have fun while playing basketball, floorball, football or ringo. So we really enjoyed these activities and it was a pretty nice day . Team 7 Linda, Ingrid, Radu, Hannah, Ă gnes, Renata

Hospic Jordan .

eTwinning & Erasmus+ project 2017-1-CZ01-KA219-035484

We’re on the web: https://twinspace.etwinning.net/44282/home

Online work in computer rooms On Monday after the Tábor rally we started working on our online diary. We used the photos that we´ve taken while walking around Tábor, and put them into a presentation using the programme Google Slides. Using the app AddText we edited and put funny comments on the photos. It took us some time to find the right pictures to edit, since we´ve had quite a variety of them. We worked on four computers on the same presentation at the same time, which was very productive taking into consideration the fact that we got to divide the work into parts. At the beginning it was a little hard for us to work with the programme, because we all were

new to it, but in the end, we´ve managed to finish our task. On Thursday we got to work on the newsletter and talk about what we did this week in Tábor. This task was much easier than the one on Monday, because we already knew how to use the programme Word. So in conclusion, we learned how to work with a new programme, we had a lot of fun, and we hope that we will get the chance to use it again in the near future Team 8 Veronika, Simona, Kristýna, Olga, Georgiana, Jonathan, Fanni

Partners

With the support of the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union

School 21

No. 10 June 2019

Digitally & Socially Yours eTwinning & Erasmus+ project 2017-1-CZ01-KA219-035484

Project evaluation — students’ impressions It was a great experience because I met a lot of new people. We had a good time and spend many wonderful days together. I enjoyed our meeting in Tábor and I’ll never forget it. (Bence) I’m very happy that I could meet my old friend make new friendships. (Máté) It was an unforgettable experience. I really enjoyed the whole week in Lugoj. (Luca) It was a very good and memorable programme. I was happy to take part in it.(Barbi) I could practise my English and I could go to nice places. (Bence) I spent a week in Lugoj, Romania. I got to know a lot of nice people and I made some new friends. The best thing is that I could practise my English. (Patrik) I liked the trip to Pulawy because I met kind people. (Zsóka) It was great to meet people in other countries with same interests. I could practise my English and made new friends. (Hajnalka) I spent two weeks with foreign students in the project. It was so good that we could practise other languages and improve our English. I hope to meet some people again. (Áron) I could go abroad and get to know Europe better and see other people live their lives. (Ági) It’s a pleasure to take part and spend memorable and interesting time together. (Réka)

It was nice to meet new people from other nationalities. I really enjoyed the time with my host family in Schwetzingen. (Petra) I enjoyed all the games and I learned a lot of new words. (Anita) It was an amazing experience for me. I could meet many new people and talk about several important topics such as homelessness and immigration. I am really grateful that I could take part in the project and travel to Schwetzingen. (Nóri) I’ve gained many memories. I had a lot of fun meeting all these great people. I learnt many new words and learned a lot about cultures. I really enjoyed socialising and sightseeing. (Dóri) I have become more confident and my English has improved a lot. I made friends with nice people. (Lili) I enjoyed the whole Erasmus+ project. I learnt a lot of words in different languages. We met very kind disabled people who taught us a great dance. (Zsófi) I don’t think I will ever forget this great experience and I hope to meet these nice people again. (Judit) Hungarian team

School 21 Digitally & Socially Yours

Not only for the students, but also for the teachers who took part the Erasmus+ project was unforgettable and educational. Here is what students and teachers learned from it: For Julia Schmich, who took part in the third training event in Lugoj, the “All different – all equal“ competition and the visit school for blind children were most impressive. “It really showed that we are all the same and that it is necessary to help disabled people so that

training event in Tábor, liked the idea that „we could really help people in need with just a charity run, and that it does not take much to make children happy – at least for a moment.“ Selma Krapp, who took part in the same training event, shares Rieke’s opinion and was also impressed by the fact that it often does not take much to help others and that different countries help in different ways. An Ngo took part in the training events in Romania, Poland and Germany, and she was

they can live a life they want to live. I personally think I will be a volunteer in an organization and I hope that I can help people and that others, especially those who joined the Erasmus+ project, will do the same“, she says. This is also what Sophia Wirth, who took part in the same training event, thinks and she adds: “I am very grateful for the experience to learn about social projects in other countries. I learned what a pleasure it can be to help people in need and to work together with people from different cultural backgrounds.“ Rieke Orians, who took part in the fifth

impressed by the disabled people she met and by the fact that “not only disabled people do not have the same opportunities like I have. It is very unfair that people do not have the same chances because of circumstances like the country they were born in.“ Her sister Linh Ngo agrees with An and says “I learned that not everyone has the same chances in life, but even if you are disabled, you should never give up and you can achieve a lot.“ Vanessa Palumbo, who took part in the training event in Lugoj, says: “I will never forget the visit to the school for blind children and to learn how they deal with their disability.

Page 2

Issue 10, June 2019

The young student who invented an exoskeleton because his own father was paralysed also impressed me a lot. The Erasmus+ project made me aware of the importance of the cooperation of all nations in the European Union (like we did in the transnational teams). It needs a united Europe to face the future challenges and to fight against populism. I learned a lot ( and a lot of positive things) about other European countries of which I didn’t know anything before. The cordiality of the people in Romania was very impressive. The project strengthens my wish to spend some time abroad after my A-levels.“ Emily Wittmer took part in the fourth training event in Poland and in the first one in Germany and she says: “All the students got along really well despite the different cultures and languages, because we had one thing in common: we were all interested in social projects to help people in need. It was a great experience to sing and dance with disabled people. I realized that social projects are not that different in other countries and that we all want to achieve the same thing: to make our world a bit better.“ Liana Bauer, who took part in the fifth training event in Tábor, says: „It was great to work in transnational teams because we could learn a lot from each other and we got along with each other so well. I learned that we could work much better in these teams than alone. I am grateful that I was allowed to take part in this project.“ Jennifer Matern, wo took part in the same training event, shares Liana’s opinion. And this is what Carmen Böttcher, one oft he teachers, thinks: “I was very fortunate, because I was able to take part in not only one but two of the meetings of this Erasmus+ project. Thinking about the week in Pulawy, the first thing which comes into my mind is the amazing experience of dancing in an international group of handicapped as well as non-handicapped people having fun without even speaking the same language. From Pápa, I took home the resolution to start walking dogs

Page 3

in animal shelters as soon as my time allows that. It was a great feeling to give this little dog I walked the opportunity to get the exercise he was so eager to have. During both weeks, I learned to know many very nice people and enjoyed the international exchange. I found it very interesting to learn about the many commonalities and small differences in everyday life as well as in school. Knowing those distinctions, I could gather new ideas for my teaching as well as learn to appreciate some amenities I didn't recognize as such before. Considering the upcoming European elections and the rise of several nationalistic parties in various countries, I am very happy that I saw so many young Europeans working together and getting involved with such a lot of social activity. That gives me hope for the future of the European Union despite the separatist tendencies reported every day in the news.“ In the end all of us, the students as well as the teachers, were glad that we were able to take part in this project. We learned about other cultures and even made friends in the countries that took part in the project as well. German team

School 21 Digitally & Socially Yours I took part in the meeting in Puławy and in Pápa. In Puławy we were focused on people with Down syndrome. Each country had their own presentation about this topic. We also had to do two other presentations. The first one was about our sightseeing in Puławy. Then each group got a different topic: smoking, drugs, alcohol and cell phones. My team in Puławy was great. I had girls from Germany, Romania, Hungary and Poland there. In Pápa we were focused on dog shelters. Again, each country had their presentation. We also made a presentation about sightseeing Pápa. Each group got a task and was writing about what we had been doing during the week. My team was great like in Puławy. In my opinion working on TwinSpace was very good. The task that we were doing were interesting. It was something new that we hadn´t done before and it helped us to improve our English and communication and the grammar too. Besides writing we were also making pictures in programme with artificial intelligence and it was fun. The Tábor meeting was great. I don´t mean it badly but I think it was the best meeting from the two meetings that I have been before. People here were having a great time. The presentations about CSR were amazing and every country had done so much work on it. I´m glad that we didn´t have to do more presentations. I think that the drawing and group working was great, and everyone enjoyed that because it was like some kind of creativity. The trip to Prague was also fantastic. We were divided into groups, exploring Prague and doing some tasks and it was fun and it wasn´t just a regular guided tour. This project is one big benefit. We had this terrific opportunity to visit and explore new countries, meet new people, improve English and communication. Thanks to this I had a chance to see that not everyone is having a good life like me and that there are so many people that are not only disabled but ill or don´t have money. And I think that volunteering is a wonderful thing. I think that my English is at a different level now. I didn´t have problems with English but I was shy to speak. I don´t allege that I´m not shy anymore, but it got better when I was around people that don’t speak Czech and I had to speak English. I would definitely recommend it to everyone. This is a fantastic opportunity to meet new people and visit new countries and speak English. If I have this chance again, I will take it. (Adéla Horská) In my opinion were training events abroad really amazing and I enjoyed them because we could learn new things about different topics and realized how to speak better in English. On these events I did

Page 4

presentations too so my skills from PCs are better than before. Work in teams which consisted of citizens from different countries were interesting too. I could see how we were working in international groups. TwinSpace is a very interesting website where I had a chance to show my knowledge from topics which we spoke about. I used a PC of course, the Internet and that is all I think. All of us worked hard and successfully and together to have good results. Let’s talk about Tábor meeting. I knew that it would be great and amazing new experience. It was very sophisticated and there was much entertainment among us. The most interesting was the trip to Prague which all of the participants enjoyed. And the charity run was good too because more than half of all participants were happy to run and collect money for a good thing. I think that we learned how to do volunteering better and how start with it. Other thing is digital skills which I didn´t have before but now I do. And, of course, language skills are better so I am not afraid when I must talk among strange people in English. (Jiří Karman) I took a part on two training events. The first one was on April 2018, when I visited Puławy in Poland. We got to know each other, when we were sightseeing the town together. That was fun and I really enjoyed it. In the international group we also made a presentation about cell phone addiction and I think, that we did a good job. Work in the international group was great and I learned a lot of new. The second one was on February 2019, when I visited Pápa in Hungary. We also played some games – to get to know each other. Every country has its own presentation about volunteering in their countries. I really appraise, that I practised my English. We had a chance for example try to walk the dogs or work with disabled people. We had also online activities on TwinSpace. We created some newsletters about every event, or we

Issue 10, June 2019 entered pictures of us. I think TwinSpace is a great web, because it very helped me to communicate with people in foreign countries and I learned to work with useful tools. Thanks to TwinSpace I can stay in touch with my new foreign friends. Last training event was in Tábor in Czech Republic. Our Czech team prepared some activities like dancing and playing games. With foreign students we went for example to the cafe or we went to Prague. In the international group we worked on our online diary. We used the photos of us and put them into a presentation. We worked on some computers on the same presentation at the same time, which was very productive. The program Erasmus+ gave me a lot of important things. I improved my English; I tried volunteering and I helped other people. Also, I learnt more about computer tools and how to work on them, so I improved my digital skills. I would like to say that I recommend Erasmus+ to everyone, because that was huge and fantastic experience. Without Erasmus+ I would not have this experience and new friends. (Linda Samcová) I took part in three meetings. First, I was in Pulawy in April 2018. It was my first meeting and I was kind of scared, because I didn’t know what to expect. Our topic was Disabled people. We visited some centres, where people take care of them. We also spent some time with th people. It was really interesting for me. In our national teams we made a presentation about addiction. My second meeting was this February in Pápa. I wasn’t scared anymore, because I knew what to expect and I also knew a lot of people from this project. Our topic was Dog shelters. We spent one whole afternoon in the dog shelter and we had the choice to see how it goes there and we also could took one dog for a walk. The only thing that kind of disappointed me was that we didn’t have much free time. And our last meeting was in the Czech Republic and I also took part of it. It was this year in April. With my two classmates we made a presentation about Corporate Social Responsibility. This meeting was the best for me, because we all knew each other and were not scared to talk in English anymore. I think we all really enjoyed it. During all those meeting we were working in

Page 5 national groups, we were presenting about different topics and we also had to write some answers on TwinSpace. I enjoyed all those meetings, it was a great opportunity for me. I am not scared to talk in a different language anymore. This was the best way how to use English in practice. I also met a lot of people, that became a friends of mine. (Tereza Pochylá) I spent one week in April 2018 in Pulawy, Poland and second one in February 2019 in Pápa, Hungary. In Pulawy I and my other friends had presentation about Diakonie Rolnička, it was interesting and instructive for everyone, because we learnt something new and realized that we can help in our town too. Main theme in Hungary was animal shelters. Working in international teams was fun, but still hard sometimes, because of lots of tasks and things we had to do, but we did them and we learnt how to communicate in a group. Online working on TwinSpace was good. We were writing a lot about volunteering, education or about future life and every time we wrote down our opinions. We made online presentations a lot, we were translating words which were connected with the main theme in countries where was a meeting or we were just talking about some themes around volunteering and helping. Last meeting was in my town Tábor in April 2019. We had good ice-breakers games, we spent a lot of time in international groups and we made presentations about how can companies help or volunteer. We visited People in need in Prague and it was really interesting. I found some new places where I can help to people too. It was a nice week! I learnt lots of new things which I will use in the future for sure! Communication in a group, talking in a different language whole the time, I became more self-confident when I’m in a room which is full of people and everyone is listening to me. I realized I can help to people in need or to animals in a shelter not just by donating money. We can donate food, help to them with basic daily things and they will be happy for help. My language skills are better too. I would recommend to everyone to be part of Erasmus if they have a chance. It will give you so much. (Tereza Rathouská)

School 21 Digitally & Socially Yours Project Erasmus+ was one of the best experiences in my life. It was the best chance to meet new, wonderful people. I could also improve speaking skills. I’ve learned many new things about people with disabilities. Thanks to this project I became more open to people and more creative. (Paulina) The Erasmus + project was, in my opinion, a great experience. I had a chance to meet people from other countries, learn about other cultures, practise my English. And well, I did all of the above. Now I have more friends outside Poland. Using English in a more practical way is a great thing as well. I think that taking part in this project was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. (Janek) The Erasmus + project made me gain a lot of confidence in speaking. It also helped me realise how simple it is to make new friends even from completely different cultures and countries. I enjoyed myself so much and had a lot of fun. I wish everyone could have the opportunity to experience such a project. (Julia G.) Erasmus + is a great project and I would like to take part in it again. It is a good opportunity to meet new friends and see a lot of beautiful places. It taught me how to help people in need and shows a lot of problems in different countries like Poland, Romania, Hungary, Germany and Czech Republic. In my opinion friendships we made gonna last for years. I have a great contact with other participants. We are still chatting on social media. (Kacper) During the Erasmus + project I had a chance to meet new people and learn to speak English fluently. Participating in the project gave me an opportunity to get to know new countries, their culture. I also learned a lot of new things about volunteering. I hope to have a chance to take part in Erasmus+ project again in the future. (Julia Ch.) Thanks to the Erasmus + project I spent wonderful time. These two years were very exciting for me. I met nice people with whom I still have a contact and I enjoyed working with disabled people so

Page 6

much. I can do voluntary work all the time now. (Olga B.) I think that taking part in this project was one of my best decisions ever. It helped me with breaking my language barrier. I’ve also met a lot of nice and kind people and I think that now I’m more self confident and open to other people. I’ve learned a lot about volunteering and helping people with disabilities. I really enjoyed those two years and I wish I could be a part of such a project again. (Olga P.) I think that theErasmus + project gave me a lot of good. I met a lot of wonderful people with whom I made friends and I have a contact with them to this day. Above all I have developed my English language skills. I visited new places in the world. I could work with people with disabilities. I think that all the skills I have learned during the project will help me in my life. (Karolina) During Erasmus+ project I learned a lot – as a volunteer and I improved my language skills. I found so many great ways to help people and how to help them better. On the other hand I met some new people (we had great time together) and explored new places. I understood that we have a lot in common and we can help together despite the differences. After this project I felt more open to others’ needs. I want to take part in Erasmus + project again when I go to University. (Sara) Polish team

Issue 10, June 2019 Although this project has come to an end, I would like to say that it will actually never end for me. Everything I've learned, what I've experienced and all the people I've met will play an important role in my life forever. That's the reason why I am so grateful for being a part of this big family! (Jessica Miruna Polk) I'm glad I could be part of this project. I had great experiences and created memories that I hope I will never forget. Besides, I discovered many areas of volunteering, met great people, and I developed my English skills. I hope we will keep in touch and we will have the opportunity to meet again. (Maria Jipa ) A small team, committed to a cause bigger than themselves can achieve absolutely anything. This is what I have learnt being part of this wonderful project. (Iasmina Petcu) This was the best experience I have ever had in life so far, I met new friends and we will keep in touch for long. It’s a good opportunity to socialize and to discover new places and new traditions! (Radu Tustean) “We are all pieces of the big puzzle. Just be the piece you are so you are doing your part to complete the

picture.” In this project I’ve learnt how to act and think when it comes to situations that may request special needs or a professional perspective. I realize that we are the ones who can change the world and end the prejudices in order to create a world where being different is normal. Having the chance to be part of this project, I broaden my horizons and I figure out I am a special piece that is looking for a change in this world. (Amanda Repede) The project School 21 was such an amazing experience and opportunity to get to know new people,

Page 7 visit new places and work for the future of our generation. The people that I've met here were like a family for me and I'm so glad I got to meet every and each one of them. Truly an unforgettable experience! (Georgiana Hriscu) A more than interesting project! I made new friends and I learnt to do better in society. (Ionut Balaci) This project was astounding! Not only did I have the chance to meet wonderful people who impressed me but I also had the possibility to be a volunteer in a foreign country for a few days, an experience from which I have learned so many new things. I am glad that I had the chance to take part in this amazing project! (Roxana Borlovan) Being part of this project Had such a big effect! So many memories we could collect… Everything was just perfect! (Alessia Costia) This project meant so much to me not only because I had the opportunity to meet incredible people and visit unique and beautiful countries, but also because I was able to learn how to help people in need. Although this is the end of the project, I hope I will keep in touch with most of the participants because they were unbelievably great kids. (Bianca Bredicean) The School 21 project was the best experience of my whole high-school because I met a lot of great people and I traveled to a wonderful country. I also enjoyed the activities and I saw how educational system works in Europe. (Raul Musteata) This project was an amazing opportunity for me to learn more about volunteering. I have been a volunteer for more than 4 years - this is my passion. It is interesting to find out what problems do other countries face and how they solve them. I went to Germany; and fell in love with the country and the people there. This experience made me more openminded and eager to help more people and communities. I am really thankful that I got the change to be a part of it. (Anda Subțire) Romanian team

eTwinning & Erasmus+ project 2017-1-CZ01-KA219-035484

I could go abroad and get to know Europe better and see other people live their lives. (Ági, Hungarian team) I have become more confident and my English has improved a lot. (Lili, Hungarian team)

I am very grateful for the experience to learn about social projects in other countries. I learned what a pleasure it can be to help people in need and to work together with people from different cultural backgrounds (Sophia Wirth, German team) The Erasmus+ project made me aware of the importance of the cooperation of all nations in the European Union (like we did in the transnational teams). It needs a united Europe to face the future challenges and to fight against populism. I learned a lot ( and a lot of positive things) about other European countries of which I didn’t know anything before. (Vanessa Palumbo, German team) I had a chance to see that not everyone is having a good life like me and that there are so many people that are not only disabled but ill or don´t have money. And I think that volunteering is a wonderful thing. (Adéla Horská, Czech team) The program Erasmus+ gave me a lot of important things. I improved my English; I tried volunteering and I helped other people. Also, I learnt more about computer tools and how to work on them, so I improved my digital skills. (Linda Samcová, Czech team)

We’re on the web: https://twinspace.etwinning.net/44282/home The Erasmus + project made me gain a lot of confidence in speaking. It also helped me realise how simple it is to make new friends even from completely different cultures and countries. I wish everyone could have the opportunity to experience such a project. (Julia G., Polish team) I think that taking part in this project was one of my best decisions ever. It helped me with breaking my language barrier. I’ve also met a lot of nice and kind people and I think that now I’m more self confident and open to other people. I’ve learned a lot about volunteering and helping people with disabilities. (Olga P., Polish team) Although this project has come to an end, I would like to say that it will actually never end for me. Everything I've learned, what I've experienced and all the people I've met will play an important role in my life forever. That's the reason why I am so grateful for being a part of this big family! (Jessica, Romanian team) In this project I’ve learnt how to act and think when it comes to situations that may request special needs or a professional perspective. I realize that we are the ones who can change the world and end the prejudices in order to create a world where being different is normal. (Amanda, Romanian team)

Partners

With the support of the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union

Schwetzingen, Germany

Warsaw & Pulawy, Poland

Lugoj, Romania

Papa, Hungary

Tabor, Czech Republic

Programme Erasmus+, Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices Strategic Partnerships for school education School 21, Digitally and Socially Yours 2017-1-CZ01-KA219-035484

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the authors and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of information contained therein.

ISBN 978-973-0-29896-3

With the support of the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union