astoria
colégio europeu-astoria
formamos para o sucesso
january 2015 - 2 nd E d i t i o n -
THANKSGIVING DAY
In 27th november, we celebrated the Thanksgiving Day in Colégio Europeu Astória! All started with the Pilgrims trip from England to North America. Many of the Pilgrims died during their first winter – they were cold and did not have enough food. The following year, though, the Native Americans helped them grow corps. At harvest time, they were all thankful that they had a good crop of food to
This special day, celebrated in so many different ways throughout the English speaking countries, has been a time to explore the arts in our school. With the help of the teachers, our children from Day Care until Primary School adapt and recreate the fires and fireworks used to celebrate in the English community. In several different ways, such as individual works and group works, the children expressed their creativity in class and the final works were fantastic! Please take a look at some of these works:
eat during the coming winter. They thanked God and the Native Americans for helping them. This was the spirit we wanted to transmit to our children. We wanted to make sure that our children from today know what to be thankful for. During our Assembly, we read a story so they could have a better under-
standing about this holiday, we sang a Thanksgiving song and to finish all of us said what are we thankful for. Apart from that, during this day, our little and big ones realized very pretty drawings and crafts. Most important of all, the children understood the meaning of this holiday.
CELEBRATING THE
BONFIRE NIGHT
20.000 LEAGUES
UNDER THE SEA Last 20th November, we went to Auditório Paroquial de Santa Joana Princesa to see 20.000 Leagues Under the Sea, an underwater comedy, based on the novel by Jules Verne. It was a very interacting theatre, with the dangerously intriguing Captain Nemo and the brilliant French scientist Professor Aronnax. It was about finding a strange creature under the sea that, after all, was a submarine! The children enjoyed the play and they laughed a lot during the theatre.
CHRISTMAS TIME Christmas is a magical time of year. It is celebrated as a festival of giving. From the first of December every year, advent begins. Children usually have an advent calendar which builds up to the 25th of December, which is Christmas Day. Cities and towns decorate their towns with beautiful lights, and people drink mulled wine and eat nice food…like Christmas Turkey. Everyone decorates their houses with lovely decorations and most importantly, a Christ-
mas tree. There is usually an angel at the top of the tree, but it can also be a star. Traditionally presents are stored underneath the tree, and it is believed that presents are delivered on Christmas Eve by Santa Clause. It is important to spend time with family at Christmas, as it is a time of giving and friendship. People sing carols together, and give to people who aren’t as lucky as they are. It is one of the happiest times of year, and should be treasured by all.
HOW TO LEARN
NEW WORDS IN ENGLISH In a rainy afternoon the English Department got together for a funny and informal talk with the parents of our school about teaching and learning skills.
“Who took the cookie from the cookie jar?”. We played a game about animals and their habitats, and a game of how to toss the bean bag; it was a lot of fun!
The English teachers shared some of their strategies used in every day classes. Songs, games and nursery rhymes were the main topics. The presentation began with a game of flashcards and fly swatters. Afterwards we learned some songs like the “B-I-N-G-O” and
Throughout the whole afternoon the parents were very enthusiastic to participate, helping the teachers in the practical activities, sharing in the end their daily English activities as well.
CHRISTMAS PARTY It was on the 14th December 2014, that Colégio Europeu Astoria presented to our Astoria families a version of The Nutcracker as the theme for this year Christmas Party. The story was loosely adapted from E.T.A. Hoffmann’s story The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by using Tchaikovsky music, some quite faithful, some not ; It was an alluring production where all the classrooms took part by recreating a scene of it.
This is a very popular production since late 90’s and now our children can be proud for they did and excellent job performing it. All together they were able to take us all into a magical adventure, bursting with humour, surprise, emotion and best of all, our amazing students. From the beginning to its very end it was a feast for the senses and imagination.
MEETING
IN POLAND The first meeting of our new Erasmus + Project , The world in our hands- we can work it out, took place in December in our coordinator school’s country- Poland. It was a very interesting meeting where we’ve learnt a lot and got to know our partners for the next three years Project. We were given the opportunity to join a British Council workshop in Krakow with the title “ Game based Learning – Making Learning more Interactive”. At this workshop we were given the chance to share our
COMENIUS MEETING IN
SICILY
The Project A United Eco-Journey through Europe to The Future had its fourth meeting in Bagheria- Sicily. It was a very interesting meeting where we’ve discussed and assess the Project activities and our ecological achievements so far. At the meeting with all the partners and students contribution and dedication we were able to come up with our Comenius Project song, which we are adding the last touches and as soon as ready we will be even more linked only this time through music.
strategies and methodologies and also to learn new ones from the other partners involved and from the British Council itself. Alongside with these opportunities we were able to learn more about their educational system and some pedagogical methods that are different from ours but quite interesting to analyse. Overall it was a very positive and engaging meeting where we all exchanged good practices and ideas.
OUR COMENIUS SONG Written by children from all partner schools Planet earth is looking for some light, We need to wake up and not walk aside, Cyprus, Portugal and England, Poland, Italy and Turkey, Together we’ll make a difference, Nothing is going to stop us
Join us all on common side, European nations bring the light, We will paint a new rainbow, To a better future and dreams we go
Everyone in Europe cares for his health, Fruit and vegetables we eat every day, No one likes litter so let’s recycle, Always being green that’s the Comenius way
Cyprus, Portugal and England, Poland, Italy and Turkey, Together we’ll make a difference, Nothing is going to stop us
Cyprus, Portugal and England, Poland, Italy and Turkey, Together we’ll make a difference, Nothing is going to stop us
Mystery of the life Is to be friendly in every time Peace is the key word, Love is another word
NEW YEAR WISHES A new year is rising and it is time to welcome it with all the new possibilities it may bring. Last year was a very eventfull year filled with conquers and achievements from our students. As a way to welcome the new year, it is our tradition to celebrate midnight with our friends and family. Usually people watch the fireworks along the riverside and eat 12 raisin when the clock
strucks midnight while asking wishes for each one of them, grownups can drink Champagne but for our children we advice some Champomy. There is usually an happiness linked to this day and some say that fireworks are magic that reaches and touches the sky. Colégio Europeu Astoria wishes all our students and families a wonderful new year filled with joy, success and happy thoughts.
20 1 5
NG I M O
C ents P U ev
TWELFTH NIGHT
LET’S HELP OTHERS
VALENTINE’S DAY