Connecting Classrooms - ENA Cluster - Newsletter nº 3 EN by ENA Connecting Classrooms

June 2012

C C . EN A C l u s te r Connecting Classrooms (CC)

Number 3 English version

Futsal match to support APPACDM

TwinSpace >>>>>

Contents: Futsal match

T-shirt ENA Cluster

PT & Cz

11 © Tiago Silva, Ricardo Cunha, ESPL

CC Library

Motto: Solidarity

Target: APPACDM, in Braga

Olympic day - Czech 13 Republic CC in ESJGFA

A teacher’s point of

Result: Party, real fun, and 1.858 Euros raised to APPACDM © Tiago Silva, Ricardo Cunha, ESPL

tance of solidarity and to the fact that each

of us, individually, can make the difference. The ENA Cluster team was invited to find an

Shakespeare in Czech 21 Republic Moments of Poetry

institution that needed support and then organise some kind of activity to get that sup-

port. The elected institution was APPPACDM © Tiago Silva, Ricardo Cunha, ESPL

Connecting through the 24 Arts CC in Harrow

to raise aware-

ness in young people to the impor-

view… Andreia Mendes

CC in ESCA

The idea was quite simple –

and it was decided to organise a

“Futsal

Match of Celebrities” that could give visibility to the cause we have selected. So on the 8th June the sports pavilion of Minho University, in Braga, was full of people to see the match, the dances, the performances and sports activities presented by the ENA Cluster

CC-Connecting People

schools. A group of APPACM users as well as a group of students from EB2,3 André Soares School also joined the other participants. With this activity it was possible to raise funds that were totally delivered to APPACDM, in Braga.

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CC . E NA Cl us te r 8th.June.2012 in images

“This is a project to

awaken consciousness hereby developing young people to become more Ana Isabel Silva & Alexandre Peixoto, ESPL

Escola Sec. Dr. Joaquim Gomes Ferreira Alves

Escola EB2,3 de Mosteiro e Cávado

Escola EB2,3 de Matosinhos

aware and supportive adults.” Teresa Lacerda, ESPL

“Connecting Classrooms, a project that promotes learning

Escola EB2,3 de André Soares

Escola Secundária da Póvoa de Lanhoso

in a real context.” Ricardo Rodrigues, ESPL

Escola Secundária das Taipas

Escola Secundária da Póvoa de Lanhoso (ESPL)

Pictures: Tiago Silva & Ricardo Cunha, ESPL

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Futsal match to support APPACDM On June 8, 2012 more than 100 students from Caldas das Taipas Secondary School (Guimarães) went to the Minho University, in Braga, to watch and participate in a solidarity futsal match for APPCDM, organised under the Connecting Classrooms Project. Many schools that joined this campaign have helped so that this activity could come true.

The participants were a diversified group of players, both young

people from some of the schools and adults connected to sports. Nevertheless, in the group of players, there was Neno, a former Vitória de Guimarães football star, who was really applauded and cherished by the audience. At the end of the match, he also handed out many tshirts and distributed lots of autographs. Everyone who watched the game had to pay €1 and all of the money raised was given to help APPACDM. Before the match started, there were many entertaining activities so the audience could have some fun. Those performances were all prepared by the many schools in the project and were associated with performing arts and sports. Of course we must high-

light the Rope Skipping National Team representing Caldas das Taipas Secondary School for their dynamic performance. Although,

it’s important to say that all the per-

formances deserved applause and positive

reception by the audience. During the futsal match, the people in the audience were always applauding the football players in order to motivate them to win. Besides the fact that only one team won, the one which had white t-shirts (Neno’s lost 41), both teams played really well and showed the true spirit of solidarity. Therefore, we should also congratulate the Connecting Classrooms Project for a wonderful activity which allowed everyone to enjoy a great time together. Ana Catarina Ferreira, 10ºC Escola Secundária das Taipas

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CC . E NA Cl us te r 8th.June.2012 in images

“They were all spectacular! Congratulations! They managed to engage, energize, organize and be supportive!”

Rosa Maria Costa, APPACDM Vídeo made by Rosa Sousa, ESPL, in >>>>>>

APPACDM (Portuguese Association of Parents and Friends of the Mental Disabled Citizen)

Pictures: Tiago Silva & Ricardo Cunha, ESPL

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Futsal match to support APPACDM Team “We are in solidarity” - Jorge Braz (Coach of the National Indoor Football Team) - Agostinho Oliveira (Football Team Coach) - Neno (EX-player of VSC) - Rui Tata (Trainer at Fair Play football school) - João Cardoso (EX-player of SCBraga) - Barroso (EX-player of SCBraga) - Luís Rodrigues (President of the Organizing Committee of the Indoor football World Cup) - 3 students linked to the Connecting Classrooms Project: - Joana Coimbra – Escola Sec. da Póvoa de Lanhoso - Tiago Soares – Escola EB2,3 de Mosteiro e Cávado - Renato Filipe Lopes – Escola Secundária das Taipas Team “We are also in solidarity” - Pedro Dias (Vice president of FP Football) - Jorge Borges (Coach of Handball at Águas Santas) - Carlos Resende (Coach of Handball at ABC) - Armando Fitas (Dance teacher at Populum) - Melissa (Athlete of National FeminineFootball Team) - Carlos Silva (Administrator at University of Minho) - Hélder Castro (President of student academy at at University of Minho - AAUM) - 3 students linked to the Connecting Classrooms Project: - Filipe Menezes – Escola Sec. Carlos Amarante - Ruben Santos – Escola EB2,3 de Matosinhos - Pedro Ferreira – Escola Secundária Dr. Joaquim Gomes Ferreira Alves Referee: Paulo Parati

Team: We

are in solidarity

Team: We

are also in solidarity

Two classes of the school “Escola Básica de Matosinhos” (8ºF and CEF EC) participated in

the solidarity game in

favour of APPACDM. The student Rúben dos Santos joined one of the teams as a goalkeeper. The students Ana Lopes, Beatriz de Sousa, Catarina Danho, Daniela Simões, Inês Faria, Mariana Magalhães and Raquel de Almeida rehearsed a choreography to present before the game. This activity was a great success and the students loved it and

had fun. They had the opportunity to contact with students from other schools that take part in the project and develop their sense of solidarity and respect for others. Andreia Mendes, EB de Matosinhos

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CC . E NA Cl us te r 8th.June.2012 in images

Pictures: Nuno Gonรงalves da UM Dicas (page 6 & 7). Thanks Nuno Gonรงalves.

N u m b er 3 E n g l is h v er si on

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Futsal match to support APPACDM

Organization: Escola Secundária da Póvoa de Lanhoso Collaboration in the organization: British Council, Direção-Geral de Educação (DGE), Instituto Português do Desporto e Juventude (IPDJ), Universidade do Minho, Escolas Secundárias Carlos Amarante, Caldas das Taipas & Dr. Joaquim Gomes Ferreira Alves, Escolas EB2,3 de Mosteiro e Cávado, Matosinhos & Paranhos Sponsors: SolTrópico - Agência de Viagens, Tony Miranda, TUB - Transportes Urbanos de Braga, Câmaras Municipais de Braga e da Póvoa de Lanhoso, APEFB - Associação de Profissionais de Educação Física de Braga, Escolas EB2,3 André Soares, Francisco Sanches & Lamaçães, Colégio Teresiano, Escolas Secundárias D. Maria II & Sá de Miranda, Externato Carvalho Araújo, APPACDM, Escola Profitecla, all teachers, students and school staff Logo: © João Paulo Peixoto Pereira, ESPL

involved in the project, players, coaches, referee and everyone else who individually and collaboratively contributed to this cause.

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CC . E NA Cl us te r “T-shirt ENA Cluster” contest - Matosinhos The classes 8ºF, CEF OI (Curso de Educação e Formação de Operador de Informática) and CEF EC (Curso de Educação e Formação de Empregado Comercial) participated in the activity of creating the “Connecting Classrooms” t-shirt. There was a great students’ participation and 24 t-shirt models were handed for the contest .

“There was a great students’ participation and 24 t-shirt models were handed for the contest”

N u m b er 3 E n g l is h v er si on

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“T-shirt ENA Cluster” contest The “ENA Cluster T-shirt “competition was an initiative promoted by this Cluster in order to create a T-shirt that identified the group. There were many candidates.

A big thank you

to all involved for the effort and work put in this activity. The prerogative of CC is the

importance of participating…… at this level, everyone was excellent. However, there was a winner: Congratulations to Francisco Manuel Vale, a student from Escola Secundária Carlos Amarante.

… Escola EB2,3 de Matosinhos...

Winner

Escola Secundária da Póvoa de Lanhoso

Escola Secundária Carlos Amarante

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CC . E NA Cl us te r “T-shirt ENA Cluster” contest Escola de Bentley Wood

Apart from all the Portuguese schools in the ENA Cluster, School Bentley Wood in the UK also participated.

Escola EB2,3 de Paranhos Congratulations to

Escola Secundária de Caldas das Taipas

ALL the participants ... next year new challenges will arise!

Escola EB2,3 de Mosteiro e Cávado

Escola Secundária Dr. Joaquim Gomes Ferreira Alves

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My connection with a Czech Republican school In the project Connecting Classrooms, in

tact with the ones who replied, through

perience for all of us.

which my class is involved,

e-mail and Facebook. They are my age

In spite of living in a small country they

and they attend the Grammar School in

are very friendly and they are becoming

Pribram (CZ): http://www.gym.pb.cz

more open to other countries, because

In this project we are part of a cluster

this was a very conservative society for

named: ENA CLUSTER that you can

a long time in the past, but we all need

follow on Facebook too: Ena Cluster Con-

to broaden our horizons.

necting Classrooms. We have been talking

This exchange with the

we have some great opportunities to improve our English and to know other places and other people out-

about our hobbies and free times, about

side our ‘’bubble’’.

the differences between our countries

Czech Republican students

A teacher from Czech Republic, whose

and schools, the weather and things that

has been a really good ex-

school is also involved in this project,

new friends talk about to get to know

perience.

asked teacher Teresa Lacerda and our

each other!

English teacher, Rosa Carvalho,

I hope they can come and

whether we would like to have some e-

visit Portugal one day. I

mail contact with her students. As we

would

accepted the challenge, the teacher

really ap-

sent her students’ e-mail addresses.

preciate

I decided to send an email introducing

that and it

myself to the entire list but not all an-

would be a

swered. At the moment I’m having con-

new ex-

Rebecca Jaeger 11th C

My ‘’virtual” friends from Czech The Connecting Classrooms Project

dents

aims to encourage multicultural ex-

Czech Republic

changes

in the Facebook

experiences

between

from Ana Rita & Rebecca

teachers and students from different

and also by e-mail and I know them a

This project makes

little better now. I created a great empa-

me proud to be part of be-

thy and an interesting friendship with

countries.

cause I can learn to do many things. I have the chance to

Misa and a bit with Lucas too. They are

happened because as we

amazing people, in spite of being only

meet wonderful people, we

‘’virtual” friends. I consider them good

know new people, I had the opportu-

friends and I hope to meet them face to

nity to go to London, visit a school in

face.

Harrow and get to meet people from

feel more comfortable to talk with them all the time, and this naturally improves

other countries, not only students

One of the main purposes to

from London but also students from

start

the school Gymnasium Příbram, from

other schools in other coun- Socializing with people from other

Czech Republic. http://www.gym.pb.cz

tries has been to improve our ence. English and this has actually

I have been in contact with the stu-

this

connection

with

our English. countries has been a wonderful experiAna Rita Martins, 11thC

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CC . E NA Cl us te r Connecting Classrooms Library The Connecting Classrooms library was created to promote the Connecting Classrooms project and make it remembered for several years in the school “Escola Básica de Matosinhos”. The school acquired 44 English literature books with

All the books purchased were identified with the symbol of the project in order to promote it throughout the entire school community. some of the money given by British Council.

The books can be required by any student, teacher or other school staff regardless of their

These books will also help the students’ linguistic enrichment, which will facilitate the communication with the colleagues from the English, Greek and Czech schools. direct involvement in the project.

“The Connecting Classrooms library was created to promote the Connecting Classrooms project and make it remembered for several years in the school “Escola Básica de Matosinhos”. Andreia Mendes

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Olympic Day - Ceske Budejovice - Czech Republic

Olympic Day, held annually on June 23, is celebrated by thousands of people in more than 160 countries. Commemo-

rating the birth of the modern Olympic Games, Olympic Day is not only a celebration, but an international effort to promote fitness and wellbeing in addition to Olympic ideals of Fair Play, Perseverance, Respect and Sportsmanship. Our school Česká and Olympic hopes organized the Olympic run as every year. Children of all ages took part. The run started at 9 am, when the youngest aged 5 competed in 200 metres. The oldest ran at 12, 30 and their distance was 1500 meters.

The whole event was enriched by the presence of Olympic

winners and Dynamo České Budějovice footballers.

The connecting classrooms team was in charge of the competitions for the youngest children. There were 6 tasks. The kids got a card and after completing all of the tasks they could pick up a small price. The tasks included ball throwing, sand jumping, block starts, slalom with a ball, throwing rings and beam walking. The children loved all the tasks, they were delighted after they got their little toy as a price. The total number of children who took part in the competitions was 279! The weather was amazing, sunny and hot, maybe too much, but it was the only imperfection of the beautiful and funny day filled with sport and Olympic spirit. Tamara Divisova, Teacher in Ceske Budejovice School, Czech Republic

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CC . E NA Cl us te r

CC in Escola Secundária Dr. Joaquim Gomes Ferreira Alves... Throughout the third term, the Art students from the 12th grade made Art books with the theme

“We

are the Others” in articulation with the 12th Blog >>>>>

graders attending English classes, who wrote the po-

The works were exhibited in the school library. ems.

Students from 10ºA

Connecting Classrooms in Food Bank GFA Tv >>>>>

Melissa Silva

Yago Ribeiro © ESJGFA

believe in our good

What about giv-

will. However, the final re-

ing part of our time

sult was pretty good, as you

helping

can see in the picture.

thinking

the

others,

about

the

others? We all said

YES.

We weren’t alone. We had the help of other mates.

Moral

As we are part of the project

teacher was, as always, the

connecting classrooms,

key element to accomplish

our English teacher challenged

our goal. Thus, on a Saturday

us to make a film, in which we

we were in a supermarket

share our fantastic experi-

collecting food.

ence.

Although it seems a

Curious? So, we invite you to

simple

see our work.

Our

Facebook >>>>>

Rita Osório

Rough times in Poetugal. And now?

GFA Radio >>>>>

Alexandre Oliveira

Religion

and

task,

some-

times it was a bit

No doubt,

“We are the others”.

hard to make people © ESJGFA

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CC in Escola Secundária Dr. Joaquim Gomes Ferreira Alves... We organized a charity show with the Performances Club on 6th June to raise money for APPACDM institution.

On 1st June, the teachers involved in the project invited the Group of therapeutical Theatre to our school “Espaço T”, a solidarity institution which presented the play named “Bobby”.

The “EspaçoT” appears in a context of social inclusion,

“T” meaning TODOS (EVERYONE) having as target the Human Being. So nothing better to support the motto of our project

“We are the Others”. This

show involves people with addiction problems or with handicaps and the show itself portrayed a social problem: domestic violence.

solidarity institution APPACDM- with the dance At © Tiago Silva, Ricardo Cunha, ESPL

On 8th June the 11th C participated in the last event which closed the second year of the project Connecting Classrooms – the Futsal play in favor of the

the rhythm of

LMFAO that they had also presented in Value and Excellence Ceremony at the School. One of our students from the Professional Course of Sociocultural Animation played along with one of the teams. © Tiago Silva, Ricardo Cunha, ESPL

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CC . E NA Cl us te r Connecting classrooms: A What is Connecting Classrooms?

“When I was first asked to join the project I was a little apprehensive as I had only students from Cursos de Educação e Formação (CEF) and most of them didn’t like school and were really unmotivated and fed up with everything connected to school.” Andreia Mendes

“There isn’t a single student from my school that regrets giving up their Fridays and Saturdays (from eight o’clock in the morning to about six o’clock in the afternoon) to go to Braga to attend the training, which shows their commitment and enthusiasm.” Andreia Mendes

“Connecting Classrooms is a global programme that creates partnerships between clusters of schools in the UK and others around the world. These partnerships bring an international dimension to young people’s learning, to improve their knowledge and understanding of other cultures and prepare them for life and work as global citizen.” “Partnerships typically last for three years, depending on the countries involved. There is no joining fee, and participating schools and co-ordinating bodies can receive grants to support activities that sustain their links during their involvement in the programme.” Source: http:// www.britishcouncil.org/learningconnecting-classrooms-what.htm

Joining

the Project

“Connecting Classrooms” was a great asset to my school, teachers and students as the participation in projects at European level is a powerful tool for teachers to cope with the challenges presented to the individual by an increasingly global and pluralistic society.

European projects allow an easier and greater intercultural understanding and a recognition and respect for cultural differences while guaranteeing equal opportunities and universal access to the learning process, using the skills and knowledge that students bring to school as educational resources. European projects also foster the sharing of different points of view and

teacher’s point of view ...

opinions and the construction of a collaborative knowledge, allowing teachers and students to learn from each other. Projects

developed at European level contribute to a deeper understanding of the self and the others, helping in the construction of an European identity. And this was what the project “Connecting Classrooms” did for my students and the teachers involved in it. It really broadened horizons and shaped more concerned and openminded citizens. When I was first asked to join the project I was a little apprehensive as I had only students from Cursos de Educação e Formação (CEF) and most of them didn’t like school and were really unmotivated and fed up with everything connected to school. Notwithstanding, I thought that the theme underlying the project (“Inclusion and Volunteering”) would be very enriching and interesting to my students and would really help me in my purpose of educating global citizens. I considered the project as a great challenge that would be very beneficial not only to my students, but also to me and the entire school community and decided to embrace it. Working with my students in the project has been immensely gratifying and they really im-

pressed me by the way they grasped it and dedicated themselves to it.

T h e p r o j e c t “Connecting Classrooms” is a great way of fostering interdisciplinarity as all the teachers involved help each other and develop interesting work with the students. With the help and guidance of their different teachers they created PowerPoints about the city of Matosinhos, the human rights and bullying. They also made videos introducing themselves, the school, their town Matosinhos and the project “Greencork”. Students also created posters with quotations about inclusion and volunteering as well and their own Connecting Classrooms t-shirt. My students from

Cursos de Educação e Formação also gave their contribution to the “Good Practice Manual” that is being collaboratively built by my school and the school Bentley Wood, in London. They also participated in a food collection campaign in favour of the less fortunate families of our community and a fund raising in favour of APPACDM (Associação Portuguesa de Pais e Amigos do Cidadão Deficiente Mental). The development of the pro-

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… from Escola Básica de Matosinhos ject “Connecting Classrooms” was greatly facilitated by the use of the information and communications technology. The eTwinning platform, h t t p : / / n e w twinspace.etwinning.net/c/ p o r t a l / l a y o u t ? p_l_id=5221834, (portal used for sharing material and contact between the different participants in the project) allowed the experiment and use of new teaching methodologies, enabling a closer relationship between teachers and students and between the

The use of the eTwinning platform also allowed students to develop their technological, linguistic, communicative, collaborative, intercultural and citizenship skills, enriching them and broadening their horizons. The publication of the students’ work on the platform was something that gave them real fun because they enjoyed the visibility and recognition given to their work and liked to see the work created by their peers from other schools. students

themselves.

In order to get students proactively involved in the project and make it more sustainable, British Council, in collaboration with Direção Geral

da Educação and Instituto Português do Desporto e Juventude

provided training to students who demonstrated leadership qualities entitled “Jovens Líderes numa Perspetiva de Interculturalidade”. Eight students from my school participated in this workshop and all of them were really pleased with their participation. They saw this workshop as a great opportunity to contact with students from different cities, schools, ages and backgrounds and learn collaboratively from them. There isn’t a single student from my school that regrets giving up their Fridays and Saturdays (from eight o’clock in the morning to about six o’clock in the afternoon) to go to Braga to attend the training, which shows their commitment and enthusiasm. This training also fostered students’ empowerment, which was fantastic. Students were given a choice and a voice and that was really important for their motivation. The students felt that they were the centre of their education and that they had an active voice. This active voice made students more aware and rose awareness amongst them of their role as active citizens in the local communities that can and should expand to a global context. Looking back at the time I

was given the challenge of embracing the project “Connecting Classrooms” I only regret having hesitated for a while and thinking that my students probably wouldn’t be able to cope with such a demanding responsibility. They all managed to rise up to the challenge and get truly involved in all the tasks proposed. The sharing of materials, points of views, experiences and opinions allowed them to have a deeper learning experience and become more informed and tolerant citizens. As an English teacher I cannot overlook the fact that my students awakened to the importance of English as a communication tool when communicating with students from others countries. My

students’ approach to “English” changed in a very positive sense. So, if you have the opportunity to participate in a project like “Connecting Classrooms” don’t hesitate, because it will do wonders not only for your students but also for yourself and the entire school community.

Andreia Mendes Coordinator of CC in Escola Básica de Matosinhos

Due to the recent staff moves for the new academic year, Andreia Mendes will no longer continue to be the coordinator of CC in Matosinhos. This is a real pity. Here is a very special thanks to Andrea for the valuable and excellent contribution she gave to this project ... CC is so much the richer for having counted on the commitment and

Andreia Mendes, Escola Básica de Matosinhos Nota: In order to promote the “Connecting Classrooms” project countrywide the project coordinator in the school “Escola Básica de Matosinhos” wrote the following article that was published in the magazine of Associação Portuguesa de Professores de Inglês (The APPI Journal)

dynamism of its youngest Coordinator in the ENA Cluster. Teresa Lacerda

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CC . E NA Cl us te r CC in Escola Secundária Carlos Amarante... School Day Out Programme at the museums D. Diogo de Sousa, Nogueira da Silva and Biscaínhos - 8th June

ESCA >>>>>

Museum D. Diogo de Sousa

Museum Nogueira da Silva

Carlos Amarante High school was the host school and received with enthusi-

asm the students from Matosinhos. After visiting the

pate and applaud the CC

sity – and a Fund Raising foot-

museum they shared their sack lunch and had

closing event, which included

ball match with well-known

lots of fun enjoying each other’s company.

amazing performances by

players together with male

each school – Unity in Diver-

and female students that are

After lunch we all went to Minho University gym to partici-

still junior footballers. BEING YOUNG IN PORTUGAL AND EUROPE: © ESCA

The PRSENTE. What is the Future?

To celebrate the 38th Anniversary of our Revolution of April 25, in 1974, and taking advantage of the fact that Braga is currently the European Youth Capital, our school held on the 30th April a lecture entitled 'Being young in Portugal and Europe: the present. What Future?

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CC in Escola Secundária Carlos Amarante... Trekking the “via Romana XVII”... In order to raise awareness for the benefits of an active life in contact with nature and a healthy food diet our school community spent the whole Saturday trekking through forests and over mountains following an ancient Roman route for over 7 kilometres far. Sports

Manage-

ment students nicely dressed in historical costumes led the school community all the way through. They also performed Greco-Roman wrestling and of-

fered us a nice brunch with fruits and biscuits. At the arrival point participants could have their blood pressure measured and get a diabetes test with trainee nurses and doctors. Conceição Ribas

… Roman Market in Braga ... Roman Market in Braga The school community participated in the initiative promoted by the

herbs, farm products and some pastries whose recipe also dates back to the time of the Roman Empire in a fair stall they also designed with the help of their teachers. We also participated in the

Town Hall of Braga city:

official parades wearing Roman costumes, being the

Reliving the traditions of

teachers dressed with the colours of our school – silver

the ancient Roman mar-

and dark blue – except for the male teachers that chose

ket.

to look like Roman Senators. Eye-catching, sort of for-

Students designed plenty of artifacts imitating those dat-

tune leaflets were handed out to the public along the

ing back to Roman times (pottery, board games, toys and

streets to inform them about our school good condi-

ornaments) and tried to sell them together with cuisine

tions and courses available.

… A Day for Life ... Carlos Amarante High school participated in the solidarity campaign promoted by the Portuguese League Against Cancer for fund raising to fight against cancer. Students deco-

rated a small colourful piece of cloth and wrote encouraging sentences to pay tribute to cancer victims and celebrate life with the cancer survivors. Their patch rug was exhibited downtown together with © ESCA

all the others from other institutions. This initiative was a step in the fight

for cancer awareness and a better standard of living for all who are badly affected by cancer.

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CC . E NA Cl us te r Overcoming obstacles “turn left” ,” turn right”, “go up”, “go down”, “go straight ahead” 184 students from 9 different classes 6th A, B, C, D, E, F, H and 5th S a total participate in the activity “Overcoming obstacles”. At the end 172 students answered a small inquiry completing fur statements.

They considered the hardest stage the one

in which they had to tion techniques; to learn Engdeal with sight dis- lish; to walk on crunches; to focus myself; to understand abilities. These comments

the suffering and difficulties of strike our attention: this acthe blind; to learn the colours tivity helped me to underin sign language; to score a stand we are all equal; to basket; to trust each other; refine my senses, to and finally to understand betfeel/understand what ter the blind and the deaf.

it means to be differ- In a nutshell they ent; to realise how difficult learned how to feel it is to be disabled, to place the difference. myself in other people’s shoes; to improve my orienta-

Mónica Moreira, Ângela Lopes e Raquel Eira, EB2,3 de Paranhos

The Godmother’s Project In 2011/2012, EB 2,3 Paranhos launched the

With this monitoring they consider them-

“It was an interest-

"Godmothers" project.

selves more responsible and aware of their

ing project be-

This project involved six 9th graders from D

cause it allowed us

class and eleven younger students from the 5th

to see different

and 6th grade with learning and/or behaviour

As far as the supported students

realities, we had to

difficulties.

The godmothers were ac-

are concerned, the biggest im-

companied by two teachers and

pact was the fact that they had an

one psychologist. According to them “It

older special friend who was al-

was an interesting project because it allowed

ways available to them..

be available and allowed us to encourage the progress of a younger colleague.”

surroundings, realizing that some colleagues do not value school as much as they do.

us to see different realities, we had to be available and allowed us to encourage the progress

Escola EB2,3 de Paranhos

of a younger colleague.”

In the quiz “Math, yes you can!” put at work by class D, 10th grade, from Secondary School of Póvoa de Lanhoso, 17 Portuguese teams from ENA and a Greek team have participated in it. © Tiago Silva, Ricardo Cunha, ESPL

Raquel Eira & Teresa Moura,

The

winners

were

Ângela Patrícia Afonso, António Pedro Machado, Cláudio Silva, Luís Filipe Antunes, students from Escola Secundária da Póvoa de Lanhoso. Iva Azevedo, ESPL

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CC in Gymnázium Príbram - Czech Republic Shakespeare in Schools that Ms Irish visits seven countries, including the Czech Republic, and observes how Shakespeare is taught around the world. © Gymnázium Príbram

Our school had the privilege to host Tracy Irish, a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company. Because

of the Olympics that take place next year in London, there is an all -year-lasting “Culture Olympiad” part of which is also Shakespeare Festival. And for

At first she spent two hours at our school, observed our lesson, then the next day a few students and teachers went to Prague for a seminar with Ms Irish. There, we took a look at Shakespeare a little differently than we were taught at school. We

studied Hamlet as the actors do. First of all we did a back-

ground check and performed the events that happened before the original story. After that we learnt how to walk while we were focusing on the text and our emotions. We were using the same methods that actors do when they rehearse. It was a good view on Hamlet for everybody, besides having fun we learnt a lot. We saw the play and also the characters from different perspective. Zuzana Švábová, 16 years old, Gymnázium Príbram

“… There, we took a look at Shakespeare a little differently than we were taught at school.”

Page 22

CC . E NA Cl us te r Against the wall - CC in QUALIFICA 26th April 2012 wasn’t an usual Thursday. At the school gate, two vans from Junta de Freguesia de Paranhos were waiting to drive us to Exponor. We were seventeen students, eleven from 6th A and six from 9th S together we animated the Citizenship Area of Qualifica, with several presentations, until a non stop

“We really enjoyed

We shared Connecting Classrooms with two valuable messages, one about the final.

importance of communication, through the performance “Against the Wall” and the other about the urgent need to develop a culture of peace through the rap “Trustee”, an original from our class. To make sure this message reached most of the people, we delivered book-

marks illustrated by

bullying is wrong, it doesn’t make you strong ou bad mouthing breaks the heart – DON’T START! Aleixo:

We really enjoyed this experience, it made us grow and get together. Ana Catarina Rebelo e Luísa Duque, 6º A EB 2,3 Paranhos

this experience, it made us grow and get together.”

From the Atlantic Ocean’ waves to the world! Class of 6th B created several math challenges to send to their colleagues in 5th B. In each of their messages they found a digit that corresponded to a letter of the complete message. In first challenge they left the first five messages. Then others followed, summing up fourteen. In the last message they broke the code: We are the others! Mónica Moreira, Math teacher, Escola EB2,3 de Paranhos

Rita

N u m b er 3 E n g l is h v er si on

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Moments of Poetry

On May 28th, we had the activity “Moments of Poetry” in Paranhos school.

Students said poems of their own and poems of Portuguese authors, in Portuguese and Portuguese Sign Language.

In the scope of the Connecting Classrooms Project it was also made a video in English, with an adaptation of the poem “Children of all colours”, by Luísa Ducla Soares. The poem tries to show that we are all equal, in spite of being hearing or deaf or having different colours. The video was the result of a collaborative work between the Arts teachers Isabel Torres and Ana Stingl and the Special Education teacher, Maria do Céu Gomes. The hearing students illustrated the poem and the deaf told

the story in Portuguese Sign Language.

It is important to note that deaf students went to the hearing classes to say the poem in sign language, to speak about themselves and about the aims of the activity. As a result, we had a beautiful work that made students proud and that contributed to move them closer to each other. Mª do Céu Gomes

Page 24

CC . E NA Cl us te r Connecting through the Arts

“All Destinations Travel”, pleased everyone: students, parents and community.

“Life is like a

The

students

did

Studies have shown that

tary and high school stu-

art and drama can teach

dents. Last April an out-

children many skills that

standing ensemble of stu-

they cannot learn through

dents danced, sang, played

pen and paper activities.

musical instruments and

stages of our

A fine arts education

performed with their heart

of a large crowd and

life acting it

is essential to a child’s

and soul in in Theatro

the

mental

Circo, in Braga.

hard work culminat-

play - we merely go through the

out.”

and

emo-

tional development.

Shakespeare's As

In fact, theatre / drama

You Like It, 1600

should be for everybody – and that includes elemen© EB2,3 de Mosteiro e Cávado

great, that’s for sure, more

importantly,

they learned the thrill of performing in front satisfaction

ing in success! The play, an original script written by some of the school teachers, entitled

Cristina Gonçalves, teacher EB2,3 de Mosteiro e Cávado

N u m b er 3 E n g l is h v er si on

Page 25

Connecting through the Arts “...Unfortunately,

ture. In order to tackle this

Students from Mosteiro e

menace of bullying, the stu-

Cávado School, in Braga, have

dents, teachers and parents

organized an exhibition in the

will have to work collectively.

Monastery of Tibães, in order

common phenomenon

lence is a common phenome-

It is high time that we

in schools all over the

non in schools all over the

spread awareness about

aware

world. There are some chil-

bullying and school vio-

dren who fight amongst them-

lence and take all strict

Bullying?

Smart,

Don’t Start! Unfortunately,

school

vio-

selves and hurt each other. There are children who act as

make of

their

colleagues

this

problem.

Their work is amazing!

and necessary steps to

bullies and bully other chil-

bring it to a complete

dren who are timid by na-

halt.

Cristina Gonçalves, teacher EB2,3 de Mosteiro e Cávado

school violence is a

world.”

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CC . E NA Cl us te r “Connecting Classrooms” in Harrow, London

“Ms Pretty, one of the Assistant

Last March (17th to 21st) a group of four Portu-

many students and teachers during

guese students, Ana Alves, Ana Rita Martins,

and in between lessons and there was

Daniela Gonçalves, Rebecca Jaeger and two

also a time to share some of the

Headteachers,

teachers, Cristina Santos and Rosa Carvalho,

arranged a very

visited Bentley Wood High School, in Harrow,

works that both English and Portu-

London, as part of Póvoa de Lanhoso Secondary

guese students have developed since

School’s involvement with the British Council’s

the beginning of the project.

visit plan and she was

“Connecting Classrooms” international learning

We got the best impressions of the school, a

our tireless guide

project.

very modern and lively one. All the students

We had the chance to visit London during

and the staff were really welcoming. It was

the weekend, which was a fantastic experi-

also interesting to see the diversity of cul-

together with a lovely

ence especially for the students, who were

tures and how the girls seem to be so well

group of girls from

visiting the city for the first time.

integrated. It is a quite different reality from

On Monday we started our visit to Bentley

the one we are used to see and experience

Wood High School, which is a multiracial and

in our own town/ school, therefore very

multicultural school attended only by girls,

enriching.

where we were welcomed by the Head-

As the focus for this year of the “Connecting

teacher, Ms Howkins.

Classrooms” project is to be “Social Inclu-

Ms Pretty, one of the Assistant Headteachers,

sion”, the visit to a school with such charac-

arranged a very interesting and varied visit

teristics was the first step for the Portuguese

plan and she was our tireless guide during the

students to develop a class project, together

stay, together with a lovely group of girls

with their English partners, in the third term.

from different years.

The whole group found this

interesting and varied

during the stay,

different years”

ing methods, which was great. We also socialised with

visit extremely valuable both personally and academically. We had a wonderful time and we hope to keep this partnership in future projects. Cristina Santos & Rosa Carvalho, ESPL

N u m b er 3 E n g l is h v er si on

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Connecting — LONDON — Classrooms On the 19th March we went to London and visited Bentley Wood High School for girls in Harrow, which is a public school in the best national rankings. http:// www.bentleywood.harrow.sch.uk. This three days visit was part of the Connecting Classrooms Project.

Our first impressions were very good because the school looked really interesting, with large green

spaces (something we are not used to see here) and great conditions. The best impression was

“Bentley Wood has students from almost all corners of the world.” Ana Rita Martins & Rebecca Jaeger, 11ºC, ESPL

the diversity of nationalities and cultures we could immediately notice in the school. Bentley Wood has students from almost all corners of the world. We even met two Portuguese girls there. We could see students from different races, colors and lots of Muslims girls with their headscarves. We met some of the girls that told us about the pros and cons, in their opinion, about the school. In spite of being a school just for girls they like it that way, as they can have better grades, but on the other hand they have kind of lack of freedom. They begin lessons at 8.50 am and school finishes at 3.15 pm; they have less school hours than us. We had the opportunity to be in some classes and we realized that they learn and are assessed in a slightly different way, because the results of the tests aren’t more important than the participation in class. We thank so much the opportunity we were given; we learnt so many things about other cultures and beliefs. In spite of the racial diversity there are no differences between us. We all belong and share the same world and breathe the same air. You don’t need other eyes to see a different world, you just need to open up your mind, accepting the others as you expect them to accept you. © ESPL

Rebecca Jaeger and Ana Rita Martins

11thC, ESPL

Page 28

CC . E NA Cl us te r Escola Secundária Dr. Joaquim Gomes Ferreira Alves (PT) CC

“Our

mission is to

Gymnazium ŠLAPANICE (Czech Republic)

support 21st century learning and improve academic performance through

We succeeded for the first time to interact with a partner school from Czech Republic (Slapanice) with the following message and the attachment of two films which can be seen on our school website and etwinning platform.

content-driven collaboration. Connecting Classrooms project tries to engage

Pictures: Tiago Silva & Ricardo Cunha, ESPL

educators and students in meaningful e-learning projects to develop

Dear partners,

communication skills, foster teamwork, civic responsibility and collaboration and create multi-cultural understanding. Let's work together to give youth the skills they need.” Cristina Gonçalves, EB2,3 de Mosteiro e Cávado

We are from Escola Secundária Joaquim Gomes Ferreira Alves (Valadares) and we are contacting you to establish a connection and share our ideas and interests. One of the activities with some success in our school was done in the Workshop of Ideas (a club led by philosophy) and the subject was ethical dilemma. We would like to show

you some of the works done by our students so that you with your own students would comment and participate in the issues which were brought about, namely ABORTION. We send one of the films which we appreciate you would show to your students and bring about the results of the discussion. You can also go to our school page and vote on the best dilemma. You can also go through all the works done by our students concerning this project (there are many!) and we'd like to hear from you soon and know about your opinions. These are the school sites you can search: http://gfa-tv.blogspot.pt/ (connecting classrooms; “concurso_of_ideas”) http://www.gfa-tu-publicas.blogspot.pt/search/label/CONNECTING%20CLASSROOMS Looking forward to hearing from you soon, Maria Helena Lima Reis (from Portugal)

N u m b er 3 E n g l is h v er si on

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Escola Secundária Dr. Joaquim Gomes Ferreira Alves (PT) CC Gymnazium ŠLAPANICE (Czech Republic)

They have sent us the answers of their discussion but all the schools are invited to participate. Please watch the videos with your students and send us your outcome as Karel and her students from Czech Republic did!

Pictures in School Website

“Hi Helena, In my class I have just had a discussion based on the work from you (your students) - abortion. There were two groups talking about Ana's problem, So I have two messages for your students: Group1: We decided that Ana should keep the baby despite breaking up with her boyfriend. Her parents would help her with raising the baby. Moreover, she may not be able to have babies later, if she goes for abortion now. Group2: As a group we propose the following: - to talk to her boyfriend again, if he still disagrees with keeping the baby, then she should break up with him - to give birth to the baby, keep it and bring it up with the help of her parents (maybe, later she will find a loving partner for her and a father for her child). Not all arguments are mentioned in their answers, but as a conclusion I can say both the groups would try to convince Ana to keep the baby. My students would be very interested in what is your students' view on the problem - so, please, could you send (as we did) the outcome of your class discussion?

Folklore for the elderly

Christmas Concert

Concert of Association of Disabled

Thanks and we are looking forward to hearing from you, Karel” Sports Festival for the Disabled Pictures CC from Gymnazium ŠLAPANICE

Page 30

CC . E NA Cl us te r Connecting Classrooms - Connecting People Getting to know the “Temporary Shelter” - Portuguese Red Cross

“This Association has the help of volunteers

On May 3, 2012, we (students attending the 9

grade at

This tion

Associahas

the

Escola Básica 2,3 do Cávado-

help of volun-

who, just like us, are

Braga-Portugal)

teers who, just

citizens and have

facilities of the "Temporary

Shelter", attached to the Por-

citizens

chosen to give some

visited

the

us,

are and

tuguese Red Cross Institution,

have chosen to

of their time on behalf

located in Nogueira – Braga

give some of

of others,

(a northern Portuguese city).

their time on

The contents and the skills

behalf of others, emphasizing,

the users; their daily routine

we have learnt throughout

thus, the sense of brother-

and future expectations after

sense of brotherhood,

the academic year in different

hood, friendship and effective

probable rehabilitation).

friendship and

subjects, namely in the English

aid , all of this so urgent

Then, we visited the indoors

Language subject, in which

among people.

(library, cafeteria, bedrooms)

highly current social issues

The institution, at the time

and the outdoors: backyard

this so urgent among

were processed, gave origin

represented by the Social

field grown by some users.

people.”

visit.

Worker, Ana Azevedo, wel-

The vegetables and fruit they

This visit put in evidence

comed the students and two

grow are not only for their

accompanying teachers (Maria

own consumption but also for

José Peixoto and Alberto

sale so that they can bear the

Gonçalves).

costs more easily.

In the space designed for

We think that this activ-

the leisure time of the

ity was useful because

emphasizing, thus, the

effective aid , all of

this

study

users (the area of reading and audiovisual availabil-

Helping to help!

we got acquainted with a

ity) we were given all the

reality we did not know

information related to the

very closely and this let

functioning of the institu-

us know how important

tion, the logistics, the us-

it is to remember needy

more and more real issues

ers in their diversity, the

that are increasingly visible in

prospects for their future

our society and are closely

and the governmental and

the importance of help-

linked to serious social prob-

individual aids. We had the

ing them.

lems (alcohol, drug addiction,

opportunity to ask some de-

homelessness and unemploy-

tails that, due to their rele-

ment with a history of domes-

vance, were important to be

Maria José Peixoto, teacher,

tic violence).

answered (characterization of

EB2,3 de Mosteiro e Cávado

people and be aware of

N u m b er 3 E n g l is h v er si on

Page 31

CC on Internet by Escola Secundária da Póvoa de Lanhoso

We are Europe in >>>>>

Fashion Show in >>>>>

Young leaders in >>>>>

Fashion Show… another view in >>>>>

ENA Cluster numbers in Portugal - 2011 / 2012 Escola EB2,3 de Matosinhos –75 Escola EB2,3 de Mosteiro e Cávado – 110 Escola EB2,3 de Paranhos –300 Escola Secundária de Caldas das Taipas – 200 Escola Secundária de Carlos Amarante – 350 Escola Secundária Dr. Joaquim Gomes Ferreira Alves – 200 Escola Secundária da Póvoa de Lanhoso – 228

Total – 1463

students

Connecting Classrooms is... … the full package: it is coming together, it

is learning, it is growing up, it is

meeting people, it is fun and happiness, it is great moments, it is good memories, it is learning English, it is terrific performances, it is

solidarity and it is great friends

and fantastic teachers, too. [Margarida Vieira] Vídeo in >>>>>>>

… all about connecting three important things: …, the world and youth. [Cláudia Oliveira] … a way for all schools to be connected and to help each other. It will be an asset for the “connected” schools and a way for the students to be ready for the future. [Catia Martinho Novais] … all about connecting three important things: …, the world and youth. [Ana Catarina Ferreira]

Vídeo Qualifica in >>>>>>>

… a great opportunity to have more friends from other schools and to improve our English. [Luís Mota]

Portuguese coordinator school of ENA Cluster. School Website >>>>

Connecting Classrooms… … allows us to establish connections between various schools! [Marília Abreu]

Connecting Classrooms is very interesting because it helps us to imConnecting Classrooms ENA Cluster Design: Teresa Lacerda

prove our English as well as our relationship with other people. [Carla Barbosa].

I just know that I am here to stay and that I love being part of the Published by Escola Secundária da Póvoa de Lanhoso Rua da Misericórdia 4830-503 Póvoa de Lanhoso

project Connecting Classrooms. [Daniela Silva] Students from 10ºC - Escola Secundária de Caldas das Taipas

espl.connecting@gmail.com Telef: 253 633 338

British Council - Porto Rua do Breiner, 155 4050-126 Porto Telef: 222 073 060 DGE - Ministério da Educação Av. 24 de Julho, 140 1399-025 Lisboa

This edition had the collaboration of all ENA Cluster’s Schools.