Newsletter 1

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NEWSLETTER 1 Project Number: 2014-1-PT01-KA201-001041

Contents Project Summary Project Aims

Expected Results Expected Impact Do You Know That

Quotes about “Values” What’s Next?

NOVEMBER– DECEMBER 2014

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The Spanish philosopher Ortega Y Gasset once said that “I am I and my circumstances” (Meditaciones del Quijote, 1914). Every individual action depends on one’s character, shaped by the circumstances of one’s own life. Since we were born we have been influenced by people surrounding us. The family is the first pillar of our existence. From the very first moment, even when we are in our mother’s womb, we start to acquire the values transmitted by the mother and by the father… even if they are not aware of that! However, the family is not an island. It’s very interesting to note that sometimes brothers that were educated with the same rules often show a very different attitude. This allows us to say that the community we belong to also plays an important role in the formation of values. The relationship between neighbours, the festivities, the community projects, volunteering projects and many other examples show us the importance of the community. The last axe of this troika is the school, where very different values are crossed, depending on the context of the family and the community. The school is a big mixture of cultures, ideals and different perceptions of reality.

In all the schools involved in this project, we can notice that some important values are missing in the students’ lives. In teachers’ meetings we usually discuss the problem, as it is a very important issue in the learning process. We can observe that many students are very intolerant at different levels. It is also accepted that there is an excessive individualism, even egocentrism. One of the reasons can be the quest for immediate pleasure and self-satisfaction very common in the current hedonistic society. This way of thinking forgets the other as an individual, leading to disciplinary problems and bullying situations.

At this stage, some of our students often think that it is normal not to answer correctly to their teacher or other staff members. For them, there is no difference talking to a friend or to an older person.

“Do as I say, not as I do” In many occasions, the family, the community and even the school forget that our actions teach more than our words. The hidden curriculum is extremely important in the formation of values. We want parents, community and school to be aware of this fact.

We want the community to be aware of the problem and to actively take part in the solution. In the different stages of this project, we will have the participation of our stakeholders, specially the parents’ associations and the local authorities of each school. They will have an important role in the international meetings, in the surveys and in the analysis of the results. They will also play a very important role in the dissemination, by working the results with other parents (parents’ association) and establishing a community plan to help future kids to acquire important values for the community.

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OBJECTIVES

Encourage school members (students, teachers, administration) to

volunteer in charity and community work , festivities and cultural events.

Encouraging students to explore their own, their school’s and their communities’ values;

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The expected results of this project will be: 

create the Logo of the project;

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produce 6 newsletters;

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create a Cross-survey to apply to students and parents;

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SPSS workshop and seminar about investigation in school environment; SPSS analysis of the survey results on the influences of family, community and school in the formation of teenagers’ values;

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carry out joint research, surveys, studies and analyses;

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produce Videos about the community values in every partner country;

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carry out Interviews in school;

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carry out workshops on Video-editing and Future Classroom scenarios;

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use the Eduvista toolkit framework;

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write an Academic Paper on family, community and school values to be published in a scientific magazine;

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write intermediate and final evaluation reports;

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create the Erasmus Corner in each partner school;

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produce Multicultural Lesson plans on social and civic values;

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develop dissemination activities;

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produce surveys, comparative analysis and questionnaires;

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create and use internet tools: website, Facebook page, blog, eTwinning platform and YouTube to disseminate the results and outcomes of the project;

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implement innovative practices at organisational, regional, national and European levels;

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Share and integrate good practices and methods into daily activities;

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improved foreign language and ICT skills;

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produce Open Educational Resources such as the Multicultural Lesson Plans guide on social and civic values;

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improved cultural awareness;

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increased cultural dialogue;

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enhanced European identity through the understanding of cultural diversity;

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improved knowledge of the cultural heritage of the partnership countries;

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students to show pride and respect in their local, regional and national traditions and culture as well as others’ through an intercultural approach;

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improved students’ basic skills;

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enhanced European Citizenship.

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on participants and participating organisations, during and after the project lifetime:

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increased awareness of the importance of family, community and school values for all the people involved;

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increased students, teachers and parents’ awareness of the meaning of values and the power of values education to transform learning and life;

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increased development of values, skills and attitudes necessary for democratic citizenship in the context of multiculturalism and globalization;

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increased interaction between families, communities and schools;

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increased knowledge, skills, and attitudes to enhance students’ responsibility, tolerance and respect;

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increased engagement of schools in promoting, fostering and transmitting values to help build the students’ character;

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greater understanding and responsiveness to social, linguistic and cultural diversity;

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improved quality of teaching in line with European standards;

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innovative ideas for the development of creative thinking of students in civic education;

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increased students’ ability to participate actively in society, in line with the provisions of the Lisbon Treaty;

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more active citizenship of young people;

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enhanced international dimension of education and training through transnational cooperation;

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enhanced teachers’ professional skills through the international cooperation and sharing of best practices;

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increased ability to address the needs of students with special needs;

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increased competence in foreign languages;

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increased level of digital competences (ICT).

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increased awareness of the importance of sharing family, community and school values by the local communities

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increased involvement of the local authorities in fostering cooperation between families, communities and schools to enhance students’ successful outcomes;

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increased awareness of the need of developing policies to reinforce effective strategies to foster family, community and school involvement.

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"United in diversity", the motto of the European Union, first came into use in 2000.

It signifies how Europeans have come together, in the form of the EU, to work for peace and prosperity, while at the same time being enriched by the continent's many different cultures, traditions and languages.

The European flag is the symbol not only of the European Union but also of Europe's unity and identity in a wider sense.

The European flag consists of 12 golden stars in a circle on a blue background. The stars symbolise the ideals of unity, solidarity and harmony among the peoples of Europe.

The number of stars has nothing to do with the number of member countries, though the circle is a symbol of unity.

Austria (1995)

Germany (1958)

Poland (2004)

Belgium (1958)

Greece (1981)

Portugal (1986)

Bulgaria (2007)

Hungary (2004)

Romania (2007)

Croatia (2013)

Ireland (1973)

Slovakia (2004)

Cyprus (2004)

Italy (1958)

Slovenia (2004)

Czech Republic (2004)

Latvia (2004)

Spain (1986)

Denmark (1973)

Lithuania (2004)

Sweden (1995)

Estonia (2004)

Luxembourg (1958)

France (1958)

Finland (1995)

Malta (2004)

Netherlands (1958)

United Kingdom (1973)

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Albania

Bosnia and Herzegovina

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Iceland

Kosovo

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Montenegro

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Serbia

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The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

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Turkey

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The EU is recognisable by several symbols, the most well-known being the circle of yellow stars on a blue background.

This site introduces other symbols such as the European anthem and motto.

The 12 stars in a circle symbolise the ideals of unity, solidarity and harmony among the peoples of Europe.

The melody used to symbolise the EU comes from the Ninth Symphony composed in 1823 by Ludwig Van Beethoven.

The ideas behind the European Union were first put forward on 9 May 1950 by French foreign minister Robert Schuman. This is why 9 May is celebrated as a key date for the EU.

"United in diversity" is the motto of the European Union.

It signifies how Europeans have come together, in the form of the EU, to work for peace and prosperity, while at the same time being enriched by the continent's many different cultures, traditions and languages.

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The melody used to symbolize the EU comes from the Ninth Symphony composed in 1823 by Ludwig Van Beethoven, when he set music to the "Ode to Joy", Friedrich von Schiller's lyrical verse from 1785.

The anthem symbolises not only the European Union but also Europe in a wider sense. The poem "Ode to Joy" expresses Schiller's idealistic vision of the human race becoming brothers - a vision Beethoven shared.

In 1972, the Council of Europe adopted Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" theme as its anthem. In 1985, it was adopted by EU leaders as the official anthem of the European Union. There are no words to the anthem; it consists of music only. In the universal language of music, this anthem expresses the European ideals of freedom, peace and solidarity.

The European anthem is not intended to replace the national anthems of the EU countries but rather to celebrate the values they share. The anthem is played at official ceremonies involving the European Union and generally at all sorts of events with a European character.

The anthem is performed by the European Union Youth Wind Orchestra conducted by AndrĂŠ Reichling. It was recorded in 1994 at the Teatro da Trindade, Lisbon. Musical arrangement by Herbert von Karajan.* *All rights of the producer and owner of the work reproduced reserved.

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“Your beliefs become your thoughts, Your thoughts become your words, Your words become your actions, Your actions become your habits, Your habits become your values, Your values become your destiny.” ― Mahatma Gandhi

“Don't waste your love on somebody, who doesn't value it.” ― William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

The aim of education is the knowledge, not of facts, but of values. ―William S. Burroughs “Try not to become a man of success. Rather become a man of value.” ― Albert Einstein

A man who dares to waste one hour of time has not discovered the value of life.” ― Charles Darwin, The Life & Letters of Charles Darwin

Sometimes you will never know the true value of a moment until it’s become a memory.

Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value. ― Albert Einstein

It's not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are.

“Your time is way too valuable to be wasting on people that can't accept who you are.” ― Turcois Ominek

Values are like fingerprints. Nobody’s are the same, but you leave “them all over everything you do” ―Elvis Presley

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1st Project meeting: Kartal Yüksel İlhan Alanyalı Science High School, Istanbul, Turkey, 16-20 February 2015 — Short-term Exchange of Pupils