Newsletter 2 by Luís Gonçalves

NEWSLETTER 2

First short-term exchange of group of pupils (16-20 February 2015) Short-term joint staff training (9-13 March 2015)

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

Contents Opening Ceremony First Exchange Summary What We Did? Logo Contest Pictures Students’ Expressions What’s Next?

MARCH 2015

My respectable teacher friends, our valuable guests and dearest students, We have gathered here within the context of the Project named “FAMILY, COMMUNITY, SCHOOL: The Troika of My Values!” that has multiple purposes such as encouraging family, school and society values amongst students, developing useful effects on the field of family, society and school values, also supported by Turkish National Agency. Notably the coordinator country, Portugal, we would like to state that we are very happy to host you, precious guests coming from Greece, Slovenia, Romania, Belgium and Austria in the most beautiful city of Turkey, İstanbul and under the roof of Kartal Yuksel İlhan Alanyalı Science High School. I do believe with all my heart that this Project will enable both students and the countries to get to know one another and their cultural values closely and will create a significant awareness as to family, society and school values. I have the excitement of taking the first step of the two year long process right here, with you. The persistence of these kinds of projects increasing day by day among the countries will build indestructible heart bridges. I would like to thank everyone each who has efforts on this unifying Project and say “Welcome to İstanbul and our beautiful school.”

Muammer Okumuş Headmaster Yüksel-İlhan Alanyalı Science High School

Dear all: One year ago, I had the possibility to witness the kindness of the Turkish people in the person of our friend Köksal. Thanks to a common friend that put us in contact we had the possibility of sharing some common concerns about education. With a distance of more than 3000 km, we noticed that some of them were similar. How can we learn from each other? The Erasmus+ Programme allows schools to keep in touch, to develop a common project with common purposes. Two years ago, in a Seminar in Antalia, me, Anja, Sakis and Tjasa we shared a working week about cultural exchanges. After a first contact we all agree that we would work together. But we thought that we needed a different vision. Thanks to new technologies, we manage to find our partners from Belgium (Diane) and from Romania (Laura). The team was completed. It was the time to design the project. The Spanish philosopher Ortega y Gasset once said that a man is him and his circumstances. When we are born, the values are not coming with us. Our family first, the community which we belong then and finally, the school, this three pillars prepare us for live. How does this occurs? Do we all have conscience that a gesture, an attitude teaches more than a thousand words? This is our challenge. To engage people, in order to help them to realize that we must all teach by our example of live. But this project is not for the teachers. This is for you, dear students. In this project, we want you to think about how your values have been internalize. What can you share with us, about the way you were thought to choose the good, the right, instead of the wrong? What can we learn from you? I think we are going to have two excellent school years, and we are going to learn a lot from each other. As coordinator of the project, I would like to thank all the partners for the excellent involvement, all the student for their energy and commitment, and to this school that hosted the first pupils exchange of the project using such an high standard of quality and for whom I ask a great applause. Tesekkur Ederim. Luis Gonçalves Project Coordinator

This first mobility story starts in the city many of us dreamed we would one day visit -Istanbul - where Europe and Asia meet, where cultures and civilizations meet, seven countries got together: 15 students and 15 teachers sharing experience, knowledge, culture, language. Between 15th and 21st February, the YÜKSEL-ILHAN ALANYALİ SCİENCE HİGH SCHOOL gave the start to the ERASMUS+ school project entitled “FAMİLY, COMMUNİTY AND SCHOOL: THE TROYKA OF MY VALUES!”, being the host for this first mobility. On the morning of the first day, Muammer Okumuş, the Headmaster of the school, along with teachers, students and staff welcomed the delegations of the seven countries: Turkey, Austria, Belgium, Romania and Slovenia (2 teachers and 2students each) and Portugal, (project coordinator, 2 teachers and 3 students). The energetic ice breakers that followed were a wonderful way to make everyone feel at home in that very first morning. And everyone did! By lunch time we felt we had known each other for years. Also on the first day, and besides the visit to the premises of the school, all delegations attended the first workshop where they had the opportunity to present their schools and their countries based on the work made by the students ( PPTs, videos, ...) The second day was dedicated to learning Turkish while discovering the city of Istanbul, and its most famous monuments and places of interest – Hagia Sophia Museum, Sultan Ahmet Mosque, The Basilica Cistern, the Grand Bazar and the Spice Bazar. But there was an unexpected surprise for us! Snow, heavy snow made the city even more beautiful and unforgettable to our eyes! Although every day and every activity had been carefully planned in advance, the weather forced the Turkish team to prove its capacity to adjust and adapt, made the welcoming team of teachers and students work even harder so that the programme could be continued without great loss. All schools had to be closed due to weather conditions but that was no excuse not to work. In an alternative space, overlooking the Bosphorus, all the project’s logos were officially presented and the best one chosen. The Romanian team was congratulated. It was also time to prepare the project short term staff training event in Portugal as well as the next mobilities: all delegations cooperated actively discussing project activities and further details to allow this project to reach its goals. It was time to cross the Bosphrus by ferry and to continue discovering the city and getting in touch with its people. Galata Tower was waiting for us and so was a ride on an antique tram, Istiklal Street and Ortaköy and Taksim Squares. Delightful! Back at school it was time to discover the Art of Ebru in a carefully planned workshop that allowed everyone to learn and to actually make ART. It was also time for students to have the opportunity to express “Values through Literature and History”. It made us know more about each country and the people who contributed to make our world a better place. It was time to become astonished with the Turkish presentation of the dance: Whirling Dervishes. Unforgettable! And all of a sudden it was almost time to say goodbye! The students gathered in groups to create and to present different posters reflecting this week and what it had meant to them. Certificates were handed out in a beautiful ceremony and, last but not least, a farewell dinner party where everybody was invited to wear and show the tradicional clothes from each coutry and to join in the tradicional dances. And the truth is we are all exquisite dancers, aren’t we? Five days we had to learn about each other. Five days to increase our respect for each other and for our diversity. In common we have the will not only to face the future together, but to prepare a better future for our students, for our sons and daughters, for our mothers and fathers, for ourselves, creating a significant awareness to family, society and school values. The words of the hosting school´s Headmaster proved to be absolutely true: “This project will build indestructible heart bridges”! This week isn´t over: it will definitely stay in our hearts forever. Thank you Turkey!

Opening Ceremony Ice Breakers Presentation of the participants Choosing The Project Logo Discovering The City Values Through Literature Values Through History Art of Ebru Whirling Dervishes Poster of Project

Romania (The winner of the logo contest)

Slovenia

Portugal

Turkey

Greece

Austria

Belgium

2nd Project meeting: Agrupamento de Escolas Miranda do Corvo, Portugal, 13-17 March 2015 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Short-term join + Staff training event