7th Comenius The 4ENs Conference in Spain, Lepe

February 9th-13th was the time for our second last meeting in this project and this time it was wonderful Spain who got to host us. Weather was definitely warmer than in Finland and we enjoyed the spring colours and the wonderful blue sea that we cannot see in Finland at the moment as it's frozen. We felt really comfortable and welcomed in Spain and enjoyed the week immensely, learning a lot of new things, once again, about the four elements of nature. Here you can have a look what kind of experiences we had during the conference week:) Our students Niilo and Mikko gave thorough and informative presentation in the Lepe Theater hall of "Snow". Enjoy :)

7th International Comenius Conference in Lepe, Spain

From the 9 to the 13 of February we lived another fantastic Comenius adventure in

 southern Spain!

According to the invitation received last school year, sent by the former Comenius Spanish Coordinator, we would meet for another approach to the 4 ENs of Nature and Their Effect in Our Lives, in Lepe, Spain, in the beginning of February.

The programme was then devised by the current Comenius Coordinator, who put all his efforts to make it unique again! And he succeeded!

So eight Portuguese participants took part: the school  director, José Novais, Clementina Campelo, teacher of Physical Education, me as the Coordinator and teacher of English, and five students - 1 year 12 - girl studying Science and Technology and 4 students registered in year 10 of Economy and Science and Technology, being 3 boys and 2 girls total.

The Spanish school was ready to welcome us, full of interesting decoration related to the topic which joined us together, and to the eight countries that belong to the partnership. Beautiful posters and images! Congratulations! We could even heard a Spanish song sung by a very talented Spanish student in a Music lesson!

We toured the school and were offered the traditional Spanish breakfast at the school cafeteria: the hot chocolate, "churros" and toasts were delicious!:):)

The students were very excited about everyday activities, eager to take part in every one of them.



Spanish Lepe was visited and toured around on a sunny day, with its iron decorated windows and patios, and a beautiful lake in "Plaza Maior".

The Comenius presentations on the 4ENs were held in the Town Hall, where the school Director and Town Education Representative gave a speech and let us know about their commitment to make this international event enriching and unforgettable. The Portuguese delegation presented a Prezi work on "Thermal Waters of Portugal" ;at the end of the presentation pencil drawings, made by our Year 12 Arts students on the same theme - Water , were offered to every school Coordinator. In fact, the drawings represented a GLASS OF WATER, reminding everyone of the vital essence of this simple transparent liquid, which also cures diseases and betters conditions.

The delegations met in a Work Meeting to prepare the next and last International Conference in Gairloch, Scotland, from 18 to 24 April, to analyse what has been done, to improve outcomes already accomplished, and to prepare the last documents.

In the evening we could taste the best foods and drinks of the region, products of the SUN / FIRE, WATER, AIR and EARTH´s Human Beings´devotion for their LAND. The Spanish dances - flamenco - were enticing and enchanting with their unique rythm and passion.

A second country was visited on the second day: Portugal. Vila Real de Sto António, a neighbouring town, gave the chance to all the Comenius participants to breath a bit of the Portuguese atmosphere with its marina - AIR, WATER, cafés, foods and drinks - FIRE, shops and buildings- EARTH. A "very typical" Algarve sweet was tasted - "Dom Rodrigo", and the story behind its creation was published too!

Comenius teachers and students also visited a Fruit Factory in the Huelva region, having the chance to observe inside how the tasty fruits are prepared for us to enjoy! We were reminded about the importance of the southern SUN essential to make the delicious strawberries, oranges, blueberries and raspberies so colourful and juicy!

The Element WATER was not forgotten either: we could appreciate the wonders of nature inside EARTH in the caves of Aracena! What a view!
 Outside, on our way back, we could also appreciate an enormous quarry with a lake! We took the chance to photograph our group of coordinators from 8 countries for a memoy of very good times and relationships!:)

On the beach in La Antilla, and in the "Playa de La Casita Azul", we enjoyed our meal, tenderly prepared by the Spanish families who hosted our students, and enjoyed the sights of the ocean and the long stripes of sand, where games were played.

The EARTH was also appreciated from another perspective, when the third country was visited: Gibraltar, a piece of The UK in the south of Europe! The ROCK, the buildings, the British heroes and monuments and sculptures, praising brave deeds of the past, could be admired in this incredible short journey to Britain!

One of the most beautiful and appealing Spanish cities offered us some of the best moments: Seville. Its cathedral, streets, buildings, foods and drinks, monuments, parks and colours were breathtaking! Ana, the vice director and teacher of History, guided us through the city and told us amazing stories about the monuments and personalities! Thank you Ana for your time and kindness!

                                 

 

In the last evening, in Lepe, we were incredibly lucky to enjoy some Carnival entertainment moments in "El Camino", with a unique musical group - "Mi Alma" ! What best to offer us relaxing funny and cheerful moments? We laughed a lot and cheered along with them! A night to remember!

On the very last day the delegations could visit the Bellas Artes Museum in Seville, where important painters have their paintings displayed, as is the case of El Greco, Velasquez or Murillo. Everyone had the chance to learn or recall Art movements from the past till now, and get involved in beauty and talent!

The time to say goodbye came, but we wished we could stay longer! See you next April dear friends!

                 

After this fantastic meeting in Spain all the students´evaluations couldn´t be better!Here they are: Hugo,  Marta, João Vitor, Fábio and Mariana´s! The teachers also sent their feedback saying THANK YOU for every moment!

Comenius teachers´s Meeting in Porto, Portugal - January 2015

In January, before the 7th Conference in Lepe, Spain, the Portuguese teachers involved in the work development related to the 4 Elements of Nature and their Effect on Our Life, met, to make the balance of the first term activities and analyse the activities ahead, as well as the mobilities accomplished and the future ones. Problems found in integrating the students´works with each one´s syllabus were also discussed 

Here we are: teachers of Physical Education. Geography, Sociology, English and Economy, from left to right.

Clementina Campelo is going to take part in the next Conference in Spain, Teresa Guedes took part in the 5th Conference in Greece and the two teachers - Ana Paula Marques and Lucinda Coelho would love to take part in the last Conference in Scotland if the budget will allow it...

José Sinde, the Arts teacher who is very much interested in taking part in the project too, hasn´t got the possibility to travel, but will share his students´productions willingly!

The 6th Conference Week - Winter Wonders in Finland :)

We had a great meeting, once again, and this time it was our turn to organize the conference week at Utajärvi, Finland. We spent the first day at school, giving presentations and having an official meeting (whilst students got to bake some Finnish joulutorttu ;)) and then in the evening we had a PreChristmas (Pikkujoulut) with the whole of upper secondary school. It was a great night and got everyone in the Christmas spirit:) On Tuesday we experienced different winter activities at Rokua Geopark and learned about the Geopark area. The guests also got to enjoy the warm waters of the spa. On Wednesday we drove all the way to Rovaniemi to meet, who other than, the Santa Claus himself. He was happy to see us and definitely didn't forget to come and greet all of us at Christmas as he could clearly see how well-behaved we all are! <3 On Thursday then we took a visit to Koivikko farm at Muhos to see how a modern cow farm functions and then we went on a tour around Oulu. We visited the frozen seeside in Nallikari and then spent some time at the city centre. It was so lovely to have you all here as quests and we learned so much about each other's cultures and how the 4 elements affect our lives:)

Finland's experiences during the 5th conference week in Turkey.

The 5th Comenius The4ENs Conference was held in lovely Turkey. Our students gave a presentation on the element of fire. Enjoy:) Here you can relive our experiences through the photos:)

Portuguese delegation participation on the 6th International Comenius Conference in Utajarven Lukio, Finland

 5-12 December 2014

Finnish, Portuguese, Turkish, Greek and Polish students

Scottish , Finnish, Portuguese and Polish coordinators with the Finnish school Headmaster

After weeks of preparation through contacts via e-mail, among all the partner coordinators, all the seven Comenius delegations met in Oulu to start living the Finnish Comenius experience in the most emblematic season of the year to see the Earth in white: Winter! First we landed in Helsinqui where we could see the monuments, landscape, traditional foods and customs. Apart from the cold and rain on the first day we could appreciate its beauty!

In the Land of the thousand Lakes we could witness the different stages of Water and enjoy it the most we could! The programme was diverse and very rich in cultural and social terms, and so all the participants got involved enthusiastically either at school - Utajarven Lukio-, out in the forest or at the various places we were taken into, such as the city of Oulu, Oulu Vocational School - KoRoNa Milk Factory, Rokua Geopark or Rovaniemi with its beautiful magic place!

Crossing the Artic Circle!

We dashed through the snow in a one reindeer open sleigh...and we experienced what it feels like!:)

Some of the highest points were the crossing of the Article Circle, the meeting with Santa and the reindeer sleigh ride! They all belong to our childhood imagination having the special kind of magic that triggers the best in every human being...and it did in every one of us: dreams were fulfilled!

At school our presentation on the 4ENs focused the WATER in the form of lakes in Portugal, and Leonardo Rodrigues was the student of class 12 SE (Socio economics studies) selected to do it. This was his first trip abroad and his very first flight so this meeting meant a lot especially for him! An exhibition with WATERcolours, produced by students of Arts of class 12AV, under the guidance of José Sinde, the Arts teacher, was also displayed at the entrance of the Finnish school auditorium with the purposes of cherishing this Element in its various foms, impressing all the participants with its beauty and essence and being taken to every school of the partnership, according to every coordinator´s choice. A WATER notebook was created with the images of all the watercolours and pencil drawings and offered to every school coordinator,too. The same students produced other WATER landscapes drawings and paintings with wax and charcoal pencils.

The Finnish students and teachers presented us with a warm Christmas atmosphere with sketches, songs, cheerful moments and even presents...:)

The school organised a very exciting Christmas dinner where we were served the typical foods and drinks of Finland by elves!

It was an unforgetable experience and thanking all the staff, students, families and specially Anu is not enough to express the joy and friendship we felt.:)

The working meeting took place to analyse the activities realised and plan the ones ahead, particularly the two future International Meetings in Spain and Scotland. All the participants informed these two coordinators of their travelling delegations so that the programme could be set on foot.

At the very end of the week we had the goodbye dinner offered by the Finnish host school where the Headmaster and the local Education Representative toasted to our meeting and wished a lasting contact beteween our schools.

Leonardo Rodrigues´evaluation was sent to the Finnish coordinator expressing his feelings for the fantastic experience! His photo album can also be seen with some of the best moments. The coordinator´s grateful evaluation can also be read.

Research works and presentations continue to be realised in our school, in strict connection to the syllabus of the different subjects involved, analysing how Man has been managing the Elements of Nature on the different parts of Earth.