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.