National Parks - Comenius project

Teacher impressions

"As soon as we arrived to Salezjanskie Liceum in Wroclaw, the headmaster Jerzy Babiak met us, students were taken to the classroom. The first day started with greeting of the host school. It was presentation of the project and school, the headmaster’s speech and the reception with traditional Polish meals, which were organised by community of this school. Later students and teachers met each other doing various tasks. Students were involved into making posters of National parks in Europe. After that, students had a programme with families they lived during the meeting time, teachers had a wonderful tour in Wroclaw which was organised by Deputy Headmaster Peter Sicinski.

After that, the next day, students and teachers met at this school. Students had opportunity to present their posters. Later, the lecture ‘’Alien invasive species-special case Harmonia axyridis Pallas’’ was given by Ph.D Jacek Twardovski. It was incredible lecture about ladybirds so teachers and students enjoyed this meeting. Furthermore, we were given opportunity to present all parks of involved countries in this project. We presented National park of Aukštaitija, which is the nearest in our region. Moreover, we went to meet the city Mayor Rafal Dutkiewicz that day. It was unique opportunity to all teachers and students.

Third day of our visit started at school, because some students had to present their national parks as well. After that we were taken to excursion by bus. We went to National Park: Gory Stolowe. The headmaster Jerzy Babiak was very very good quide of this tour. We enjoyed hiking altogether. After hiking at this wonderful park we visited a peaceful and quiet Kudowa town. It was an amazing trip and in the evening it was one more fantastic thing. We were called to Multimedial Fountain Performance. The music, fountain and lasers at the same time. It was the spectacular event. Furthermore, teachers were invited to headmaster’s dinner, where we had opportunity to enjoy traditional Polish food.

In general, it was very busy and a little bit tiring week, but from our point of view it was interesting and useful for all of us: students and teachers. We all had opportunity to meet new friends, to visit wonderful city Wroclaw, to hike in the spectacular mountains, to try Polish food and feel friendly atmosphere at host school. Sending many thanks for this chance to Salezjanskie Liceum.

Minol�? Petronyt�? Kairien�? (Lithuania)

My impressions regarding visit to Wroclaw

I don’t know if I’m smart enough to sum up all of my thoughts about this visit into just a few sentences, but I’ll try.

It was my first visit to Poland, and I really want to come back. So, in my mind, Wroclaw represented every positive aspect of your whole country, from its people, environment to cultural heritage and education standards.

I met some wonderful and interesting people, who I hope I’ll see again.

Dubravka Štigli�?, school counselor/advisor from Zagreb (Croatia)

To begin with, I would like to say, that it was the first time I participated in Comenius project. I was involved by Minol�? Petronyt�? Kairien�?, the teacher of Lithuanian in our school.

First of all, it was amazing to come to Poland, Wroclaw in October. I have never seen Wroclav before. Moreover, this town is full of examples of culture and architecture.The town has got some universities, so it is full of young and free people. The atmosphere of this city was wonderful.

Secondly, I appreciate visiting the host school. The people work here, the student who study here. It was so interesting see this small and friendly community. Futhermore, I enjoy communicating with people from other countries who are involved to this project. It was opportunity to change our mind, opinion, and to speak in some foreign languages.

Thirdly, I enjoyed hiking on Saturday. It was fantastic, incredible event to hike in Gory Stolowe. I love nature, travelling so, it was a fantastic chance.

All in all, this event was important not only for me, for my students as well. I was happy I got a chance according to this Project.

Inga Subačien�?

Panev�???ys ‘Verden�?‘ basic school. (Lithuania)

The first meeting is always the hardest one – a bit tense, reserved, strange, a lot of people one knows only from e-mails…But all the pressure vanished at once since we met the Polish coordinator Magdalena, the host students and parents at the airport. It was like we are old friends. That was a warm greeting at that dark and rainy evening.

Poland charmed me once again not only with its natural and urban beauties but with the smiling, open-minded and very friendly people I met everywhere. This country has a great future with inhabitants like the modern Poles.

The host school surprised me at first as it took some time for me to understand why there are priests everywhere and what Salezian Order means and who is Don Bosco. Fortunately there is Google so I read a lot about all these. It was really something new and interesting for me as religion is not allowed in public schools in Bulgaria.

I am filled with admiration for your students – they showed such a good level of knowledge and attitude! And behind a good student stays a good teacher. Congratulations my Polish colleagues and friends!

Iliya Petkov, School Coordinator, (Bulgaria)

The meeting, held in your city and at your school from 26^th to 31^st October was an amazing experience. We were pleasantly surprised by your hospitality and your good organization. We had the opportunity even for a few days to meet with colleagues from other partner countries, with students from different groups and even with your kind host students’ families. All of them are very nice and helpful. During this short period we were able to look a lot of things of your great city and feel the incredible atmosphere and tranquility of this city, and, of course, to meet Polish hospitality, to meet with Polish traditions and dishes. We highly appreciate the work of your team – your headmaster, the coordinator of the project – Magdalena, teachers, students and parents. I think the contacts established at this meeting are a very good start for a two year long-term cooperation and friendship. Thank you!

Ivelina Dusova, Assistand Headmistress, (Bulgaria)

The meeting in Wroclaw was very efficient. Meeting the other schools’ teachers was wonderful because it was real not fake—we shook hands, kissed each others and talked band so on.

This project would increase the international collaboration for partner countries and creates the opportunity of communication between us. Also we are going to be aware of the national beauties in the partner countires.

We were fascinated by the National Park that we visited during the event. Especially , the huge rocks separated through the forest and the trees holding these rocks holding these rocks were very wonderful.

We hope to meet with most of you in the coming event.

Gökçen Erdo�?an, Ali Demir, Nigar Demiröz (Turkey)

I didn't know the existance of such a kind of project in my school. I was very amused to learn about it and take a part in it. Visiting a national park is a wonderful experience. For our students, the project reached the goal we prefixed: discovering other countries' nature, enviroment and culture, and learn to express their differences through the international english. The first step has been done, knowing each other in the wonderful Poland. I look forward for visiting the other countries and hosting my colleagues and their students also!

Stefano Lusuardi, (Italy)