Strategy- Final Version

Strategy For Steady European Development of My School

Financed by European Lifelong Learning Programme Comenius Multilateral Project “ Steady European Development of My School- Past, Present and Future” Partner Schools: SOU”Bratia Petar I Ivan Kanazirevi”-Razlog,BULGARIA INSTIUTO DE ENSEÑANZA SECUNDARIA POMPEU FABRA”Martorell, SPAIN LICEO CLASSICO SCIENTIFICO “EUCLIDE”-Cagliari, ITALY Klaipėdos Varpo” vidurinė mokykla”- LITHUANIA LYCEE RAOUL FOLLEREAU”-Belfort, FRANCE

CONTENTS I. Introduction. II. Results from the surveys conducted in the different school partners. III. Results from the Students’ Contest-The School of My Dreams. IV. Our View for the Strategy for Steady School Development. V. Conclusion.

Project Meeting in Belfort,France 2

I. Introduction The main aim of this partnership was to give all partner schools an opportunity to observe and compare the different school systems in five European countries. We prepared our strategy taking in mind the efforts that schools are doing in order to get the best from their organizations and school human resources. We also had in mind the idea of conducting surveys among pupils in different countries in order to highlight differences and similarities. Some schools managed to collect school data from the last 20 years, the others focused on more recent elements, which allowed us to prepare diagrams which show the “Steady European Development of My School- from past to present and future”. We also have tried to have formal meetings with parents and representatives of the school authorities. They expressed their views and perspectives for the school development.

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II. Results from the Surveys conducted in the partner schools SOU”Bratia Petar I Ivan Kanazirevi”-Secondary School Razlog, BULGARIA

1).Diagram showing the steady school development from past to present and future In order to show the steady development of our school , both teachers and students decided to consider as an important criterion the number of successful school leavers over a period of time. The students and the teachers involved in the project collected some school data concerning the number of successful school leavers. We investigated the period of twenty years – from 1978 to 2008. The results are shown in the diagram below. We think that the results are very good despite the fact that there was a decline in the birth rate from 1993 to 2003 in Bulgaria.

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Number of students finishing the school 120 110

100 90

87

90 85 80

80

83

60

Number of students finishing the school

40

20

0 years

1978

1983

1988

1993

1998

2003

2008

2). Results from the Survey conducted among

the students QUESTIONS ABOUT THE EXCHANGE PROGRAMME 1. Have you ever taken part into an exchange programme ? Yes 6 19% No 25 81% Total 31 100% 2. If yes, did you like it? Yes 6 100% No 0 0% Total 6 100% 4. WHY do you want to be an exchange student? a) to improve my language skills 27 87% b) to discover a new culture 18 58% 5

c) to make friends 16 d) for tourism 8 e) to get away from my family Other, please specify (2 words) 0

52% 26% 1 3% 0%

5. Have you got any other experience living away from home ? Yes 0 0% No 31 100% Total 31 100% 6. How would you feel about sharing a room with a child of the family ? Comfortable 25 81% Don't mind 6 19% Not comfortable 0 0% 7. Do you have any allergies ? Yes 0 0% No 30 100% Total 30 100% 10. Level of language. Your level in READING is : Excellent 16 53% Good 14 47% Fair 0 0% Poor 0 0% 11. Level of language Your level in WRITTING is Excellent 2 6% Good 29 94% Fair 0 0% Poor 0 0% 12. Level of language Your level in SPEAKING Excellent 0 0% Good 31 100% Fair 0 0% Poor 0 0% 13. Do you mind if your host is of a different gender? Yes 4 13% No 27 87% Total 31 100%

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Project Meeting in Razlog/ Bulgaria

QUESTIONS ABOUT DEVELOPMENT OF MY SCHOOL 1. Do you think that your school is being gradually developed positively? A) Yes B) No C) I don’t know Results: 45% -yes 25%-no 30%- I don’t know 2. Do you know some successful people who have fished their education at your school? A). Yes B). No C). I don’t know Results: 25%- yes 12%- no 60%- I don’t know 3. Do you think that there is a positive learning atmosphere at your school? A). Yes B). No C). I don’t know 7

Results: 26%- yes 60%- no 14%- I don’t know 4. Do you think that there is a school aggression at your school? A). Yes B). No C). I don’t know Results: 60%- yes 40%-no 5. Have you been bullied by someone at your school? A). Yes B). No C). I don’t know Results: 37%-yes 63%-no 6. Do you think that the relationships among your classmates are appropriate? A). Yes B). No C). To some extent D). I don’t know Results: 40%- To some extent 20%- No 10%- Yes 30%- I don’t know 7. Do you think that the relationships among teachers and students are appropriate? A). Yes B) No C). I don’t know Results: 60%-Yes 20%- No 20%- I don’t know 8. Do you think that the school building and school facilities are modern and suitable for your education? A). Yes B). No C). I don’t know Results: 65%- Yes 35%- No 9. Do you think that the parents are involved in the school management? A). Yes B). No C). I don’t know 8

Results: 35%- Yes 25%- No 40%- I don’t know 10. What do you want to be improved at your school? ( More than one answer is possible) A). School management B). School discipline C). School programme D). All of the above Results: 30%- School discipline 25%- School programme 45%- All of the above

“LYCEE RAOUL FOLLEREAU”-Belfort, FRANCE We did the survey at the three different levels of our school (total number: 120 pupils) -Lower level: classe de Seconde (15-16 years old) (33 pupils) -Intermediate level: classe de Première (16-17 years old) (63 pupils) -Higher level: classe de Terminale (17-18 years old) (24 pupils) 1. Do you think that your school is being gradually developed positively? A) Yes : 40 (33%) B) No : 41 (34%) C) I don’t know : 39 (33%) 2. Do you know any successful people who have finished their education at your school? A). Yes : 38 (32%) B). No : 82 (68%) 3. Do you think that there is a positive learning atmosphere at your school? A). Yes : 35 (30%) B). No : 18 (15%) C). It depends on the lessons: 66 (55%) 4. Do you think that there is any bullying at your school? A). Yes : 58 (49%) B). No : 61 (51%)

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5. Have you ever been bullied by someone at your school? A). Yes : 20 (17%) B). No : 100 (83%) 6. Do you think that the relationships among your classmates are friendly? A). Yes : 66 (55%) B). No: 7 (6%) C). To some extent : 47 (39%) 7. Do you think that the relationships between teachers and students are satisfying? A). Yes : 43 (36%) B) No : 9 (8%) C- It depends on the teacher: 67 (56%)

8. Do you think that the school building and school facilities are modern and suitable for your education? A). Yes : 20 (17%) B). No : 51 (43%) C). I don’t know : 48 (40%) 9. Do you think that the parents are enough involved in the school management? A). Yes : 59 (49%) B). No : 61 (51%) 10. What do you want to be improved at your school? ( More than one answer is possible) A). School management : 76 (62%) B). School discipline: 27 (22%) C) School programs: 22 (18%) D). Time-table: 22 (18%)

INSTIUTO DE ENSEÑANZA SECUNDARIA POMPEU FABRA”- Martorell, SPAIN

1. Do you think that your school is being gradually developed positively? A) Yes 32 B) No 5 C) I don’t know 18

2. Do you know some successful people who have fished their education at your school? A). Yes 40 B). No 8 C). I don’t know 7 3. Do you think that there is a positive learning atmosphere at your school? A). Yes 35 B). No 9 C). I don’t know 12 10

4. Do you think that there is a school aggression at your school? A). Yes 29 B). No 5 C). I don’t know 21

5. Have you been bullied by someone at your school? A). Yes 43 B). No 21 C). I don’t know 6

6. Do you think that the relationships among your classmates are appropriate? A). Yes 48 B). No 4 C). To some extent 3 D). I don’t know 1

7. Do you think that the relationships among teachers and students are appropriate? A). Yes 46 B) No 4 C). I don’t know 5 8. Do you think that the school building and school facilities are modern and suitable for your education? A). Yes 12 B). No 19 C). I don’t know 11

9. Do you think that the parents are involved in the school management? A). Yes 7 B). No 26 C). I don’t know 22 10. What do you want to be improved at your school? ( More than one answer is possible) A). School management 8 B). School discipline 10 C). School programme 21 D). All of the above 22 11

Project Meeting in Martorell/Spain LICEO CLASSICO SCIENTIFICO “EUCLIDE”-Cagliari, ITALY QUESTIONS ABOUT DEVELOPMENT OF MY SCHOOL 1. Do you think that your school is being gradually developed positively? A) Yes B) No C) I don’t know Results: 67% -yes 17%-no 16%- I don’t know

2. Do you know some successful people who have fished their education at your school? A). Yes B). No C). I don’t know Results: 1%- yes 94%- no 5%- I don’t know

3. Do you think that there is a positive learning atmosphere at your school? A). Yes B). No

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C). I don’t know Results: 76%- yes 11%- no 13%- I don’t know

4. Do you think that there is a school aggression at your school? A). Yes B). No C). I don’t know Results: 21%- yes 76%-no 3%- I don’t know

5. Have you been bullied by someone at your school? A). Yes B). No C). I don’t know Results: 4%-yes 89%-no 7%- I don’t know

6. Do you think that the relationships among your classmates are appropriate? A). Yes B). No C). To some extent D). I don’t know Results: 48%- To some extent 13%- No 30%- Yes 9%- I don’t know

7. Do you think that the relationships among teachers and students are appropriate? A). Yes B) No C). I don’t know Results: 63%-Yes 24%- No 13%- I don’t know

8. Do you think that the school building and school facilities are modern and suitable for your education? A). Yes B). No C). I don’t know Results: 47%- Yes 31%- No 22%- I don’t know

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9. Do you think that the parents are involved in the school management? A). Yes B). No C). I don’t know Results: 26%- Yes 38%- No 36%- I don’t know

10. What do you want to be improved at your school? ( More than one answer is possible) A). School management B). School discipline C). School programme D). All of the above Results: 31%- School management 6%- School discipline 33%- School programme 30%- All of the above

Teachers and Students at the Project Meeting in Cagliari/Italy

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Having Fun Together Klaipėdos Varpo” vidurinė mokykla”- LITHUANIA 1989 - 2009 The History of School The school was founded in 1989. On the 1st of September nearly 650 junior students and 54 teachers gathered in the school yard. Honorable guests participated in the opening ceremony: the Mayor of Klaipėda city, guests from Klaipėda Municipality and other guests. In 1999 the Association of students’ parents was established and takes part in school’s life and financially supports it. In 2004 students Council of 9-12th forms was formed. 2009 School‘s twentieth jubilee was celebrated. The following diagram showsNum theber number of students from the opening of school till today. of students from 1989 - 2009 number of students

1000 800

850

900 750

650

670

600 400 200 0 1989

1994

1999 year

2004

2009

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Vision Klaipėda „Varpas“gymnasium is modern, safe public school open and accessible to all citizens of democratic society, caring and cherishing cultural heritage. Our school provides basic knowledge, enables students to adapt study and live in the changing world. The school is a modern building giving students excellent education and upbringing with update methods of teaching.

School Today 670 students attend our school and there are 65 teachers: 4 expert teachers, 23 methodologist teachers, 32 senior teachers and 6 teachers. Four foreign languages are taught at school. We have 2 modern computer classes, 2 interactive boards, multimedia, video and audio technique. In-service, seminars, conferences, advanced qualification courses for teachers are held at school.

School’s activities School has also a wide range of optional groups, societies. Students may choose arts, literary societies, developing languages, orienting, traffic rules circles, economics, drama, dance, young librarian groups, chorus, instrumental ensemble company and Debate and European clubs. A summer camp is organized for students. Annually school participates in various inter-school, national and international projects. A SUR VEY70 ON BEHAVI OUR AT SC HO OL

Do you bel ieve the re is a 60 goo d beha viou r in ou r schoo l? NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN SURVEY

60 50

40 40 30 20 10

16

0 YES

NO

In your cla ss, Do you think

teache rs are we ll r es pect ed ?

90

NUMBER OF STUDENTS

80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 YES

Ar e students r es pect ful to each othe

NO

r?

NUMBER OF STUDENTS

70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0

60

NUMBER OF STUDENTS

NUMBER OF STUDENTS

70

60

YES

50

Ar e50th 40 er e fre qu ent con fl icts in your schoo 40

NO

l?

30

30 20 10 0

20 10

17

0 YES YES

NO

NO

What metho ds would you suggest in or

de r to imp rove beha vi our at scho ol?

50 NUMBER OF STUDENTS

45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 few er lessons per day

stricter rules at school

few er number of studetns per class

don't know

QUESTIONS ABOUT DEVELOPMENT OF MY SCHOOL (100 students have been interviewed) 1. Do you think that your school is being gradually developed positively? A) Yes B) No C) I don’t know Results: 65% -yes 20%-no 15%- I don’t know 2. Do you know some successful people who have fished their education at your school? A). Yes B). No C). I don’t know Results: 12%- yes 55%- no 33%- I don’t know 18

3. Do you think that there is a positive learning atmosphere at your school? A). Yes B). No C). I don’t know Results: 75%- yes 15%- no 10%- I don’t know 4. Do you think that there is a school aggression at your school? A). Yes B). No C). I don’t know Results: 55%- yes 45%-no 5. Have you been bullied by someone at your school? A). Yes B). No C). I don’t know Results: 28%-yes 72%-no 6. Do you think that the relationships among your classmates are appropriate? A). Yes B). No C). To some extent D). I don’t know Results: 25%- To some extent 15%- No 45%- Yes 15%- I don’t know 7. Do you think that the relationships among teachers and students are appropriate? A). Yes B) No C). I don’t know Results: 63%-Yes 35%- No 2%- I don’t know 8. Do you think that the school building and school facilities are modern and suitable for your education? A). Yes B). No C). I don’t know Results: 58%- Yes 42%- No 19

9. Do you think that the parents are involved in the school management? A). Yes B). No Results: 28%- Yes 72%- No 10. What do you want to be improved at your school? ( More than one answer is possible) A). School management B). School discipline C). School programme D). All of the above Results: 46%- School discipline 15%- School programme 12 % - School management 27%- All of the above

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE EXCHANGE PROGRAMME (100 students have been interviewed) 1. Have you ever taken part into an exchange programme ? Yes 15 No 85 2. If yes, did you like it? Yes 12 No 0 4. WHY do you want to be an exchange student? a) to improve my language skills 95 b) to discover a new culture 65 c) to make friends 38 d) for tourism 47 e) to get away from my family 8 Other, please specify (2 words) 0 5. Have you got any other experience living away from home ? Yes 9 No 91 6. How would you feel about sharing a room with a child of the family ? Comfortable 25 20

Don't mind 6 Not comfortable 0 7. Do you have any allergies ? Yes 2 No 75 Don’t know 9 10. Level of language. Your level in READING is : Excellent 27 Good 54 Fair 19 Poor 0 11. Level of language Your level in WRITTING is Excellent 23 Good 51 Fair 26 Poor 0 12. Level of language Your level in SPEAKING Excellent 23 Good 56 Fair 21 Poor 0 13. Do you mind if your host is of a different gender? Yes 10 No 39 Don’t know 51

III. Results from the Students’ Contest-The School of My Dreams. 1.Poster “ The School of My Dreams” from Lithuanian Partner School:

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2. Art Work Winner from Spanish Partner School

3. The Students Compositions Winners Compositions from the Bulgarian Partner School The school of my dreams Is it possible now after almost eleven years of studying to imagine a school better than the one I used to stay and study? It’s quite difficult 22

but rather interesting and challenging. Especially if you want to be a teacher one day! The school – it’s like a second home to those whose home is like the hell on the heaven. And for those whose home is a paradise. It should be first of all cosy and comfortable. The teachers- friendly and helpful but strict though. And the most important thing, in my school the classes won’t start at eight o’clock or earlier. They will start at ten o’clock and finish at five o’clock pm. The students will prepare their homework at school. The school of my dreams isn’t placed in a city or town, it’s far away , perhaps in a forest. And students will have the opportunity to stay away from home for a few months. Let’s take into consideration the fact that after graduating they’ll be grown-up personalities. There will be a career adviser at school. And the parents won’t be worried about their children’ first job. The discipline is one of the most important things at a school. There will non-stop safe insurance for the children. So they’ll be calm about their kids. Of course the parent will be able to communicate with the children through the internet. Computers and anything will be insured for the kids. English language and other Western languages will be studied in my school. As well as computers and anything practical and useful in life, in the daily routines. The schedule will be not very busy and impossible to get over. Both children and students will be at ease to do anything they want but everything will be limited to some extent. And let me mention, there will be compulsory sports exercises and sports facilities will be provided: fitness hall, stadium and gym. It’s important for young people to stay fit. The food will be healthy. The students will be encouraged to take part in different dance classes. There will be theatre and movie evenings. Disco nights, of course. We’ll be working with young people anyway… Don’t misunderstand me but we should be realistic. It’s not possible to study or teach in such place. Never mind, aren’t we allowed to dream? Sometimes it seems difficult to make dreams come true. It’s like to travel around the world in a beautiful balloon! It’s not just the usual heartbreaking closing. It is the approach of the teachers in the school. Let the children fly away on the wings of their dreams! Written by Gergana Berova , XII grade, Bulgaria

The School of My Dreams 23

Education is an important part of a human’s life. It builds up our culture and improves our skills. Learning about the world around us, gives us vital information which helps people form their individuality. That is the reason why we all want the place where we study to be a wonderful one. It is supposed to be, not only a building we have to attend, but a place where people can find themselves and realize what their interests and dreams are. The school of my dreams is the one where everyone will be responsible for his actions. The thing that guarantees someone’s success is responsibility. Therefore, it should be acquired as a virtue at the early years of children’s life. In order to achieve this, the director of the school will be obliged to impose effective discipline. A school with an excellent reputation has to create some new ways to attract students from everywhere. It can be achieved by including various activities in the ordinary school scheme. Each of them could choose what kind of sport to train during the physical education classes. What is vital for the future success of students is their good practice. That is why the school must provide fully equipped Laboratories where students will be able to use their sense perception for memorizing all the things they study about, not just learn the lessons by heart. In order to support children and teenagers to be creative, the school staff could establish some groups where young people will be allowed to develop their abilities like dancing, acting, singing, drawing or whatever else they wish. As a conclusion, I would say that the essential aim of the school where I would like to go is to let the future generations find the best way to become what they have been dreaming of.

Written by: Maria Dimitrova XII grade, Bulgaria

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Compositions from the Lithuanian Partner School My Future School I have been attending “Varpas” gymnasium for more than 11 years now and I have never regretted it. I saw my school change a lot and I am sure that in the future it will change even more. Firstly, I think the exterior will be renovated soon. I heard there might be a fence around the school because it would mark the territory of the school precisely. Furthermore, the windows and doors will be changed soon. Hopefully, someone will decide to plant more trees and flowers around the school, too. In my opinion, more benches outside would be an extremely great idea as everyone wants to spend the breaks outside when the weather is good. In addition, I think that every student will have an electronic school card and it will have to be used to enter and leave the school. The information about it could be seen in each computer at school. That would make the job of marking who has missed the lessons or skipped school easier for teachers. Although the interior of our school is quite cosy already, some things should be changed to make it even cosier and comfortable. First of all, I think in the future the walls will be pained more colorfully and there will be more modern lamps, so that it is brighter. The authorities of the school have also said that there should be a place with sofas and chairs to rest during breaks, so I am sure that will happen soon, too. I would say that that my school will be changed by modern technology in the future. I’m sure the teachers and students will have new computers in every classroom as well as projectors and other digital appliances that will make the lessons and the teaching process easier and more interesting. Maybe in the future the students will be able choose whether they want to go to school every day or whether they want to show up at school every Monday and get a plan for the week of what should be studied. During the week the students could contact teachers using the internet or telephone if they needed help. Then on Friday everyone would have tests to check how well they learned everything. Of course, no one would force a student to study at school or to study at home – he or she would be able to choose. I think that this would make school less stressful for some people. There are other ways of making school less stressful though. The main thing is to improve the relationships between teachers and students. Teachers become more and more professional as years go by, they learn new methods and get along better with students, so I have no doubt that in the future the level of teaching will improve even more. Providing better education, understanding and trust will eventually make a very pleasant atmosphere for learning and teaching new things. Personally, I think that “Varpas” gymnasium has made a big progress already, but of course there’s still plenty of room for improvement and I believe that in the future my school will become even better. 25

Compositions from the Spanish Partner School

THE SCHOOL IN THE FUTURE In the future, this high school will be like Matrix. The students here will sit down on chairs where they can surf on the internet to start their lessons . Their lessoms will be optional and there will be virtual friendly teachers . The subjects will be mainly practical , with no theory at all. They will be able to paint and draw on their desks . On the other hand, students will never fail an exam and will be able to do lots of remedial work and tests to get better results in case you fail. Concerning the time schedule, it will be very flexible and you will be able to start the class, even if you are late ! I personally think that this school type is possible, but responsibility from people is needed .

Andres Becerra (B2B) THE SCHOOL I WOULD LIKE In a future, I imagine my school with a lot of changes . I imagine it full of new technology devices and much bigger than now . Teachers will be replaced by computers and robots . The lessons will be quicker and shorter . So, the lessons will start late . There will be some new subjects in the curriculum like cinema or photography and different secondary school itineraries . In this sense, if you like, you can study cinema and arts at the same time. The only thing I don´t want to change is the friends I meet in this school . There are very nice people in this school and that´s the thing I like most about it. 26

Ariadna Caro Buscà (2A)

Compositions from the Italian Partner School My ideas about my school in the future The Italian school system has really changed during the years. When my grandparents used to go to school, in the thirties, not everybody could afford to go to school: a lot of people were illiterate and they did not have any opportunity to continue alter four or five years. Only rich people could attend "scuola media" (junior high school), and just only well-off people could reach high school or University. At that time, schools were not very well equipped if not almost very poor also because there was no financial support from the central government. Just a few decades ago education has been considered compulsory but also a right to be guarantee to the students and families. Nowadays students have to attend school until they are sixteen. Local administrations offer the schools a sufficient financial support which is spent with the aim of improving and modernize the school structure: new laboratories for the different scientific subjects, computer rooms, language laboratories and sometimes "smart boards" and touch-screen monitors. Not to forget better and adequate sports facilities. Right now I can see a scenery where schools are becoming "rainbow islands": different colours representing people from different countries. Even here in Cagliari we are going to face a multiethnic presence of students coming from everywhere: China, Morocco, Philippines, Senegal. In my future I see the school like a cultural exchange hub, constantly open to everybody but especially to adults wishing to go deeply into various interests and issues like studying a foreign language or practicing sports or just meeting and making friends. A very important role will be taken by the new technology which will most probably substitute books with the Net. Thanks to Internet more and more 27

people will be able to attend classes from secluded or far-away places and get a favourable human relationship with anybody anywhere in the world. Moreover I can also see a school where teachers are more and more willing to listen to and share problems with their students. Well, this is my idea of the school in the future but, for the moment, I would be very happy if efforts could be made in order to offer all the students, but especially to those who cannot afford it, free textbooks to help them to get a valid education for their future. Francesca Portoghese 4° b(eta) A STRANGE MORNING Tic, tac… Driiiiin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! “Johnny, it's time to get up!” his mother shouted. Johnny, who was always late, got dressed in a hurry and run out of his home to take the school bus, which would take him to the “Gilbert”, the most prestigious school in the State. The school bus was on time, and Johnny got on it. He arrived to his destination and, while he was walking to the school, he felt as if something had changed. But what? There was not the typical apathy of Mondays, but the school was surrounded by a strange happiness. Getting into the building he noticed that there were a lot of new technological equipments in every corner of the school. For instance, all the doors were automatically operated and with vocal opening, which could be used as a roll call. Johnny thought that he had gone crazy. All the classrooms were bigger than usual and with hyper technologic desks with a huge number of accessories. Nobody had books or exercise books but everyone had a personal computer. Johnny noticed a desk with his name. He sat down and started examining its all new gadgets. He was very excited, with his computer he was able to do whatever he wanted and thanks to a very small device placed besides the keyboard he could make materialize anything he wished. Breakfast appeared immediately but, while he was eating his meal, he had to stop because a teacher entered the classroom. “Today we are going to start studying the XX century music” said the teacher. “XX century?” thought Johnny. “But what year is this??” With a quick research on the Internet he discovered with surprise that it was year 2526.

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“What did it happened? How did I manage to get to far in the future?” he thought. During the lesson he started enjoying the new technologies and began to have fun. At the end of the lesson, he started to walk around the school, trying to find some pieces of information about the new school system. Suddenly he noticed that in the in the hallway there was a big screen with a writing on it: NOTICE BOARD. Johnny started examining it and in a little time he found a file called SCHOOL RULES. He opened it and started reading. He discovered that students were allowed to choose their favourite subject every hour, and that there were a lot of new, interesting and funny lessons. But all students had to attend at least a fixed minimum number of lessons on some important subjects (like maths, Italian, English) in order to have a basic education on the most important subjects and not only on what they liked. After he finished to read the file he decided to try the most interesting subjects and he spent the day enjoying himself as he had never enjoyed in his life. Suddenly, while he was attending a Marine Biology lesson, he heard a noise as it was an alarm clock in the background, and the new school started disappearing. He closed his eyes and when he reopened them he noticed the ceiling of his bedroom and he sadly understood that it had been only a dream. Then he got up prepared himself to start a new day in his usual and traditional school. Enrico – Valentina – Bianca – Francesca 4B An ordinary day with Shin Our story takes place in year 3008. Our hero Shin lives his routine between school and space flight as every terrestrial teenager. His morning starts at 9.00 o’clock when he has to wake up and take his flying turbo roller, which is actually a transformer and, as soon as Shin arrives at school, changes and becomes a computer, and when the professor starts the lesson it takes notes on its own. The

headmaster at the school is George Clooney’s head, all subject are

optional, there are many courses, for example technology, decode Matrix code, and the one where you can learn by movies and meet heads of great stars of Hollywood. You can also attend a fight course where Hancock teaches, the 29

dance one is held by Jamie Lee Spears’s and Shakira’s descendants, the acting one is whereas taught by Al Pacino’s, Robert De Niro’s, Jack Nicholson’s, Dustin Hoffman’s, Johnny Depp’s, Michelle Pfeiffer’s, Cate Blanchett’s, Meryl Streep’s, Nicole Kidman’s, Kate Winslet’s and Drew Barrymore’s heads. At about 12.00 Shin goes home where his bionic-nurse made him a great meal, then relaxes a bit and if he wants he studies, if he doesn’t he can do not because they have no homework, then he takes his flying turbo roller and goes out with his friends to Mars to have a Martini, because everybody knows that “ No Martini, No Party “ ! Ilaria – Luca – Federica 4B A schoolgirl’s diary 15/09/2104 Dear diary, I’ve got a little time to write you a few lines, and I would like to report you my first days of my last school year. Today we have chosen the courses to be attended during the year: I was so undecided among nuclear physics and modern literature, Japanese and Chinese. I would like to attend all the courses but I haven’t got time enough because I’m also attending Sudoku lessons. At last I decided for Chinese. I chose this language because last year I decided to join the project “Balestrino” for an exchange friendship. As a matter of fact my pen friend Shin Chan is arriving from Beijing in December. I've already learned some words like “nihao” that means “hello” and I'm very excited to discover a new culture. These activities are very interesting and they are a very good incentive to improve my study. Today I’ve been admitted to the second course of trigonometry and tomorrow I'm finally going to take part in the first lesson. In these days I'm very busy with the band of the school, because next week Liceo classico-scientifico “Euclide” is celebrating its centenary to remember all the students who helped the school to grow up. For the circumstance a new swimming pool is going to be opened in memory of “C. Argiolas”, the first student representative of the school who was also a swimming champion. This is my last year at school and after that I would like to go to Cambridge, my own dream. Now I have to go out with Vanessa, we are 30

going to buy the new C5794 multifunctional, because my personal computer is broken and I can't finish my translation into the Sardinian language for tomorrow. And I also need to be in contact with Shin See you soon Kisses Lella. 13/12/2104 Dear diary, Today is the most important day in my life! Shin is arriving and I’m very excited! Tomorrow I’ll take him to visit the school (laboratory, gym) and I’ll explain the organization of our school and lessons. He will be certainly surprised by our old equipments: we still have the touch screen whiteboards! I think he will be amazed by our new instruments in the biochemistry classrooms and the new optical detection wardrobes. I hope that he will enjoy himself during our weekend school trips! Now I have to go to the airport quickly because Shin is arriving. Your Lella Claudia – Sara – Claudia – Eleonora 4B

IV. Our View for the Strategy for Steady School Development. Our project is an international intercultural dialogue on the theme

,

interdisciplinary

work

and

“ Steady European Development of My School – past, present, future”. Our school is our home – both for students and teachers. The children are the future and the dynamic power of Europe. In United Europe, the role of school as an institution which brings up our children and gives them proper education will increase. We believe that when students get to know much about their school – history and traditions, today’s and future school life, they’ll like much more their school, they’ll get actively involved in the school life, their school marks will get better. The partnership consists of schools of five different European countries. This means that there are five different European cultures, presented in the partnership. That’s why one of our partnership aims is to promote inter-cultural dialogue and to explore the interaction between education and culture, to find similarities and differences. Another main aim of the partnership has been to increase the students’ motivation for studies through knowing school’s history and traditions, school’s achievements which they can be 31

proud of, today’s school life and achievements and school’s future development. The other main partnership aim is to find out how our school has developed – from past to present and how it’ll be in the future. We've observed that not only the students directly involved in the project, but also all the members of the school community have become more aware of the importance of mastering several foreign languages in everyday life. During the first school partnership year 2007/2008 the students and the teachers studied their school and its development in the past and present. The teachers and the students studied present school life, school management and development. During the second school partnership year 2008/2009 the students and the teachers worked on a strategy about their future school life and development, which is one of the project results. In this way, we’ll make a connection, a kind of “bridge” between past, present and future of our school steady development which makes our school a democratic one. Working together united in diversity, the third main partnership aim was achieved- to get students and parents as well as all the teachers actively involved in school life , school management and school development and thus to enhance European quality of education and to promote European dimension of education , which is the other partnership aim. The partnership popularizes the school as a healthy community, which is part of a wider concept of an active European citizenship.

V. Conclusion In accordance with our study in the fields of school life and management , we consider the following things as most important for the strategy of the Steady European Development: • There should be a strong connection among all people – headmasters, teachers, the whole school staff, parents, students , because they are all responsible for the progressive school development. • The parents should be involved in school management. In most schools there are boards of administrators which consist of headmasters, representatives of local educational authorities, parents, teachers and students. This allows all the components of society to be part of the educational process. 32

• The students should be actively involved in the school life. It’s very important to know students needs and their views for the school development. The students can be very helpful and useful with their thinking and creativity . • In each class, constant feedback should be enhanced among the teachers, parents and students. This is very important for the successful educational process. From our surveys, it appears that it is often difficult to involve many parents in the management of the whole school and the school life whereas they are definitely interested in the individual results of their own children. • The role of the headmaster proves to be essential for the coordination and support of new and original projects. • Partnerships with other schools from Europe must be encouraged , so that students and teachers have the opportunity to enrich their knowledge of different cultures, different languages. We consider this factor as very important. • Representatives of the local authorities should be involved actively in the school management. • The pupils, as well as their parents, have confirmed their desire to work in quiet and respectful conditions and to have new programs. But our study didn't describe precisely in which way to make the changes in the curricula. • After examining the survey and comparing the results , observing lessons in the different schools and discussing during the meetings it is suggested that teachers should be given the means to enable each student to achieve their goals. • Education granted to everybody implies that teaching should be organised and carried out according to a strategy of inclusiveness of pupils of different cultures and origins.

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