On the Road to a Sustainable Future
Students' experiences of mobility in Lucenec
MEMORIES OF SLOVAKIA
"My memories of Slovakia are very nice, I'm glad I made new friends, new cultures and how different it was from Greece. The whole trip was very nice and I would definitely like to experience something similar again" Stelios
"My memories of Slovakia will be unforgettable. It was a beautiful week with new experiences. Now knowing and learning their habits and cultures I now understand that life in the north is completely different. I would like to go again and see the my new friends." Vasiliki
"The week we spent in Slovakia was an unforgettable experience. The children are very welcoming and kind, they treated us with love, as did the parents. The days were full of interesting activities. We had some sad moments, but nothing stood in the way of the beautiful our journey." Stellina
Mobility in Lucenec through the eyes of students
GREEK TEAM
SPANISH TEAM
4th MOBILITY: 13-17/3/2024 Lucenec SlovakiaStudents Angelos Voyatzoglou, Ioannis Vlahoudis, Michalis Daras, Stella Efthymia Theodoridou, Vasiliki Kyriazi, Christos Stepits Hatzis and Stelios Emmanouil Tzanis accompanied the teachers Styliani Lalagas and Anastasia Lebanon. Mrs. Pelagia Saltamara participated in the shadow work activity.
Sunday, May 12, 2024
We started from the MACEDONIA airport full of energy and good mood for our trip to Slovakia.
After a short delay of half an hour, we boarded and enjoyed the flight. As soon as we arrived in Bratislava, a van and a Slovak colleague were waiting for us and they took us safely to Lucenec, after a 3 hour journey and a short rest stop. We arrived at 4.00 in the morning where the families were waiting for us. We said goodbye to our students and made an appointment for Monday morning at school.
...bean soup (Greek fasolada) etc. and their refreshment beer, coffee, soft drink. The thermal baths were unfortunately closed. We went back to the hotel, a little tired but full of the beautiful images we saw. We also changed rooms, which had nothing to do with the previous one.
After resting a bit, in the early afternoon we went to eat, since at 20:00 the restaurants were closing. Then we walked around the city center and admired the nice architectural buildings.
What struck us was that there were very few people on the streets, even though the day was sunny, something completely different from Greece. As well as the fact that there were no traffic lights but you could cross the crossing safely, since the drivers observed the traffic rules and respected the priority of the pedestrian.
In communication with our students some adapted immediately and some after a few days.
They write characteristically: " Very nice, I have never experienced anything like this before and for the first time it went very well and as it goes we are even more comfortable. She also talks a lot, she is not closed at all "
"Today I had a great time, at first I was a little embarrassed.
I met another culture, a family that is really one with nature.
Then
I felt more comfortable and I was like I had known them for a long time.
They are very welcoming and good people."
And that's how the first day of our stay in Lucence ended!
Monday, May 13, 2024
We started our day with breakfast at the hotel, where we also met the colleagues from Spain and Germany who are participating in the program.
After meeting the Slovak colleague, we all walked together to the school, which was a primary and secondary school together, under joint management. First impression was that the school was a gem. A wonderful yard with many trees and the entrance of the school with the many flags of the Erasmus countries that predisposed you positively.
A student played a traditional instrument for them.
After a short break, the Spanish and German presentations were completed.
Very honorable for us was the display of the gifts we offered during the reception at our school in September. Also in one room the paper bag of the Municipality of Pylaia-Hortiatis dominated.
The traditional corner set up at the back of the presentation room was also very beautiful
In job shadowing, 22 students were observed actively participating in the English lesson and a teacher who was constantly using the interactive whiteboard while the students were taking notes in their book. It was impressive that all the students were wearing slippers inside the room!!!
The son of the beekeeper participated in the program, he translated while his father offered all the materials for the action.
The students tried the excellent quality honey in various flavors and aromas and in addition they made their own candle with pure beeswax.
In the 2nd workshop , the students, with the help of a teacher, made a wonderful key ring to remind the participants of their stay in beautiful Lucenec.
Finally, the 3rd workshop developed in the school kitchen where they made pancakes with different healthy ingredients such as oats, nuts, fruit and honey, to the sounds of an accordion played by a student .
Of course, we tried the traditional Halusci dishes (shredded potatoes with cheese meat and small pieces of pork) and their own yellow cheese breaded and fried.
This is how the second day passed, looking forward to the next days of the program.
Tuesday, May 14, 2024
And fortunately we reached the 3rd day and started by having our breakfast, in the company of the other partners discussing how it would be better to spend our afternoon, after the end of the daily program. Arriving at the school, the children had already gathered and were ready to board the bus that would take us to two farms in the area.
They showed us the mixing tank...
...The raw material gathering area...
...The process in electronic form...
We smelled the drawn gas which had a slightly lighter smell than petrol...
..and we talked about the process from the moment the idea was conceived until its realization.
Next to the facilities were the company's offices where they offered us a rich breakfast with juice, water, local delicacies and cold meats made from the farm's pigs.
They told us about growing grain that feeds the calves....
...we were shown the cheese production area.
Of course the students did not miss the opportunity to explore the tractor parked there.
Throughout the route we met here and there specific trees decorated with ribbons. We were informed that every May 1st the family that has an unmarried daughter over the age of 18 decorates the tree in their yard in this way. A custom that was not known to us.
We then went to a room where there was a wide variety of cheeses - all delicious! Of course we tried as much as we could bear because we are already full. On leaving they offered us a piece of traditional cheese
We returned to the school, where it was lunch time. First course every day for the teachers is bean or meat soup.
We then walked to the City Hall, where the deputy mayor welcomed us and told us about the history of the building and Lučenets.
The building of high aesthetics, inside and out, with very beautiful wallpapers and especially plaster, which gave a glamor to the room.
We sat in the meeting room where a representative of the Mayor of the town welcomed us, spoke about Lucenec and presented us with a book based on the history of the town. 
As we were leaving, we glimpsed the interior garden of the building.
On our way out we took a group photo and enjoyed the large mural that is right across from the town hall.
The last stop was the Synagogue, where the building also had its own beauty.
An employee informed us about the history of the building and then we were given a tour of the site.
We went up to the women's gallery, saw the small exhibition with remarkable exhibits...
We toured the architecture of the Synagogue building through 3D visualization. The day's program was completed with the visit to the Synagogue. The students returned to their families.
After a little rest at the hotel, we went by bus to Filacovo, where we managed to see the castle for 5 minutes, since it closed at 6:00 pm, and the picturesque houses and streets of the area.
Its center was beautiful with well-kept, spotlessly clean traditional buildings.
We proceeded to the church where we attended the evening service, but a sudden indisposition prevented us from remaining in it as long as we would have liked.
The truth is that we were present for the first time in operation. How different from the Orthodox liturgy!
As we didn't catch the bus and the last one was two hours later, the Slovakian colleague, responsible for Erasmus, came and picked us up and helped us to find an on-call pharmacy, because they were already closed, and to agree on the appropriate medicine.Wednesday, May 15, 2024
Today we started earlier than usual for school so that we could make a day trip to the mountainous area. It is the Tatra highest mountain range between Slovakia - Poland. After we were given our snack from the school, we boarded the bus.
It's one of the few times, I believe, that the journey is as enjoyable as the destination.....or nearly so!
The students from Slovakia sang almost the whole way.
The Tatra massif began to appear on the horizon with what little snow was left.
Making a stop, we arrived at Smokovek, a place with many accommodations and especially hotels, souvenir shops and equipment for the mountain and skiers, since a ski resort also operates in the area. The area was very touristy and we imagined how crowded it would be in the winter season. But we were informed that it is an equally important destination in the summer since the sea for the Slovak people is far away. We met many schools with children of all grades, young parents with babies in their arms, elderly people clutching their walking sticks, couples with their dogs. We entered a carriage from a small train, to go up a little higher. The ceiling was transparent and had bear paws painted on it.
Lovely walk through the forest, listening to the rushing water.
After taking several photos we started the ascent and reached a mountain house, where the legend of the area lived. A man who dedicated his life to this particular area making sculptures out of ice and snow.
Now at the little house you could buy drinks, postcards and small souvenirs. You could still get beer or a shot. Many families picnicked there and enjoyed the beautiful scenery.
On the way back we chose to return by the path that led to the base and not the roller coaster. Somewhat tired we boarded the bus and went to Poprad for food. A brewery, which brewed its own beer, had various beer-based specials, which pleasantly surprised us. The students had free lunch of their choice in the shops of the city.
The beer hall had a special decoration with paintings while almost all the dishes had beer.
At one point there was also the specific construction of beer production.
Then we walked along the main street of the city and admired the various stands with household goods, spices, edibles, jewelry, etc. , in the open market of the city known in Greece as the popular market.
Making a stop on the way, we slowly returned to the hotel, to rest.
Thursday, May 16, 2024
After breakfast at the hotel, we started for the school, where the bus was waiting for us to take us to the highest level protected area of Somoska.
After waiting a while for the officials to come and cut the tickets, we started the hike, together with a biologist from the school who would be our guide on the trail and give us some information where necessary.
Dense forest, with the sun peeking through the tall trees, small streams to the right and left of the path in some places and small ponds, made the climb an unforgettable experience. At certain points of the route there was information.
A little further down there was part of a petrified rock that is estimated to be from the Stone Age.
And we reached the first impressive point of the forest, a sea of stones "Stone Sea".
which was created ......years ago from lava.
and after taking several photos we continued to the destination of the route, the castle. Before the final climb to this break to enjoy the view.
At the castle we stopped for a snack, rest and exploration.
The castle had two floors, with a special roof, a panoramic view of the whole area and is a border between Slovakia and Hungary. 
After we took the standard group photo, the children sat on some wooden benches that were there and enjoyed their snack.
The castle forms the border between the two countries. It is natural to see a Hungarian village.
At the entrance to the theater there was a band, which included a Slovak music colleague from the school who played the tuba. Their musical programwith jazz pieces was very beautiful.
Primary and secondary are administratively one level of education. With their uniforms, each class presented its own dance routine and at the same time you also saw photos of the children from their rehearsals or their participation in other events. The children cooperated perfectly with each other, had fun and seemed to be having a lot of fun. The dance of a small group of teenage boys, who alone from what we learned, prepared a comic dance, very admittedly successful, and the dance of the gypsies, who gave their all on stage and were applauded, stole the show. Highlights from the event here.
After the end of the performance, which lasted 1.5 hours and after we tasted an ice cream, we continued our evening by going to eat, several of the school teachers, the Erasmus teachers and of course the school principal.
The evening passed very pleasantly, talking and enjoying the last night we were all together.
Friday, May 17, 2024
The 6th day of our stay in Lucenec arrived and right after breakfast we headed to the school for the last day of the program and before our return.
At the end they presented the posters they made focusing on the importance of sustainable development for our planet.
After the students from each country made their final presentation, the coordinators of the program informed the students about a game on the Kahoot platform and then a treasure hunt inside the school where the initials of the letters they found formed the word friendship.
While the students were playing the lost treasure game, the teachers took the opportunity to talk and play the piano.
Immediately after, each group made their own poster, pasting some images related to the sustainable environment and under them they wrote their conclusions about saving energy and how to save our planet.
In the next hour, certificates were awarded by the school director and the program coordinator to the children and teachers who participated in Erasmus.
We signed the book of experiences and impressions of the program.
On the same day, an inter-school footsal tournament was underway in the school gym. We caught up just before it ended and the awards took place.
Slippers were not missing from the party.
Then, the students returned to their families while the teachers and I decided together with the Spanish teachers to visit the Halic area 
and specifically the castle - although the name palace suits it better . It now operates as a hotel and we enjoyed our coffee in its luxurious space. We felt for a while as if we had traveled back in time and this is how the last visit to Lucenec ended beautifully and in a fairytale way. 
We returned on the last public bus and said goodbye to the German colleague as they were traveling very early the next day.
Saturday, May 18, 2024
The last day of our return had arrived and after we had our breakfast at the hotel we said goodbye to our colleagues from Germany while our Slovak colleague took us to the intercity bus area, in order to go to Bratislava.
There were also several of the Slovak professors that we met during all these days of our stay, who had also come to say goodbye. The only thing for sure was that they were very welcoming giving, kind and remarkable people and it was truly an honor to have met them in our lives.
We had a few hours until the flight, when all together, the Greek group, decided to tour the beautiful capital of Slovakia. So we secured our bags at the bus station and walked to the historic city center.
We saw Michael's Gate, its castle on the mountainside, the red trains that tour the city, the Greek Embassy in Hlavne Square,
the Camille statue of a smiling worker emerging from a sewer and of course the lovely Danube.
In the famous palace of the city there was neither time nor courage from our feet to see it up close. So we enjoyed it and photographed it from afar.
These were some of the sights of the city that we saw in a bit of a hurry but even so it was worth it. The children, although it was quite a walk, did not complain at all since we had first made sure to eat, so that we had enough energy.
The night flight had its magic.
IES IRUBIDE ERASMUS + - Spain (Pamplona) 2024
Diffusion of mobility on the Spanish school website here & here
3rd MOBILITY: 18-22/3/2024 Pamplona, Spain
Students Despinoudis Sevastiani, Dimitris Kabandaidis, Christina Kogolidou, Thanasis Paradas, Georgia Paschalidou, Iasonas Saridis, Hatzis Velia Stepits accompanied by teachers Styliani Lalagas & Kyriaki Savvidou participated in the mobility, while Mrs. Vasileia Lazaridou prepared a job shadow and of course followed us wherever he could.
Sunday, March 17, 2024
08.00 Departure from Thessaloniki to Frankfurt with Aegean. Waiting at the airport. Browsing, shopping, photos, coffees.
14.00 Departure from Frankfurt to Bilbao with Lufthansa
16.00 Arrival in Bilbao where a taxi picked us up to take us to Pamplona.
18.30 We arrived at the school where the families picked up our students.
The teachers of the Greek team went to the Alda Centro Pamplona hotel in the taxi hired by the German team.
21.00 Departure for a walk in the deserted city and food with the other colleagues from the teams of Germany, Slovakia, Turkey and Spain.
Monday, March 18, 2024
07.30 Breakfast at the hotel
08.30 Spanish colleagues picked us up and we walked to school.
09.30 Arrival at the school where there was a welcome ceremony for the teams of Greece, Germany, Italy, Slovakia and Turkey.
At the welcome ceremony we offered our gifts and the hostesses gave us backpacks with stationery and name tags.
Then each group presented their work. Our students started by presenting our village, Hortiati, through the reception of September, followed by a video.
Dimitris Kabandaidis made the introduction and spoke about the Roman Aqueduct. Paradas Thanasis referred to the churches of Agios Georgios and the Transfiguration of the Savior. Miss Sevastiani about the Monastery and Christina Kogolidou narrated the holocaust of Hortiatis. Saint Paraskevi. 
Velia Stepic referred to the forest of Hortiatis (flora, fauna, refuge). Jason Saridis spoke about the customs of the village, while Georgia Paschalidou spoke about the traditional food served in the village's taverns.
Followed by the video of the September reception edited by our students.
10.30 The presentations of the countries are over. The welcoming ceremony ended with a flamengo presentation by a student of the school.
10.30-11.00 Coffee break.
11.15 We went for a walk in the medieval city with all the groups, 52 students and 20 teachers.
We walked the pilgrim path, passed the "Portal de Francia", stopped at the citadel to admire the new city from above and toured the medieval city.
Once a year this gate is closed and opened for the pilgrims to pass through.
We passed by the Cathedral but unfortunately it was closed and we ended up at the Town Hall where we met pensioners protesting about their benefits.
Afterwards, the children participated in some activities in the city center. Divided into groups, they went through the sights of the city, collecting information about each one and posting them on Instagram in a group created for this purpose. Below are the students' works.
At the same time, the teachers visited the "Education Department Government of Navarre" (the building was first a monastery and then a hospital only for pilgrims. Now the education offices are housed there)
Pamplona is known for its 15 five-day festivities during which every day 6 bulls are released and chase runners who lead them through a certain route to the arena. So we passed by the place where the bulls gather, walked the route to the center of the city where the activities of the first day were completed.
14.00 The students returned to their families and the teachers went to eat at "Mandara de la Ramos"
16.00 After the meal we all went for coffee together at "cafe Iruna" located in Plaza del Castillo.
This particular building was a palace in the past. The ground floor now houses the cafe, while the first floor is a private club with a large event hall, library, bar-restaurant for its members.
17.15- 20.30 rest at the hotel. On our return the church that was near the hotel was open and we had the opportunity to visit it.
20.30-22.30 Walk in the new city, where we saw skating training in a specially designed space in the heart of the city for this reason.
The modern urban environment was probably not desirable so we returned for food and drink in the old town and later back to the hotel.
Regarding the first day, the student Dimitris Kabandaidis writes " On Monday morning we visited the school where the students of each country made a small presentation of their place. Later we started walking with the destination of the center of Pamplona crossing the old town but also meeting in the on our way many historical attractions such as its walls, the Cathedral of Maria la Real and its Town Hall.
Arriving at its center, we were divided into groups to carry out an activity during which each group had to collect photos with its members in front of the monuments posted on Instagram by the Spanish director. Later we were free to walk around the city and at three o'clock we returned for lunch in the families that hosted us. Late in the afternoon we were free to wander around the city. "
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
07.30 Breakfast at the hotel
08.30 Departure for school by taxi.
09.00 -13.00 Visit with the students to Cenifer: National Reference Center for Renewable Energies.
There the children were divided into 4 groups and informed about various sources of energy such as wind turbines, solar panels, water purification, energy buildings.
First we had an introductory information about the school and then our students were divided into groups and informed about the alternative forms of energy by the students of the school themselves. The interaction of the students was impressive.
It should be noted that one building of the school was entirely energy-efficient
With virtual reality technology, they toured inside a wind turbine!
13.30 - 18.00 We went by bus to the town of Olite. There we visited Olite's Royal Palace -seat of the Court of Navarra until 1512 and one of the most luxurious medieval castles in Europe. Tour of the castle and photo shoot.
Followed by a walk in the town of Olite.
The children had made sure to have food with them and we went to a restaurant with the whole group of teachers.
We returned around 19.00. We went down to the center for a walk and dessert (Chouros), while the rest continued to the shopping center "La morea" for shopping and a walk.
22.00 Return to the hotel.
For the third day, student Christina Kongolidou writes "
On the third day we all started together in a bus from the school to another, different school that in Greece we would call EPAL. The purpose of our visit was to inform us about renewable energy sources. They told us about the building itself, which is made in such a way that it can produce its own energy, they showed us the way the wind turbines, the solar panels are made and work, and finally the water purification process.
After we finished with this activity we visited perhaps the most beautiful sight which was the castle in the medieval town of Olite. After first we were given the opportunity to walk around the city and explore the place in the afternoon we entered the castle and explored it all as the view was also very impressive. Finally, in the evening we went to a mall where we did various activities with the children and got to know them better"
Wednesday March 20, 2024
07.30 Breakfast at the hotel
09.00 Arrival at school by taxi
09.30 Hike in Arga park to collect leaves to make frames at school later.
We saw how they built the houses in the past in an area in Navarre. The houses were supported on 4 tall pillars due to moisture from the river and to prevent various bugs and animals from approaching.
Ms. Lazaridou remained at the school to attend classes. He did not miss the opportunity to teach in a room with full electronic equipment.
11.00 Back to school. In the little time we had we toured the school and saw the art room
12.15 The Spanish students showed us an Origami construction how to make a bull with a sheet of A4 paper.
Then we played Kahoot.
14.30 Escape to San Sebastian with colleagues from Germany and Slovakia. We took the bus one hour away from Pamplona.
23.30 Return to the hotel.
For Wednesday, student Thanasis Paradas writes " On Wednesday we walked about 3 kilometers parallel to the river. The route was very beautiful and we learned a lot about how and where they stored food in the old days. We also got some leaves for the next day's activity .
Then in one of his roomsat school we were taught towe make origami inbull shape.We were informed about himculture and Spanishculture. Finally we playedKahoot. In the afternoon, all the children went out to the center for a walk"
Thursday, March 21, 2024
08.00 Breakfast at the hotel
09.15 Departure on foot from the hotel to the school.
10.00 We arrived at the school where the children were making paintings with the leaves they had collected the day before.
The students describe: " First we took a piece of paper and made a shape with a yellow paint. Then we let it dry and then we put cloth on top and put a glass on top to stabilize it. Then we took them out and put it in water and then in a sharp to make it blue. That's how the shape we drew at the beginning and then with the tribes "
Ms. Lazaridou attended a class and taught ancient Greek.
11.00 We went for coffee with all the colleagues at a coffee-bakery-pastry shop "Taverna", near the school.
12.00 We took the city bus and went to shopping center 'La Morea'.
15.00 Return to the hotel for some rest.
18.30 We went for a walk in the city to buy souvenirs. In front of the Town Hall a rock concert was going on.
20.00 Meeting at Plaza del Castillo with colleagues for a night out and food. We followed the locals' way of entertainment. We went to 3 bars where we stayed in each one for about half an hour and tried a "Tapa" meze accompanied by beer. Each shop had different tapas.
We were told that we were scheduled to go to two more but our food stamina was exhausted. So we decided to go dancing. We danced representative songs from each country as well as other well-known ones. 24.00 Return to the hotel.
For Thursday, student Georgia Paschalidou writes " On Thursday we did two activities at school. The first activity was a questionnaire about the sustainable future and we listened to some Spanish songs. In the second activity we painted with a green paint and then we waited outside until it changed color from the sunlight and become blue. Then we entered the room and placed them in three different buckets containing three kinds of liquids. Finally, when the color of the painting turned dark blue, we let them dry.
In the afternoon, all the students who participated in the program went for a walk on the mountain."
Friday, March 22, 2024
07.30 Breakfast at the hotel
09.00 We went to school. Ms. Lazaridou joined the English and math classes. The unit in mathematics was about the Pythagorean theorem. Taking inspiration from this, Mrs. Lazaridou spoke to the children about Pythagoras, his life, his studies, his values. At the end, the children enthusiastically applauded her.
Ms. Lalaga attended the Physical Education course. Ms. Savvidou did the report, photos - video
11.00 We all went with the children to the "Plaza de Toros" arena, where there was a guided tour and information about the bullfights that take place every year on July 7-14, "Sanfermines".
We split into two groups, an English-speaking and a Spanish-speaking group. First we were shown a video of the preparation of the feast and the bullfights. Every day 6 bulls are destined to be led to the arena where the bullfights will take place and 3 bullfighters will face 2 bulls each after a draw.
Today the bullfights of Pamplona have lost their glamor as choirs and bands are in the stands and after the third bullfight they start playing and singing. At the same time, the rest of the spectators are tasting all kinds of food that they have brought with them, laughing, reveling and not focusing on the bullfight that is taking place in the arena. This is also the reason why many bullfighters do not wish to participate in the events of the region.
Going through the route taken by the bulls to the place where they are kept, we saw the "safety" recesses that exist in various places. These serve to protect runners in case a bull attacks them.
We saw the place where the bulls are stabled.
Then we watched a video about raising bulls.
And then came perhaps the most brutal video, thankfully segmented, of the bullfight.
On the way out we visited the sacred room where the bullfighters pray before the bullfight, and the room with their uniforms.
Upon re-entering the arena we saw young bullfighters training and naturally our students wanted to try the technique.
12.30 Back to school
13.00 Short coffee
14.00 Closing ceremony - awarding of certificates
14.30 Buffet offered by the families of the Spanish students
14.45 Farewell party for students and teachers
17.00 Return to the hotel for rest
19.00 Exit to the city and meeting colleagues from other countries for food and farewell.
23.00 Return to the hotel
Student Jason Saridis writes for Friday "
On Friday, after we arrived at the school and I gathered all the Erasmus children, we went to the bull ring to watch a guided tour and a video about the preparation and the procedure of the annual tradition of the San Fermin festival. Some ofwhat skills did they test us?them in her techniquebullfight. After the tour we returned to the school. This was followed by the awarding of certificates and souvenirs, which was also attended by students of the school who did not participate in the program. A rich buffet with Spanish dishes was prepared by the parents of the children hosting us. Afterwards there was a party at the school with music and lots of dancing. On Friday night our hosts organized a party for all the children at a disco near the center of Pamplona where we all said our last goodbyes. "
Saturday, March 23, 2024
Perhaps the most difficult, unpleasant, sad day! The weather is our ally ... tears of rain all the way back to Bilbao!
07.00 The vice-principal of the school picked us up from the hotel by car and we went to the school where all the children of our group were together with their host families.
Then we said goodbye, got in the taxi and returned to Bilbao airport.
1 1.30 Departure from Bilbao on a Lufthansa flight to Munich.
20.10 Departure from Munich with an Aegean flight to Thessaloniki
23.15 Arrival in Thessaloniki. After 16 hours of travel the tears have not dried...
Regarding the difficult day of farewell, student Velia Stepits Hatzis writes " On the last day we had a meeting at the school at 7am from where we said goodbye to the families who hosted us and made our way back.So starting from Paplona with an hour and a half drive we arrived at the airport in Bilbao. There with a little delaywe boarded the plane at 11:30 am to destinationMunich. Arriving, mentally prepared forduring the 6 hours of waiting that awaited us, we got settled,we slept and after eating we gathered at the point fromwhich we would take the flight to Thessaloniki. It wasn't until we reached the city around 11:30pm and after getting our things that's when we realized that this trip was over and it was time to land in reality…”
Christmas wishes
Students and teachers, members of the Erasmus educational group who participated in the mobility , wanted to send wishes to their European friends ahead of the Christmas holidays. So, they created a padlet and posted it as a slideshow in the whatsapp group.
The Slovakian team sent all partner schools an eco-card with Christmas wishes and hidden flower seeds in its eco-paper. Plant the seeds in the spring.
Diffusion of mobility among school students
A special action took place at our school on Friday, December 22, 2023, with the protagonists being our students who participated in the mobilities in Spain (Job Shadowing) and Germany (Group Mobility). The activity started with the greeting of the school Director and the introduction by the coordinator of the program. Then the students took the floor. The videos they created were shown in which they presented the daily educational tasks and visits as well as carefree moments of fun with the teachers and students from the participating countries. In addition, the children
shared their experiences and expressed their gratitude for the unique opportunity given to them to experience the benefits of Erasmus+ programs.
Student experiences are presented here
Diffusion of mobility in Germany on social media and websites
Mobility in Germany through the eyes of students
Greek mission
Slovak mission
2nd Mobility: 4-8/12/2023 Ludwigshafen, Germany
Sunday, December 3, 2023
We left early in the morning from "MACEDONIA" airport for Germany ready for new experiences! We arrived at Frankfurt airport, and from there we took the train to Mannheim . The students were picked up by their host families from Mannheim station . A lifetime acquaintance has just begun…
The teachers went out to eat in a traditional German restaurant for a first acquaintance with the German colleague, and in the afternoon we walked a little through the streets of Ludwigshafen .
Monday, December 4, 2023
Our day started with a first meeting with the teachers responsible for the program at the Max - Planck Gymnasium school , and with the presentations of the children's works with which they presented the school and their city.
Below are the works of our students.
The students were then divided into groups and asked to play a board game based on the three axes of sustainability proposed by the European Union, an activity that would help them enter the theme of the program in a pleasant and entertaining way.
With the end of the game, instructions were given for the group work that the students would undertake to complete by the end of the week, which they would have to present in powerpoint . The idea is to develop their ideas gradually by answering questions, to reflect on what their own point of view and position is on the subject of sustainability and on the other hand to cultivate the values of collectivity and cooperation as they will have to co-decide the measures they will propose, with the final aim of creating a comprehensive proposal regarding the improvement of the conditions in the school to make it more sustainable.
A break followed which gave us the opportunity to get to know the rest of the Max - Planck Gymnasium teachers and the participating teachers from Spain and Slovakia, and we offered the gifts we had brought from Greece.
This was followed by a guided tour of the city of Ludwigshafen by a representative of the Municipality.
After the tour was over, we visited the city's Museum of Contemporary Art, the Ludwigshafen & Wilhelm - Hack Museum .
In the afternoon the students returned to their families while the teachers enjoyed an evening in a traditional German tavern.
Tuesday, December 5, 2023
Today's program started with our visit to the world's largest chemical factory, BASF , which is also a huge part of the city of Ludwigshafen .
First we visited the BASF Visitors Center , located at the entrance of the factory, where they told us about the factory and how it has changed over the years until now. We learned about the products produced in it but also how it works and its close relationship with the city of Ludwigshafen .
As part of the tour, we also watched an experiment that explained the technology used, and the use of chemicals and other products produced by the factory and how these end up in households all over the world.
This was followed by a bus tour inside the BASF site where all the factories and buildings that make up BASF are located , and we saw up close how these factories are connected to each other by pipes, how they use the water of the Rhine River, and how they manage the materials and ensure their safe transport.
In the afternoon the students went for a walk with their new friends in the nearby city, Mannheim .
Wednesday, December 6, 2023
Today, Saint Nicholas day, our day started with a sweet treat in the school grounds.
We walked through one of the countless parks in the area, and the streets of the city to reach our destination, the biomass recycling facilities, that is, the non-recyclable waste, Waste - to - Energy Plant Lu . Typical were the BASF chimneys that we saw everywhere on our route.
Arriving at the facility the first thing we did was put on vests and helmets for our safety, and we were ready for a new experience.
We were given a tour of the site and were given the opportunity to see how the rubbish is collected and placed in huge tanks, where it is then mixed to achieve uniformity. They are then burned in furnaces at extremely high temperatures to produce energy in the form of electricity which is in turn sold. At the same time, the water used to lower the temperature of these ovens is heated, which water is then used to heat the residents.
This was followed by the necessary stop at a local supermarket to try local delicacies.
Back at school the students continued their group work…
...while we were guided around the school grounds...
and we were treated to a wine with the characteristic pretzel.
Our evening ended with the professors' visit to the cultural center of the area, which in addition to a restaurant also has spaces for concerts and operates in the afternoon for BASF employees and youth.
Wednesday, December 7, 2023
Today the program had an excursion to Seyer , a neighboring town that has been designated as world heritage and is under UNESCO protection . We started from the train station and enjoyed the beauty of the German countryside along the way.
Arriving, the first building we visited was the imposing clock at the old city gate. After climbing up to the bell tower and enjoying the view from above, our tour guide told us a few words about the history of the city.
We also had the opportunity to see the city's cathedral, which was first built in 1030. Over the years, it suffered damage and some parts of the church had to be rebuilt, as well as new ones added for the needs of the place.
The children wanted to dance a traditional Greek dance in the square in honor of the other students...
and we still had some time left to see the Christmas market and enjoy a hot drink. Each tree placed on the street was also decorated by a different section of the schools in the area!
In the afternoon the responsible teachers and students organized a farewell party with treats from the German students, as the next day we would say goodbye to the team from Spain.
Friday, December 8, 2023
Our breakfast started with the presentation of the tasks that the children had been working on all week at school.
Then the program attendance certificates were given, we took our last photos, and the Director of the Max - Planck Gymnasium said goodbye by playing a very beautiful piece on the piano, as he is also a music teacher.
One last photo outside the school….
At noon, the Greek team with four other students from Germany took the tram and visited the city famous (not without reason!) for its beauty, Heidelberg.
We had lunch in a classic German pub while waiting for the rain that had just started to pass, and walked the main cobbled street with the shops of the town. Every square had a Christmas market, one more impressive than the other!
Finally, we made it to the old castle which is still in use for city events, and after enjoying the view we made our way back in time to meet the rest of the students to spend their last night skating in Manheim.
Saturday, December 9, 2023
The day of return!
Now full of new acquaintances, images and experiences, we arrived at the Frankfurt airport, from where we took the return flight....
Germany, we don't say goodbye, but see you again....
Evaluation of reception Hortiatis 25-29 September 2023
For the school year 2023-2024 and within the framework of the European action Erasmus + Accreditation , the GEL Hortiatis organized a partnership with three other student and teacher mobility schools. The project is entitled "On the Road to a Sustainable Future". The following schools participate in this partnership : Max-Planck-Gymnasium Ludwingshafen am Rhein Luswingshafen Germany, IES Padre Moret Irubide Pamplona Spain and Zaklagna Skola Ulika Vajanskeho Lucenec Slovakia.
According to the plan, from September 25-29, 2023 we welcomed and hosted twenty one students and six teachers. It was a week full of actions related to the main theme of our project which is Sustainability. At the end of the week, the students were asked to evaluate the reception program and submit their own proposals, in order to improve and develop the implementation of our programs.
The activities carried out were mainly characterized as interesting and fun and managed to educate the students on Sustainable Development issues.
However, the most important part for the students was the hospitality in the families and the communication with the students as well as the educational visits to various businesses and museums that were organized.
Undoubtedly, their participation in the program went a long way in informing them about sustainability issues. Especially the visit to the forest of Hortiatis impressed the students, while with the experiential game in which they participated with their eyes closed, they listened to nature and developed feelings of trust and strong bonds of friendship between them.
Of the other activities organized by the Pedagogical team, the excursion to Perea with its beautiful beach and the visit to the American School where the students participated in experiential actions of planting flowers and collecting eggs from a hen house, excited the students. They particularly enjoyed the cultural tours in the historical center of Thessaloniki and getting to know the historical and cultural monuments of our city. Finally, the students enthusiastically participated in innovative ideas and experiential games carried out during the program and especially in the design of a sustainable school using “ Lego ”.
At the same time, the foreign students were very satisfied with their hospitality in the Greek families.
They also improved their language skills by using English as the main language of communication.
Finally, it seems that the goal of the program to help students feel like European citizens and to understand that they are united by a common identity, the European one, has been achieved.
Of particular interest were the impressions of the foreign students from the Greek school. In particular, they were impressed by the cleanliness of the school and the large courtyard area, while the morning prayer and the fact that there are breaks in the timetable during which the students relax in the courtyard area caused a sensation. In addition, they were positively impressed by the good relationship between the students and the teachers and the warm atmosphere that prevailed at the school.
Finally, in a related question about what they would suggest to improve the program, we received very interesting suggestions. They asked to have more actions in which they have an active role and which take place outside. Also, they would like more free time to stay with their families and get to know the Greek way of life even better. However, most agreed that there was a variety of activities that more or less gave them unique experiences as well as knowledge and skills necessary for their future.
The answers are presented in the following link https://docs.google.com/forms/d/13k3lTMKuoVBoHOAqSyubrlh7b0AzJxlt6toiYbtPgPo/viewanalytics
Students' point of view
Diffusion of mobility
The diffusion of the 1st mobility took place on social media where the actions of the program are presented briefly through a video. You can watch the video here
On the schools' websites:
Zaklagna Skola Ulica Vajanskeho
1st Mobility: 25-29/09/2023 Hortiatis-Greece
ARRIVALS
Saturday 23 September 2023 arrival of the team from Slovakia. But before the Slovakian team arrived in Hortiatis, a pleasant surprise was waiting for them at the airport.
While waiting for the collection of the luggage, they met the Hortiatis High School group which was returning from mobility in Portugal as part of the KA2 Erasmus Project!
After the pleasant encounter, the Slovakian team arrived in Hortiatis.
On Sunday, September 24, 2023, the German team arrived in Hortiatis in the morning
While on the same day in the afternoon the Spanish team arrived
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 25, 2023
On Monday 25/09/2023 around 8.30 in the morning, the Erasmus students gathered together with their guests and the teachers in the school's event hall for the official reception ceremony to take place.
The Director of the school, Mr. Dimitrios Papadopoulos, greeted the attendees, while Ms. Dimitra Dobrou, coordinator of the program, took the floor to welcome our guests in her own way.
Then the students took the floor. They presented their region and their school.
They then proceeded to present their work related to sustainable homes or businesses from their area. The assignment was given as a first step to introduce students to the term sustainability.
Students' work is presented at the
SUSTAINABLE FACILITIES PRESENTATIONS link below
Team familiarization games followed.
A tour of the school followed and after the break the group gathered in the workroom. There the term sustainability was introduced, the method of brainstorming was used and for a better understanding of the term "sustainability" the story of the reindeer on the island of Saint Matthew was presented.
Introduction to sustainability .
The unit ended with the students, who were divided into mixed groups, designing a sustainable neighborhood. After the completion of the design, the students were asked to face some problems such as some climate change, etc. At the end each group presented their work.
During the 6th teaching hour all the students together with their guests entered the classrooms in order to collaborate and prepare a project after other children of the department, thus celebrating the day of multilingualism.
At noon the students returned to their homes while the teachers tasted a traditional Greek dish at a tavern in Hortiatis.
In the afternoon there was a tour of the sights of Hortiatis. Students of the Greek group narrated and gave information about the martyred village of Hortiatis.
The tour started from the Holocaust memorial...
...followed by the Gouramani oven...
...Damboudi house...
... the tour ended at the chapel of Agia Paraskevi.
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 26, 2023
According to the program, the day was dedicated to the forest of Hortiatis. It was combined with the 10th Panhellenic School Sports Day - European School Sports Day 2023 which had the theme " Movement gives life ". All the students of the school gathered in the morning and slowly started to climb towards the forest. Voices and laughter echoed everywhere.
At 12.00 the school students left while the ERASMUS team continued the climb up to the shelter. On their way there was a tour of the Indian trail built by Indians during the 1st world war and of the "ice makers' shops" who collected the ice and preserved it until it was transported to the city of Thessaloniki. Of course, at the time when there were no refrigerators yet.
In the shelter the meal was ready and waiting for students and teachers. All the students helped serve the dishes.
After lunch, the students, encouraged by their teacher, played a game to raise awareness with the natural environment and develop trust with their partner. They then tried to upload their photos to a padlet designed for this purpose, noting their experience and their feelings.
Final product of the game
At the end of the game and after the group photo, students and teachers made their way back.
The descent lasted about 1 hour. A short coffee break and the day ended with visits to local businesses and to the church of Agios Georgios where the priest, Father Apostolos, welcomed the group according to the Agioreitiko custom.
In the church of Agios Georgios
This was followed by a visit to the "ALEXANDRA" Patisserie. The owner welcomed the group with joy and gave them a tour of the dessert making area. She gave information about the materials she uses and where she stores them, the machines and devices, while also referring to her working hours, everyday and special on occasions of holidays, birthdays, weddings, etc. At the end she treated students and teachers to a cup of ice cream.
The day ended with the team visiting the local, family business "Sinkleta Felting". Ms. Sinkleta showed us how she makes the felt fabric using wool (combed and dyed) and soapy water. Her impressive creations range from small flowers that adorn clothes, rings and earrings to bags and dresses.
WEDNESDAY 27/9/2023
Wednesday's program included a visit to EUROPE DIRECT in Thessaloniki and then a sightseeing tour of the city. However, before the departure of the group, and at the event grounds of the school, the students of GEL Hortiatis and members of the ERASMUS group, informed the guests about the history of each monument/faith of Thessaloniki that they would visit.
First stop is EUROPE DIRECT. The group was initially informed about its role in informing young people about studying abroad, volunteering, etc. Afterwards, speeches related to the topic of the program, the effect of the environment on human psychology and the importance of sustainability were presented. While the visit ended with a presentation related to the youth parliament of Europe.
The continuation was very pleasant for everyone, we walked through the streets of Thessaloniki, we felt the rhythms and the aroma of the city and we felt its history through the centuries.
Next stop the statue of Alexander the Great.
The White Tower, a symbol of Thessaloniki, had its turn. The group was split into 3 subgroups to go up to go through the exhibits and enjoy the view.
From the White Tower the group walked all the way through Navarino Square with stops to observe the ruins from the Palace of Galerius to the Kamara, Arch of Galerius. From that point the Rotunda looked imposing.
A short break for lunch in the city and the tour started again from the White Tower. The group walked along the old beach to Aristotelous Square.
The group crossed the entire square reaching the ancient Roman Agora.
A short stop at the Roman Agora and from there very soon the group arrived at the church of the city's patron Saint Demetrius. It is worth noting that although the students had already given information about the sights of the city, there was no lack of markings on the most important points.
The cultural experience in the city was completed with a visit to the Triangle Tower. The view from the point is excellent! Despite all the fatigue, no one wanted to leave this particular location.
THURSDAY 28/9/2023
The educational visits had their due today. The first visit was to the American Agricultural College. There the group was split into two smaller ones to make it easier to follow. The first group followed agricultural production while the second followed animal production and vice versa.
During the tour of the crops, information was first given on the varieties of wine and the reason why roses are planted on the vines. The rose is a very sensitive plant. It will be the first to possibly catch a disease, so the grower will be immediately informed of what his vine is at risk of.
This was followed by the guided tour of the garden with the fruit trees...
The person in charge showed the group how big the trunk of a centuries-old olive tree is by forming a circle of 6 people with their hands. In a similar way, the students learned and formed the trunk of the largest living olive tree found in Crete.
The group then saw the vegetable crops and the special greenhouses for growing snails.
The agricultural update was completed by transplanting pansies from the nursery pot to a slightly larger pot.
The members of the group left the plant production with the flower they transplanted as a gift.
This was followed by the guided tour of the animal sector. First stop the calves. All members of the team before entering the area went over a special disinfectant liquid. They were then briefed on calf rearing.
Then the group entered the building where they were informed about the milk pasteurization process which they saw through the special windows for this purpose.
Next stop the chicken coop. Here the entrance was made with the special footboards.
The group left the American Agricultural College clearly impressed with its facilities, cleanliness and educational work.
Next stop the Gerovasiliou estate in Epanomi. Under the shade of a large plane tree, the tour guide informed the group about the history of the vineyards and the outdoor sculptures.
The group then entered the building where they were informed about the white and red wine production process.
And it's time for the long-awaited beach. The beach of Peria was the last stop of the day for lunch, a walk and relaxation.
Everyone enjoyed the sun, the beach and some more daring the sea.
FRIDAY 29/9/2023
The last day of the program was at school with various activities. It started with a special Ancient Greek course specially designed for our guests.
This was followed by the preparation of jam from a seasonal fruit, peach. Students equipped with kitchen aprons and the teacher's guidance put all their passion for the best possible result.
The jam is ready!!!
Next was the re-use of an old, worn cotton T-shirt to make a hanging woven net with the "Macrame" technique. So the students gathered in the workroom, the scissors were handed out and instructions were given. Many succeeded, others struggled, many scissors did not cut well. The result justified the effort!
The continuation was the planting in the school yard of the flowers of students and teachers offered by the American Agricultural College, as they were not allowed to take them with them on the plane. The students were provided with buckets, buckets, etc. and the action began.
This was followed by the awarding of certificates. But before the award the students enjoyed the break in the school yard.
The award ceremony was attended by the president of the school committees of the Municipality of Pylaia-Hortiatis who offered a commemorative plaque from the Municipality.
This was followed by a buffet from the hosting families, a feast and a dance.
Saturday was departure day for all visiting teams. So, on Friday night the teachers had a farewell meeting.
The mobility actions are briefly presented in the link below.
"On the Road to a Sustainable Future"
Hortiatis 25-29/09/2023
The reception was hosted by the students: Maria Varela, Stergiani Ioannidis, Maria margarita Papadopoulou, Giorgos Gogos, Asimoula Azize Saulis, Ilianna Xanthou,
Aristides Tsakmakidis, Alexandros Lymbudis, Dialechti Petridou, Ioannis Tselepis, Sevastiani Despinoudis, Alexandra Mylonas, Velia Stepits Hatzis, Dimitra Kantarzis, Styliani Giannakopoulou, Hypermachia Paraschos, Konstantinos Mantoudis, Anastasia Gokou, Ephrosyne Dimitra Mitroglou, Vasiliki Ketikidou and Jason Saridis.
Date in December in Germany!!!
Preparation for hosting
Feverish preparation began in order to have everything ready on time. The school was cleaned. The students prepared the teacher and student cards as well as the gifts that we would offer them during the welcome day at school.
The program ready to be sent to partner schools.
Create a group on WhatsApp
Initially, a whatsApp group called "Sustainable Future" was created. All the students participated in the group to get to know each other and all the teachers to communicate and inform directly with the students.
Logo contest results
On September 12, 2023, the results were announced in which two logos tied.
Therefore, a new vote was held between the two which highlighted the Spanish logo as the most representative of our program.
Congratulations from all of us!!!
Run a logo contest
Initially, the rules for conducting the competition were sent to all schools. Each school, after an internal competition for the program's logo, sent you the winning logo that would represent their country. An electronic secret ballot was organized. No one was allowed to vote for their own logo. The voting took a long time, from July 30, 2023 until September 13, 2023, due to the summer holidays.
The competing logos:
SPAIN - GREECE - SLOVAKIA - GERMANY
25/5/2023
3rd Preparatory Webinar
in order to confirm the mobilities and proceed
in running a logo contest for our program.
We took over its organization, defined the rules and the stages
its implementation.
20/12/2022
2nd Preparatory Webinar
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On Tuesday, December 20, 2022, an online event was organized
meeting everyone's colleagues
of the cooperating schools.
We defined the mobilities and the number
of participating students and teachers.
We also created a group on whatsApp to
we communicate more directly.
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(1).png)
6/12/2022
1st Preparatory Webinar
- Max-Planck-Gymnasium Ludwingshafen am Rhein from Germany and
- Zaklagna Skola Ulica Vajanskeho from Slovakia.
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