The Primary School of Peter Bezruc is located in the centre of the urban area of Třinec, which is an industrial town. There are 246 pupils in 10 classes from the age of six to fifteen. The total number of staff is 40, including 21 teachers at the elementary school, 4 teachers at the kindergarten, 4 assistants for pupils with special needs, and 11 other employees - cleaners, cooks and office workers.
Because of its small size the school is considered to be a "family school“ providing general education. All the subjects are taught in a modern way in modern well-equipped classrooms and labs usually with interactive boards or data projectors. Both teachers and students can use the wireless connection. Concerning the language education students start learning a foreign language (English) in the 1st grade. Later on the second language is added in grade 7 (German, Russian and Spanish are on the offer). We also put emphasis on ICT education and pupils are guided and encouraged to use modern technology tools in the school subjects.
We devote all our efforts to students´ needs and we try to react quickly to any negative changes in the school environment. Almost over a decade we have been cooperating successfully with the local police forces and pupils of all age range are involved in their programme. In this way we try to face bad behavior such as violence, bullying, truancy, repetitive failure and so on.
These are often the consequences of the family background of the pupils, as the area around the school is affected by unemployment (7-9%), gambling and alcoholism. More than a half of the pupils grow up in single-parent families or have one step parent.
The economic situation in most families is not very good and for that reason the school tries to prepare free or inexpensive activities (sport, drama, crafts clubs, choir etc.) There are annual festivals for pupils, like Christmas singing, carnival, singing and recitation on Mother´s Day and the Earth Day Project. The school organizes a few excursions for pupils to learn about the Czech Republic, although mostly within the local area. Every year we organize a ski course for the older students.
However, to lower the risk of social exclusion and improve the social atmosphere within the school, regular meetings with psychologists and similar specialists, lectures and team building activities are organized for both pupils as well as for teachers.
Our area altogether with the nearby villages has a rich mixed culture influenced by other two countries in the close border area, Slovakia and Poland. Tough life in the past, the Beskydy Mountains and rich folklore have been imprinted in this area, which can be currently seen. Showing the different lifestyle and culture to our partners in the project will enrich their view of variety of other countries.
The experience that our students and teachers will get in this project will undoubtedly bring them benefits in the form of making new friends, getting to know other national cultures, developing their language and communicative skills. Finally it will enlarge awareness of European Union.
Romania
Scoala Gimnaziala Berchisesti is a public school situated in Suceava, in Bukovina region, a place on the northern slopes of the central Eastern Carpathians, in Romania. It offers full education to primary and elementary students, aged from 6 to 15 years old, in order to acquire knowledge and skills, promoting self-reliance and encouraging respect and appreciation through a variety of learning experiences.
We have 30 fully-qualified teachers and 366 students, almost 40% of them being Romani. They are integrated among the other students in our school which provides inclusive access to equal opportunities in education. Promoting equal chances for Romani students in education and creating a non-selective and non-discriminatory education system based on acknowledging the diversity of ethnic values and culture are fundamental steps of ensuring a healthy multicultural society.
Turkey
Akşemseddin Science and and Art Center is a public school in Niğde, which is a city in the middle of Turkey, and it gives gifted education which is a broad term for special practices, procedures and theories used in the education of children who have been identified as gifted or talented. There are 11 teachers and 75 students who come from different villages, towns, districts and the center of the city, and whose ages range from 10 to 18.
Our teachers are chosen every year by the cooperative work of our headmaster, Niğde Provincial Directorate for National Education and Niğde Governorship.
Our students are tested with Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, which is an individually administered intelligence test for children between the ages of 6 and 16 inclusive that can be completed without reading and writing, and which takes 65-80 minutes to administer and generate an IQ score representing a child’s general cognitive ability. If their IQ level is above 130, they are accepted by Akşemseddin Science and Art Center. They go on their education at their schools, but they come to Akşemseddin Science and art Center before and/or after their schools in order to join extracurricular activities.
Students who give evidence of high performance capability in areas such as intellectual, creative, artistic, leadership capacity, or specific academic fields and who require services or activities are provided not only by their schools but also by Akşemseddin Science and Art Center in order to fully develop such capabilities as majority of the gifted or talented students have a tendency to early school leaving. For this reason, if we fail to understand their needs, if their needs are not met, gifted or talented children can be at risk for academic achievement, social isolation, and depression. In short, we are trying to do our best for them by preparing activities in Akşemseddin Science and Art Center, and joining not only the national activities but also the international activities.
Bulgaria
Osnovno uchilishte "Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodi"
We are Secondary school “St. St. Kiril and Methodius” from the village of Chelopech. The capital city Sofia is located 75km away from us. Our school is unique in its well built relationships with the local authorities and industry.
In the school we offer wide variety of extracurricular activities that give our children opportunity for development in the different kinds of arts, science, music, sport and prepare them for future success in life. Our goal is to stimulate participation of the students in Olympiads, contests and competitions. This way they will further develop the skills and knowledge they already have. All these efforts result in our recognition in the region and in Bulgaria – 2nd place for our team in cycling, 3rd place in national basketball competition, 6th place in “Spelling Bee” – 2014, 1st place for National quiz “Mind the children on the roads.”, 6th place in the tournament “Young firefighter”. 2nd place for ski slalom.
Our 130 students are from the range of 5 to 14 years. The teaching staff is represented by 17 teachers and 11 people from administration. We have completed two European projects for integration of children and students from ethnic minorities. Our focus is to improve the quality of education through innovations and modern methods of communication.
Learning English from early age is critical for a successful personal and professional communication in the globalized world of 21st century.
