The fourth international workshop

“Local folk art, stand up drama, craftwork, singing and dance workshops”  

at Gimnazjum im. ks. Jana Twardowskiego w Zespole Szkół w Rozogach, Poland

 

Schools involved:

- 1st Primary School of Schimatari, Kosma Aitolou & Trion Ierarchon, 32009 Schimatari, Viotia, Greece,

- Gimnazjum im. ks. Jana Twardowskiego w Zespole Szkół w Rozogach, ul. Rynek 13, 12 -114 Rozogi, Poland

- Osnovna šola Toma Brejca, Šutna 39, 1241 Kamnik, Słowenia,

- Osnovna škola Darda, 31326 Darda, Školska 9, Croatia.

Contact details of the organizing school: tel. 89 722 65 12, fax. 89 722 65 12, e-mail: zsrozogi@interia.pl

Name and surname of the person responsible for the substantive value of the activity: Anita Dąbrowska

The range of activity: The activity of the Erasmus + project entitled "Through artistic abilities to developed basic skills"

Activity implementation time: from 19.03.2018 to 25.03.2018

1. The aims of the workshop:

- to get to know other cultures, schools, traditions and customs;

- to prepare and present the Kurpian performance - Stand Up Drama - "In the Kurpian Chamber", by Jan Kania, in English;

- to get to know and learn the folk Kurpian dances with professional choreography accompanied by the folk musician;

- to give the opportunity to benefit from the experience of our foreign partners' schools, to implement what is interesting and innovative;

- to make products of Kurpian art: dough sculptures, paper flowers and paper cut-outs;

- to create bonds of friendship between young people and their families, teachers and animators;

- to integrate young people, and to overcome social and language barriers;

- to motivate pupils from different countries and with different educational, economic and social difficulties to learn national and foreign languages;

- to promote the sharing of school experience in methods, innovation and good practice in order to improve pupils' basic skills through the arts, dance and theatre;

- to develop pupils' and teachers' foreign language, communication, mathematical and ICT skills;

- to develop and promote students' creativity and responsibility through their involvement in the whole process of planning, organizing and presenting their achievements during the workshops;

- to experience Polish, Kurpian regional culture and traditions cultivated in the region;

- to learn about and visit the most interesting places in Warsaw: the Warsaw Uprising Museum, the Old Town - getting to know the culture and heritage of Poland;

- to visit Olsztyn, the Museum of Warmia and Masuria, the castle of the Warmia Cathedral Chapter;

- to taste traditional Polish and Kurpian dishes;

- to create an opportunity for cooperation between the Municipality Culture Centre in Rozogi and the “Cultural Association Terpsichore” of Schimatari, Greece.

2. Description of the activities:

The preparation and organisation of such an undertaking as international workshops is a long-term process, requiring the involvement of many people and time, which already started at the stage of applying for the funding from the Erasmus+ programme two years earlier. At that time, what was going to be the subject of it was defined and a framework plan was established for it.

Proper preparations for the workshop "Local folk art, stand up drama, craftwork, singing and dance workshop" at Gimnazjum im. ks. Jana Twardowskiego in Rozogi started in August 2017,  when an agreement was signed with Mr Jan Kania to use his work in our project and to translate it into English. It was then that the project coordinator and English teacher Anita Dąbrowska translated the play "In the Kurpian Chamber" from the folk dialect into English, which was a real challenge.

At the beginning of the 2017/2018 school year, Polish teacher Elżbieta Siernicka together with her students continued to work on the preparation of the school show of this play as one of the main stages in the preparation for the workshop during the extracurricular classes - "Back to the roots". Pupils of the Polish school experienced the live Kurpian dialect playing their roles in the scene and then trying to play them in English in an international team, because after the translation of the text - students from all partner schools could familiarize themselves with it and choose their roles before they came to the workshops in Rozogi, and thus learn the reality of the life in a Kurpian village in the past.

It was also necessary to find and employ local folk artists and animators to lead the art drama and dance workshops in English, which was another challenge.

The international workshop was attended by students of schools from Slovenia, Croatia, Greece and Gimnazjum im. ks. Jan Twardowskiego in Rozogi, their tutors - teachers from abroad, as well as teachers from the middle school and primary schools from Rozogi and Dąbrowy. The School Head Teacher, Ms Joanna Wasik, parents of the students, service staff and local entrepreneurs were involved in the organization of the workshop. The whole project activity was supervised and monitored by the international coordinator, Ms Anita Dąbrowska.
    On the first day, 19th March 2018, everyone met in the gym, where the guests from abroad and all other participants of the international workshop were greeted. The international workshop provided an excellent opportunity to improve the English language skills in a variety of situations. Pupils from the Polish school greeted the guests with their dance and music repertoire. They danced “Polonez” and explained the importance of this dance in the country. A group of students from the Klon department of the Polish school presented a dance titled "Old Lady" in Kurpian costumes. Students from Rozogi performed a Latin American dance “Cha-Cha”. Then the attendees of the workshop worked in 3 groups under the direction of dance and drama animators, and folk artists. The dance group was led by Ms Patrycja Kuczyńska from Kurpian origin, an expert in Kurpian dances. The dance classes were accompanied by a folk musician, Mr Jan Kania, who is famous for his excellent playing on pedal accordion. Students interested in drama worked with Mrs Agnieszka Hakizimana, who conducted a series of integration games in English. All the pupils took part in the activities. Elżbieta Kasznia, this year's winner of "Kurpik" - a prize for outstanding achievements in the Kurpie region, took on the task of teaching the partakers how to make crepe paper flowers. Mr Stanisław Ropiak - also this year's winner of "Kurpik" - specializes mainly in Kurpian cut-outs led the art workshop in another group. Great Kurpian cut-outs were created under his skilful hand during the classes. Students from abroad, as well as the Polish middle school students, had the opportunity to learn about the folk art products characteristic for the Kurpie region. The perfect solution was to change groups, as this allowed each participant to get to know the dances, take part in drama classes, make flowers out of crepe paper and try to cut out paper cut-outs. The students were divided into permanent groups according to the following clubs: dance, drama and art. All were assigned roles and tasks. At the end of the first day of the workshop, all attendees watched a presentation of the Slovenian school showed by pupils and teachers from Slovenia. All could learn some interesting things about Kamnik and Ljubljana. After that, visitors from abroad spent their free time with the Polish families. Parents tried to make the most of their time attractive and provide them with various additional diversions and get to know each other better.
    On the second day, work at the clubs continued: Kurpie dances and games were practised, paper flowers and cut-outs were made, props and decorations were prepared for the show, acting was practised - work on the performance "In the Kurpian Chamber". On that day, the partakers learned how to decorate polystyrene Easter eggs. The representatives from Croatia presented their school, city, country and cultural heritage to everyone. Everyone had the opportunity to learn a technique of gold decoration and letters of the Old-Croatian alphabet.
    The following day, visitors from abroad and representatives of the middle school in Rozogi visited Olsztyn and its most interesting places, such as the Museum of Warmia and Masuria in the Castle, the Old Town. They watched the Universe in the Planetarium and visited Kortowo – Warmia and Masuria University Campus.

The next day, the participants of the workshop explored the most interesting places in Warsaw. They visited the Museum of the Warsaw Uprising of 1944 and the Old Town. Thanks to these trips, guests from abroad could learn about the history, culture of the country and understand the Polish heritage.
    Since the workshop was devoted to the culture and traditions of the Kurpie region, there was also a crafts workshop in Kadzidło. The attendees learned how to make sculptures of dough called "BYŚKI" and tried traditional, homemade yeast cake, playing and roasting sausages by the bonfire. In the afternoon of the fifth day, work continued in the clubs, songs and dances were practised, the performance was being prepared and an art and stage exhibition was held. Participants from Greece presented their school, the city of Schimatari, the country and traditions, especially related to dancing, the students presented several of them.
     On the sixth day of the workshop in Rozogi, a performance entitled "In the Kurpian Chamber" was held for the parents, members of the local community, representatives of institutions and local authorities, performed by the participants from all partner schools. During this show, dances and songs from each country were also presented. The event was enriched by a performance of the Greek dance group "Cultural Association Terpsichore", who came from Greece especially for this day and the next one. They presented the Aegean dances to the audience.

It was a very colourful event thanks to the folk costumes from each country, in which the participants performed. From a village scene in a Kurpian cottage, it became an impressive international folklore spectacle. Then, the participation certificates and Europass - Language Passports - were distributed to all attendees of the workshop meeting in Rozogi. And after the ceremony, everyone attended a lavish lunch cooked by the parents of the Polish students, the school canteen and agritourist houses, which welcomed our guests. There were 36 dishes served, including regional dishes from the Kurpie region. Foreign guests had the opportunity to taste the flavours of the Polish hospitality and home-made cuisine.

             On the seventh day, all workshop attendees took part in the Palm Sunday Ceremony so that our guests could learn about this regional tradition. The participants of the workshop also enriched the ceremony of announcing the results of the Easter Palms Competition. The "Cultural Association Terpsichore" dance group, invited by the Polish school, presented their dances again, to a much wider audience, while the group of students from Greece showed an excellent performance of the Zorba dance. The representatives of the Slovenian school sang a folk song and students from Croatia performed a folk dance in beautiful folk costumes. At the end of the artistic part, an international presentation of a Kurpian dance "Fafur" took place together with two local games "Kaczor" – “A Drake” and "Zając" – “A Rabbit”, which participants learned during the workshops. Among the guests in the full hall at the event were: the Mayor of the Rozogi Municipality, the Szczytno County Governor and Members of the Polish Parliament from Warmia and Masuria District, the residents of Rozogi municipality and the surrounding towns and villages. It was an amazing spectacle, the students from different countries presented their skills acquired during the workshops to the much wider audience.

http://www.zsrozogi.pl/index.php/dzialania-projektowe/100-warsztaty-miedzynarodowe-pt-folklorystyczna-drama-stand-up-sztuka-rekodzielo-i-tance-regionalne,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7giTE-b-W8&t=24s  

3. Institutions supporting the implementation of the workshops.
Municipality Office in Rozogi, Municipal Cultural Centre in Rozogi, Municipal Public Library in Rozogi - Department in Dąbrowy, Cultural Centre - “Cultural Association Terpsichore” from Schimatari, Greece, “Agroturystyka przy kominku" - “Agrotourism at the fireplace” in Rozogi, Agrotourism house - Rozmaryn - Rosemary" in Rozogi, Tourist Office "Mówiący kij - Speaking Stick", local shops and restaurants.

4. Description of the results achieved during the workshops:
-There were 120 people directly involved in the workshop: 66 pupils and 24 teachers, as well as 12 adult members of the dance group from Schimatari, Greece took part in the activities: 10 pupils, 4 teachers from the Croatian school; 10 pupils, 3 teachers from the Slovenian school; 10 pupils, 3 teachers and one accompanying person from the Greek school; 36 pupils and 11 teachers from the host school and 2 teachers from the neighbouring primary schools; 5 local artists and instructors; 13 people from the kitchen and staff of the host school.
- Ten teachers from abroad, 11 teachers from the host school and 2 teachers from neighbouring schools, with the guidance of the local artists, worked together to achieve the final products and results of the workshop.
- 30 pupils from abroad and 36 pupils from Rozogi collaborated in clubs on their final products, developing cooperation and communication skills.
- All participating teachers and pupils developed and broadened their language skills in English, German and also learned a few words and sentences in the languages of the other schools, using a five-language dictionary prepared by the teachers from the four partner schools to achieve the objectives of the project.
- All pupils, including those with different barriers and disabilities, were motivated to learn from each other, as well as to learn foreign and national languages.
- Students and teachers from abroad got to know Polish culture and history of Rozogi and Poland, visiting the most important places in Rozogi, Olsztyn, Warsaw and Kadzidło.
- Students improved their communication skills by talking to each other and making friends with peers from four different countries.
- They prepared and publicly performed the Stand-Up theatre performance "In the Kurpian Chamber", working in 3 groups (drama, music - dance and art).
- All participating pupils developed their basic skills by participating in all planned activities, carrying out their tasks.
- Students and teachers have developed and promoted their creativity, cooperation skills and responsibility.
- Representatives of four partner schools shared the customs of their countries with others.
- Teachers shared their experiences and innovations by working together in the clubs.
- all attendees improved their ICT skills by using different translation applications and preparing school presentations on Movie Maker and PowerPoint, as well as by sharing their work and photos with each other on Google Documents and Photos, Facebook, YouTube, etc.
- The parents of the host school took part in the workshop by cooking meals, baking cakes for the guests and showing them their habits and traditions at home so that foreign participants could taste local cuisine and learn about some of the local traditions.
- Local authorities met with the foreign participants in the Municipal Office and took part in the main event of the workshop.
- Local tourist office "Mówiący kij" helped in organizing trips and presented ideas for interesting attractions.
- Teachers and staff at the host school were very helpful, kitchen staff cooked lunches, second breakfasts and snacks for the guests.
- The very good cooperation between the host school's teachers and the guests has been confirmed once again with the excellent final products.
- The Municipal Cultural Centre in Rozogi, as well as the Mayor of the Municipality of Rozogi, have established cooperation with the “Cultural Association Terpsichore” from Schimatari, Greece.
5. Conclusions on the implementation
- The contribution of the work to the planning and implementation of the international workshops at Gimnazjum in Rozogi led to the success of this project and resulted in an extremely colourful and beautiful international multicultural spectacle.

- All the objectives were achieved and the workshop was a remarkable school event, providing an incredible experience for students, teachers and the local community.
- Students from abroad were delighted with the hospitality of their families, with whom they communicated in English with the help of their Polish peers. They also used translation applications to help them communicate with some of the families.
- Both students and teachers admired the reception, generosity, and hospitality of Poles.
- Each participating school presented itself and its own country through the presentations of Movie Maker and PowerPoint, thanks to which the other partakers gained knowledge about the cultures, customs, cuisine, dances, schools, cities and regions of the presenting attendees.
- Bonds have been established between teachers and pupils attending the workshop in their own school groups, as well as between schools.
- There were also bonds created in the host families with the visitors from abroad and with teachers, which was evident in the final stage of the workshop when pupils and adults cried out saying their goodbye to each other. Everyone will be in touch with each other through phone applications and social media.
- All participants contribute equally to the final products: Stand Up Drama Performance - "In the Kurpian Chamber" with folk dances, songs, paper flowers and cut-outs, decorative eggs and dough sculptures.
- An opportunity to compare cultures, nations and heritage was created during the educational trips to Olsztyn, Warsaw and Kadzidło.
- The commitment, professionalism and cooperation skills of the teachers and the staff of the Polish school were impressive and set a good example for their guests.
- A lot of solutions appeared in the workshops, which were liked by the participants and will be introduced to the everyday work of the other schools.
- Everyone had the opportunity to learn about the organisation and equipment of the school in Rozogi, and some of the solutions will be used in partner schools - like project noticeboard, language lab, etc.
- The workshop in Rozogi once again proved that children and adults from different countries are the same and that despite many differences they can work and create something valuable together.
- The invitation and commitment of the Greek dance group to the activities and the presentation of their dances were a great experience, which gave new opportunities to all involved in the activities of the workshop. There came up a possibility to continue the project, which was not planned at the application stage. Exchange of dance groups from Poland and Greece and participation in international folklore festivals were declared. In addition, a Croatian dance group was invited to take part in a folk dance festival in Schimatari, Greece.

 

6. Explanation why the activity is an example of good practice.
- The international workshop was the most attractive educational activity at school for both students and teachers;
- Student have acquired a lot of valuable new skills, they have integrated with students of other nationalities; they are aware of the diversity and otherness of many cultures; they have experienced that school teaches and plays at the same time; students and teachers have developed foreign language skills and acquired communication, mathematical and ICT skills;
- The attendees of the workshops developed and promoted their creativity and learned responsibility for the tasks undertaken;
- The workshop enabled Polish and foreign pupils to visit specific parts of the Polish homeland, including the painful history of the Second World War - the Warsaw Uprising Museum;
- Regionalism classes made the young people aware of a very important role that is played by traditions, and that returning to the roots of each nation plays a significant part in everyone’s life.
 

Photos, PowerPoint, Video presentations and sharing our experiences and impressions can be followed on:

The project website:

https://developedbasicskills.wordpress.com/international-workshops/greece/,

on our Facebook group profile:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1130309967060277/?ref=bookmarks,

and the schools’ websites:

Polish: ttp://www.zsrozogi.pl/index.php/dzialania-projektowe,

Greek:

http://1dimschim.weebly.com/1omicron-deltaiotaalphakapparhoalphatauiotakappa972-epsilonrhogammaalphasigmatau942rhoiota.html,

Croatian: http://www.os-darda.skole.hr/erasmus/doga_anja,

Slovenian:

www.ostb.si.

eTwinning: https://twinspace.etwinning.net/18101/home,

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvCZdpvi7poAu9OdIF9xMPg?view_as=subscriber,

and on http://www.ko.olsztyn.pl/2018/01/23/przyklady-dobrych-praktyk-zgloszonych-w-2018-r/.