"Short exchange of students in Lithuania. 3 students from each school with 2 teachers accompanying them will take part in creative writing workshops using drama techniques. The children will 'act out' the fairy tale of the partnership and a common video will be created."
It was a great event and a challenge for the school community - to host 18 students! The teachers stayed at a hotel in Birstonas.Students stayed in host families. On Monday the students participated in the activity Let's get acquainted.After that they answered 3 questions creatively and showed what values they appreciate.
After the arrival of teachers, all participants walked under the "arch" made from sashes (our students dressed in national costums held the sashes) to the door of the assembly hall where they were met with bread and salt
and then in the assembly hall a short concert was shown.
Then, the participants listened to the headteachers' welcome speech and afterwards were introduced to the school community.
A film about Prienai was shown. All the guest countries showed their "homework", which was very interesting to see.
After lunch the students participated in the workshop in the Art classroom - made and decorated caps and masks for the Story/Play.
On Tuesday all the teams went on a trip to Kaunas,
where they watched a performance in the National Puppet theatre and participated in an educational programme about puppets. It was amazing!
After lunch we visited Devil's museum- a unique and the only one in the world, which possesses about 3000 devils.
On Wednesday the students had a workshop "Ceramics" in the Art classroom and learnt about clay, worked with it making different things and decorating them.
Later their works were packed carefully, put in a box and taken home to their countries.
Welcome of students and teachers at the municipality was held.The Mayor welcomed our guests and presents were exchanged between delegations and Municipality.
After coming back to school the headteacher showed the guests around the school and introduced them to the teachers and pupils in the classrooms.Students had the first rehearsal of the play with the drama teachers Vytaute and Art teacher Ausra- they were the "directors' of the play and wanted to see the actors
.After lunch students participated in an educational programme "The way of bread to our homes".They saw some traditions of making bread, made it themseves and when it was ready in the oven, took the loaves home.
The teachers had a pleasant trip around Birstonas, visited the local museum, climbed Vytautas hill and admired the view of Nemuna' loops.
In the evening the teachers visited sanatorium "Egle" and had a nice swim in the swimming pools.
On Thursday morning the participants enjoyed dancing sport dances - the activity was organized by Religion and Lithuanian teacher Daiva (She is the winner of 3rd place in Europe)
After we all danced Lithuanian national dances.
Students took part in the rehearsal and a dress rehearsal
. After lunch the Play was staged and the school community watched it, video was made. It was very exciting!ad lots of fun. students were tired but they worked like real actors! So, the task of the meeting was fulfilled! We have made a video of the Story Erasmus Little Riding Hoods! (Now our school needs some time to finish as it should be -with music, subtitles,etc.
Though students were tired, they participated in Robotics, where they used their creativity.
In the evening a solemn closing ceremony was held in local culture and leisure centre. Fashion show was organized by technology teacher Rasa, certificates of attendance were given to students and teachers; Appreciations were given to the teachers.
The group of local national dances showed the participants of the event our national dances after what all joined in.
Coffe was served and a nice big cake "Erasmus+" was tasted.
On Friday all the teachers and students participated in an educational programme "Chocolate making lesson" in Trakai. We learnt about coffee and cocoa beans,their origin, places where they grow; how chocolate is made and sweets made from chocolate. After we could practice making sweets - the most beautiful one was chosen and the student got a sweet award.
After visiting the chocolate museum, we were given Certificates proving that we had become masters in this field. After we walked along the path by the lake and admired Trakai castle, took a common photo of the group.
There were many shops with souvenirs and we had possibility to buy something to remember Lithuania by.
After lunch we went to Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania and had a guided trip in the Old Town.
We visited the Cathedral, admired St. Ann's church, watched the rehearsal of the military parade by the President's palace to commemorate 15th anniversary of Lithuania's membership in NATO.
We walked along the narrow streets, listening to the guide's stories about the history of the town until we came to the Gates of Dawn.The weather was cold and windy for our friends from southern countries a little bit, but all the participants showed maturity and endurance, kept smiling.We had some free time to buy souvenirs and see the places you liked best of all and in the evening , full of impressions, returned to Prienai. Teachers were taken to the hotel in Birstonas.
On Saturday all the teams were taken either to Kaunas bus station or to the airports and went home to their countries.
Parents have had a great experience, they liked to host one or two children, to have a larger family. Friendships were made, hope, they will keep writing to each other.The school has enriched the cultural life, the students met and communicated with their peers from other European countries, learnt about writers and culture and improved their English speaking skills. Our pupils became more self-confident as well.They acted on the stage!The meeting will be in our hearts, it feels like a once in a life experience!We tasted karaite's national food kibinai and Lithuanian cepelinai in "Senoji kibinine".