Spojena škola, Tokajicka 24, Bratislava, Slovakia, hosted "ACIVE BODY=HEALTHY MIND" a short-term exchange of group of students from 2nd October to 6th October, 2017.

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During the meeting the following activities took place:

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On the first day the whole group of over 60 people moved to the gym where Slovak headmaster Miroslav Marušic welcomed them and Slovak students prepared a fashion show. After a short culture program, students and teachers formed 4 groups and visited all pavilons of Spojená škola.

After the lunch break guest teachers held lessons for students. Students and teachers were divided into two paralel groups and they participated in lessons conducted by Bulgarian /creating of bookmarks/, Polish /physics + Kahoot/, Turkish /marbling/ and Italian /important facts about the European Union/ teachers.

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On Tuesday mini Olympic Games were held in the playground Mladá Garda in various sport disciplines: running 100m, running 400m, long jump, shot put, relay running /2 boys and 2 girls from the national team; 400 m/. Students from each country took part, each country also participated in the organization and evaluation of all sport activities. At the end of the event, the results of the individual competition disciplines were evaluated and the students winning one of the discipline received  „gold“, „silver“ and „bronze“ medals.  The winner of the competiton was the 7-member team from Slovakia, which won the Olympic games cup.

In the afternoon the group moved by bus to the Small Carpathians and villages Pezinok and Limbach. In Pezinok we visited ceramic workshop – production of traditional Slovak Folk Majolica focused on traditional decors and shapes, through which the cultural heritage of this region is still kept alive. The production includes colorful, blue, green and haban color majolica. During the excursion our students could try to produce some ceramic product. The atmosphere of the tour was pleasant and relaxed.

In the evening we spent a very great time in small Carpathian´ village Limbach, which is famous for its vineyards, wine production and fruit growing. Our team visited typical wine cellar in Limbach, where we could taste Slovak food typical for this period of year and dance with Folklore Ensemble Lipka.

 

On Wednesday the students and teachers were divided into small groups in order to get to know Slovak practical and theoretical learning. Group A started in gym with FIT balls exercise conducted by Slovak teachers Zita and Darina, Group B participated in sewing workshop, group C created souvenirs from wood in woodcraft workshop /creating of pendants and keychains/, Group D took part in styling and photo studios. After the break students and teachers could change and attend an English lesson with Slovak English teacher Zuzana, woodcraft with Stano, styling conducted by Jana and Žaneta or sewing with Darina. Slovak students and teachers showed guest students and teachers how practical classes are organized at their school and how much satisfaction can be get from handicrafts.           

The next point of the program was welcoming by the major of the city Bratislava in Primacial palace and visiting of tapestries and other rooms of the palace with an English speaking guide. From the palace, we continued the tour in the old city of Bratislava: The Main Square and Old Town Hall, statues – Napoleon, Čumil, Schone Náci, Slovak National Theatre + other theatres, Reduta, Hviezdoslav Square, various statues, Bratislava Castle, history of Bratislava; the Danube, bridges, parks, Aupark, UFO, Baroque Garden, St Martin’s Cathedral + other churches, Trinity Church, Presidential Palace, St Michael’s Tower and gates. Slovak students were guides.

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On Thursday we met at school in conference room where integration workshop with Junior Achievement Slovakia and Gretka was held. Students and teachers were divided into 7 international groups. Each group had a package with small material. Their task was to produce a toy, draw a poster, to invent a business name and a toy name and to present it to the audience.

One of the topics of the project is Career planning. Spojena škola has a succesful cooperation with IBM Slovakia. Lectors Mirka and Oľga from IBM presented important and interesting information related to career planning.

After workshops with JA and IBM the students and teachers could admire national cultural monument – Devin castle. In the evening teachers met for discussion about the progress of the project and the third short-term exchange of group of pupils which will be held next year in Italy. Students visited the area of Eurovea in the centre of the city for relaxing and walking by the river Danube.

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On Friday we visited Vienna by bus. In 19th century Slovakia was part of Austrian-Hungarian Empire. In the afternoon we participated in various dancing activities (including a lesson of hip hop dance). At the end of the evening all students and teachers who actively worked during the project meeting received certificates during a ceremony.

 

Agáta Danielovičová

Slovak coordinator