Kick off meeting - mobility to Poland.

The first meeting of students and teachers from countries participating in the international project "Unity in Diversity" co-financed by the European Union is behind us. On October 8-13, 2023 our school had the honor of hosting 15 students and 6 teachers from Türkiye, Greece and Romania. We have been preparing for this event for a very long time, in which the entire school community was involved.

It was an organizational meeting - The Kick off meeting, which was also intended to familiarize guests with the traditions of Polish cuisine and emphasize the role of health prevention, which is an important topic for everyone, regardless of where they live.

 On Sunday, we welcomed guests at the airport in Krakow. Apart from us, there was also a wonderful sun waiting for them, which is not always so obvious at this time of year. The students participating in the project are children aged 10-12, so this time we decided to stay overnight in a hotel where they remained under the care of their teachers.

On Monday, delegations from partner countries arrived at our school for the official welcome ceremony. Already at the entrance, representatives of the Student Government were waiting for them, and warmly welcomed the guests, of course in English. Each foreign student was assigned a student tutor from our school who accompanied him during the entire visit in carrying out project tasks. After breaking the ice, we divided into groups and went on a tour of the school.

Then it was time for the artistic program, the main point of which was the preventive performance "The little prince", prepared in two language versions. There were also dance and vocal performances. We watched traditional dances like: Krakowiak, Trojak or Polonaise. During the inauguration of the project, we were also honored by the presence of the deputy mayor, Mr. Michał Maroński, who welcomed guests from partner schools. 

 

Monday was also the beginning of Erasmus Days celebrations at our school. #ErasmusDays is an initiative aimed at disseminating the results of projects implemented under the Erasmus+ program. The kick off meeting was registered as an official event, so that day there was also    a task related to promoting the results of our program. Project participants prepared slogans promoting Erasmus and created word clouds in the Wordclouds application. The students' works were printed and used to create decorations in the school corridor.

 

Participants also took part in art worskhops, cause it is a universal language of people in the world, that is over any borders and breaks also language barriers. Students could unify themselves in the process of art creation. 

The culmination of Monday's visit to the school was the Polish language workshop "How to survive abroad?", during which our guests learned several phrases in Polish and learned one of the Polish songs. After such a dose of impressions on the first day, delegations from Turkey, Romania and Greece returned to the hotel to rest.

On Tuesday, we wanted to show our guests the charms of the Busko health resort. We started our trip with a visit to the Bread Chamber located at the Brother Albert Parish. We took part in a flatbread making workshop. We learned about the process of making bread, starting from growing grain, through harvesting crops and produceportion of flour until it is baked. Guests were impatiently waiting for the practical workshops during which we created flatbreads together. Creativity in the kitchen had no limits. Project participants created various compositions, which were then heat treated. The baking process in a pine wood-fired bread oven and the ingredients used for production create the extraordinary taste and aroma of the traditional flatbread. We were delighted.

The next stop during our trip was the Brine Graduation Tower, where our guests, with the gentle sound of water flowing down the black thorn branches and the salt mist floating in the air, could soothe their senses, breathe the air with the properties of the sea breeze, relax and rest. Full of energy, we moved on to discover new corners of the spa park. The students were divided into international groups in which they had to complete language tasks related to the topic of the project. “Bring a leaflet from a sanatorium, find and object on the map and take    a funny photo there,” etc. Students had to complete 10 tasks, the results of which were placed in the language portfolio prepared by teachers. The final challenge was to find the teachers in the park. Of course the hint was placed on the map. 

In the afternoon, we went to the Zagłoba Oil Mill - a local factory for oil pressing workshops. We took part inthe creation process that took place in the Polish countryside 150 years ago. Participants joined forces while turning a huge wheel to squeeze oil from rapeseed. An equally enjoyable part of the show was the tasting. Each participant was provided with bread, which we dipped in fresh, still warm oil. Finally, it was time for team-building games around the bonfire and, of course, the long-awaited sausage.

On Wednesday morning we set off to the former capital of Poland - Krakow. A guide was waiting for us there and took us on a trip along the Royal Road, also known as the royal route. If someone is in Krakow for the first time, a trip along this route is a must-see when visiting the city. After returning to the market, the students had several tasks to complete. This time they played the role of journalists for a moment and asked tourists questions. It was not an easy challenge, but they did great, overcoming the language barrier. Finally, it was time for souvenirs and free time to breathe for a moment and appreciate the charm of Krakow.

 

On Thursday, we welcomed guests to school again. It was a very busy day. We started with VR workshops. The students went on a virtual journey and used the 3D printer. 

There was also an unusual Polish and English lesson. Then it was time for the "Letters to the future" language workshop, during which we wrote letters to the future. We included memories from our meeting and a message for future generations. The letters along with photos from the stay were placed in a time capsule and buried under the symbol of longevity - a pine tree located next to the school. The capsule will be opened only in 25 years, i.e. in 2048. The culmination of our activities was the unveiling of a commemorative plaque in the school corridor, which is to commemorate the meeting of our delegations and provide information for future generations about where the capsule was buried.

In the afternoon, it was time for a farewell evening, during which we wanted to introduce Polish cuisine to our guests. Together we made dumplings with cheese, which we tasted after boiling. The parents of our students also prepared sweet treats for the guests. We were accompanied by folk and modern dances, as well as karaoke. The guests learned how to dance the Polonaise and Trojak. At the end of the meeting, a cake decorated with the flags of partner countries and the name of the project arrived. It was a sweet culmination of our several-day meeting. Each guest received a small farewell gift from us and a certificate of participation in the project meeting, confirming the acquisition of new skills

It was an extraordinary week in the life of the school, rich in new experiences, which has already resulted in contacts, friendships and plans for the future. We can't wait for the next project meeting, this time we will meet in Romania. See you!