World Day of energy: manufacturing and presenting a lamp -shaped doll to sensitize the local community to save energy

The activity ‘manufacturing a lamp-shaped doll to sensitize the local community to save energy’,  part of the Comenius project ‘A PATH TO SUSTAINABILITY’ was developed between 1^st and 31^st  May 2012. 

During the first stage of the activity the materials necessary for the creation of the doll were collected, then, on 16^th May the workshop was held with pupils from classes IB and IVB, guided by teachers Beldiman Cristina and Prodea Mirela.

 The final product, the doll, was displayed in Town Hall Square by a group of high school students accompanied by teacher Cretu Ana-Maria. Passers-by voted the best idea for saving power, of those suggested by the pupils. At the same time, local community members appreciated the school initiative of involving pupils in solving environmental problems.

 The students involved in the activity had the satisfaction of working as a team and creating from recycling materials an original doll which managed to arise the passers-by interest and to sensitize them to save energy.

Cleaning a place in the local community

In May, our school started a cleaning activity in the area surrounding the high school. Pupils from XI R were involved in the activity under the supervision of teachers Spiridon Nicolae and Magda Koncz.

The yellow helmets were offered by SC Mitrea Prest and the other materials, such as plastic bags and gloves were bought with project funds.

The cleaned area was: Bisericii Sf. Nicolae Street–Saguna Park – Old Town Hall Square–Muresenilor Str. –Central Park–Casei Armatei Park –Schaeffler Park. Besides cleaning, the pupils also collected recycling materials (especially paper) from the companies on the way. The entire amount of waste (recycling or not) were stored selectively, in the containers set by Comprest Company in Central Park.

The final evaluation of the Comenius Project "A path to sustainability"

The final evaluation of the Comenius Project  "A path to sustainability" was performed in June 2012.

Brief description of the activity:

• 100 questionnaires were distributed, as it follows: 50 to pupils, 25 to parents and 25 to teachers
• Each questionnaire contains 4 items, of which three with multiple choice
• The options expressed by those involved were counted and the results were interpreted in percentages.
• The results were presented in the project meeting to all the teachers involved and there was a debate on the subject.

Positive aspects of the evaluation:

• Over 100 subjects were involved in this final evaluation
• Acknowledging the positive impact of a Comenius project at school and school community level
• Ensuring feedback for the project. The feed-back is positive, the project was appropriately and systematically disseminated; it was known by all pupils, parents and teachers.
•  Encouraging tolerance amongst nations, understanding and learning about the custorms, traditions of the countries involved

• Learning about the specific aspects of the educational system in the attending countries, promoting collaboration between  EU countries, breeding mutual respect with a view to preserving and protecting the environment.

Activity coordinators:

Teachers:  Codruta Ciupala
                Delia Chivarean

The festival from Portugal

The festival from Portugal comprised several activities. The  products of the pupils from each school on environmental themes were presented, more exactly the future town model. The  T-shirts with the project logo were also presented and worn during the festival. Still during the festival there was a revision fo the project activities. The project reunion ended with the Festival in which each country performed on environmental themes. Our school presented an artistic program called ‘Believe’, which was prepared during the period 15^th September 2011-28^th April 2012

During the first stage the scenario was created, exclusively by the team of the 7 pupils and the coordinating teacher, Mihaela Muresan. Once the scenario completed, the detailed moments were designed, which involved a lot of imagination and effort. The costumes and setting were also designed, the audio-video part being created by Mircea Iordache from XIR.  The team, formed of 5 high school pupils and 2 secondary school pupils worked with passion and commitment, managing to create an exceptional environmental artistic program (music, mime, dance and video projection), which was confirmed by all the teams present in Portugal.

THE JOURNAL OF THE PORTUGUESE FESTIVAL WITHIN THE COMENIUS PROJECT “A PATH TO SUSTAINABILITY”

Departure from Brasov,  1³⁰ in the morning, of the Romanian team, consisting of pupils: Gosman David, Marc Adelina, Pascu Alexandru, Rus Cristin Liviu, Spataru Alexandru, Stîrliciu Adelina, Ioana Zoldan, accompanied by teachers Cioc Niculae, Ciupală Codruţa, Donici George, Koncz Magdalena, Mihai Iudit and Mureşan Mihaela.

Arriving at Otopeni airport, we are all anxious to fly to Lisbon (Portugal) with one stopover  of approximately 3 hours in Zurich (Switzerland).

After the flight over the Alps we arrive in Switzerland, change planes, fly again and land in Lisbon at 14:00. We get on the minibus and in 3 hours we finally reach our destination, at 17:00, in São João de Madeira.

Here our hosts are warmly waiting for us compensating for the cold outside (11^OC…)

 
Day 2: Monday, 30 April 2012

 On the first day of school, all members of the team, pupils and teachers are handed in a personalized card for school access. Its purpose and use at school are explained to us, as it is similar to a bank card attached to an account that can be charged for school shopping. “Comendador Ângelo Azevedo” school is presented to us, with facilities, classrooms, balbs, library, canteen and leisure area for students. We talk to both our host teachers and pupils.

The school yard hosts an art exhibition of recycled materials.

In the afternoon we visited a womens shoe factory in the area, as the entire region is renowned  for its women shoe workshops.

 

In the afternoon we visited various areas of São João da Madeira

At dinner we tasted local specialties …

Day 3: Tuesday, 1 May 2012

Visiting  Aradas school.

We were greeted by a traditional music and dance group which delighted us with a brief show inside the school, then we were introduced to  Aradas  school, followed by the tour of Aveiro by bus and some sort of motorized gondolas (boats) sailing on the Aveiro  channels.

 Visiting an eco-museum, “Marinha da Troncalhada” , where sea salt is being extracted from the Atlantic ocean water. The process and its history was described to us there.

 We had lunch at a restaurant near Barra beach.

 After lunch we strolled in the streets near the city of Aveiro, in the area of holiday mansions of “Costa Nova” and on Costa Nova beach.

 

Day 4: Wednesday, 2 May 2012

Visiting the school and attending a mixed reunion-teachers and pupils-in the school meeting room.

 In the teachers’ room teachers talk while the pupils attend workshops in the classrooms.

 Visiting the area of Porto (Oporto city), starting 13:00

 

Visiting Graham’s wine cellars situated in Vila Nova De Gaia next to the city of Porto, on the opposite bank of Douro river.

Here we learnt all the stages of the production of the famous Porto, starting with the vineyard to the bottling of the wine to be sold all over the world

Day 5: Thursday, 3 May 2012

Project meeting-reunion between the project teachers where the developed activities are discussed and the ones to be done, including designing the project impact questionnaire and preparation of the festival in Portugal.

 At 13:00 lunch is served in school and then everybody leaves to visit Azeméis region, which includes the botanical garden”Parc de La Salette” and the water mills used in the grinding of cereals as well as the bakeries with ovens on wood.

 

Both pupils and teachers are thrilled to see wheat grinding and to take part in the kneading of the bread dough followed by watching it being baked and finally buying and eating it

  Day 6: Friday, 4 May 2012

 9:00 -the official rehearsals for the Portugal festival occur at Cine-Teatro Caracas, of Oliveira de Azeméis

 The festival starts at 21:00.

 Before the Romanian performance begins, backstage intense preparation is done … everything is according to schedule, the performance of the Romanian pupils being highly appreciated by both the audience and the other teams in the festival.

 

Day 7: Saturday, 5 May 2012

 3:00 in the morning. Goodbye hugs between the Romanian pupils and the other pupils involved in the project.

 We are coming home, leaving Porto airport, a 5 hour stopover in Frankfurt (Germany).

 Arriving on Otopeni  at 17:00, we feel the heat of home …(28^OC).

 

The trip to Brasov is OK and we arrive home around 22:00.

We will always remember with pleasure our time in Portugal  with our colleagues from Romania, Portugal, Cyprus and Norway withing the Comenius project “A PATH TO SUSTAINABILITY” 

Teacher George Donici 

Andrei Mureşanu High School

Braşov Romania