First Comenius School Project at Guzeppi Despott Boys' JL

Guzeppi Despott Boys' JL initiated the first Comenius School Project in January 2003 when two members of the staff, Rita DeBattista, co-ordinator of the project, and Emmanuel Schembri, guidance teacher and project contact person, attended the preliminary meeting held in Gyor, Hungary.

The Comenius team involved in the project also included three other members of staff - Ann Gulic, librarian and person in charge of cultural affairs for the project, Marlene Gatt and Edmond Lufi. The work on the Comenius project continued as the co-ordinators of the four participating schools had planned during the first project meeting held in Malta during December 2003.

Between January 2004 and last May, the following activities were held: editing of video recordings and photos of the first project meeting; a study visit by Joe Huber to Petz Lajos Egeszsegugyi Kozepiskola Gyor, Hungary; and a competition to choose the best school representatives.

Eight students - Charlo Bonnici, Warren Busuttil, Gordon Grech, Sean Carl Grech, Josef Mizzi, Keith Pulis, Noel Seguna and Daniel Tabone - formed part of the Maltese group from Forms VB and VD who represented Malta in Poland for the second project meeting.

Activities for this meeting in Kamieniec, included a visit to a parish church, a typical bakery, and a factory manufacturing glass balls for Christmas trees, a campfire meeting during which three teams of students sang carols, presentations of drama, music and dance by students representing the three partner schools, and sports activities.

The students visited Maltanka, a locality linked with the Knights of Malta and the Crusades, and the historical sights of Poznan, the largest town in the area. They also met the assistant director of Wielkopolska to discuss the role local councils can assume in such projects.

The feedback received by the teachers showed that this experience in Kamieniec has been a very positive one. The students became aware that, despite having to work hard to earn a living, the families still welcomed them. Some of the students experienced what living on a farm meant and had the opportunity to go horse-riding with their Polish friends and watch the milking of the cows.

The atmosphere at school was very relaxed and the Polish students gave everyone a very big welcome. Part of their curriculum places considerable emphasis on singing, dancing and sports, helping the students gain confidence when addressing an audience.

Last May, the Polish headmaster, Miroslaw Ludwiczak, together with four Polish teachers, Grzegorz Sterczak, Lilianna Sowa, Malgorzata Thiel and the co-ordinator of the project Kinga Lakoma, came over to Malta for a study visit to the Guzeppi Despott Boys' Junior Lyceum. They attended the 20th edition of the annual school exhibition as well as lessons of Physical Education, Mathematics and French.

Ms Lakoma gave an informative session on Poland and its educational system to a selected group of pupils from Form IV. At the end of the session everybody learned a number of common phrases in Polish. The Polish Comenius team were very impressed by the great diversity of scenic, historical and cultural attractions that they managed to view during their stay thanks to the commitment given, even after school hours, by the Maltese team.