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The first accreditation year (2022-2023) has started
On the 2nd February, 2022 our gymnasium signed the agreement with Lithuanian National Agency and became the accredited institution of "Erasmus +" program for 2022-2027 period. According to the Erasmus+ program plan that was submitted and approved by the National Agency, the first year of Erasmus+ plan implementation is dedicated to job shadowing visits.
We are happy that even 20 teachers from our gymnasium: 6 primary education teachers and 10 basic education teachers will have the opportunity to observe lessons with the integrated elements of sustainable development in other countries. Also, the representatives of the administration will observe lessons in partner countries and also share good practices with their colleagues in partner educational institutions. Moreover, they will improve their general, subject, and managerial competences. Educational support specialists (speech therapist, social pedagogue, psychologist) also will have the chance to observe and learn the most effective ways/methods that could be applied working with students who have special educational needs and share their experiences.
The main goal of our “Erasmus+” plan is invention and application of innovative educational methods/tools or forms that would change the behavior of students/teachers in the context of their relationship with the environment. First of all, students (1-10 th graders) and teachers were given a questionnaire to assess themselves and assess their self-esteem , physical activity, healthy nutrition and harmony with the environment. The questionnaire revealed and highlighted weaknesses and strengths. Moreover, it turned out that among the most important areas for participants’ improvement – increasing their self-esteem and physical activity. The results of the questionnaire and the conclusions made, allowed us make assumptions that more attention should be paid to the improving of sustainable development goals and their importance not only in Lithuania, but also in the entire world.
We hope that job shadowing visits in Malta, Finland and Germany will enrich teachers’ knowledge related to the improvement of sustainable development and its application in everyday life, also tested and experienced new educational methods, approaches and forms will be effective and useful for our gymnasium’s students.
THE FIRST ACCREDITATION YEAR (2022/2023) HAS STARTED ALONG WITH ACTIVITIES FOR TEACHERS
The first accreditation year has started and this year is devoted for teachers‘ job-shadowing. We are really happy for the possibility to send at least 20 teachers (primary school, secondary school, representatives of administration) to other countries within this year. We are sure those visits will be useful and beneficial for atendees and observing the lessons in different schools they will improve their professional competencies, English speaking skills, learn about new methods/ tools or teaching techniques that could be applied during lessons and the most important, they will observe integration of sustainability into different subjects and will try to applyit in their school.
The first job-shadowing is going to be arranged in Malta, in December. Why Malta? English is an official language of the country and we think it would be great to observe lessons in English as translator is not needed. What is more, education in Malta is based on the British model and we decided it would be interesting not just observe their lessons but also to find out about their education system. A through selection of teachers has been performed prior the decision . Those teachers who wanted to participate in the project were given three different tests: test for checking their English level, the second test was related to innitial knowedge on sustainability, sustainable development goals and lastly teachers had to finish questionnaire on the learning and teaching aspect promoting knowledge of the common European heritage. In this way, according to the tests’ results teachers were chosen for the first job-shadowing visit in Malta. Let’s wish them a big luck and keep waiting for the news from the mobility in Malta.
SHARING EXPERIENCES
THE BEST WAY TO SUCCESSFUL EDUCATION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
It's a good thing to gain valuable experience and it's a great fun to share it. On the 2nd December our gymnasim’s deputy Inga Žebrauskaitė and Lithuanian language teacher Gitana Kutkienė at the national conference "School transformation in the context of the updated curriculum" that was held in Kėdainiai had the opportunity to find out what education leaders, headmasters, heads of educational institutions from other Lithuanian schools/gymnasiums think about the school that implements education of sustainable development, what challenges they face. The representatives of our gymnasium shared the experience of ecological, sustainable education implemented in our school and made the presentation on "Sustainable education in President Valdas Adamkus gymnasium". The teachers not only shared the experience of our gymnasium and sustainable education methods/forms/approaches that are applied within the institution in conventional and non-traditional educational environments, but also got familiar with the presentations of their colleagues on the applied educational experiences/methods/tools in their institutions, their benefits and drawbacks.
ONE MORE PROJECT, ONE MORE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ERASMUS + PROJECT
“ SUSTAINABILITY & CREATIVITY”
2nd February, 2022 our gymnasium signed the agreement with the National Agency of Lithuania and became the accredited institution of the "Erasmus +" program for the period 2022-2027. Job shadowing, teachers’ training courses, seminars conducted by experts, and mobilities with 5-10 graders - all those activities will improve the teachers' professional and personal competences, develop foreign language skills and also will help the students to form their ecological values and change their attitude towards the surrounding environment, sustainability and sustainable behavior.
Since 1st January, 2023 twenty-two 7-10 graders passed the selection and started to participate in the project "Sustainability & Creativity" together with their peers from Spain and Portugal. All the students who wanted to participate in the project had to prepare and present the idea related to the main goal of accreditation that aims to change students' behavior in the context of harmony with the surrounding environment (on the topic of health, physical activity, harmony with nature or good psychological well-being). Later, the students will think on their presented ideas, plan the following steps and activities needed to implement them in the gymnasium. We hope that the start will be successful and that the ideas planned by the students and the implemented projects will be not only interesting but also useful for the entire gymnasium’s community.
This project will continue until 1st June, 2024 and during the project students will have to complete various tasks related to the project topic, participate in the workshops, communicate with peers from partner countries during on line meetings, also they will have the opportunity to visit other countries, get to know their culture, customs, traditions and make new friends.
One of the first tasks that students had to fulfill was to create project’s logo. The three best logos made by students were selected by voting and submitted to a vote of all project members, the results of which are not yet clear. Maybe the winner logo will become one of those created by our students..? Let's wish our students great success in the logo competition and many unforgettable moments throughout the rest of the project.
Pictures of Photo Exhibition
STRESS: IS IT POSSIBLE TO OVERCOME IT?
On 5th May, 2023 at President Valdas Adamkaus Gymnasium school’s psychologist Simona Lenickienė gave a very important lecture for 10th graders on stress and its management. This event was initiated by 7b grade student Eduardas Blažaitis and 9th grade student Ieva Jekelaitytė. These students, together with other students participate in the Erasmus+ project “Creativity and Sustainability”. The goal of the project is to implement innovations invented by students in order to improve students' psychological state, physical activity, developing of healthy eating habits, and the relationship with nature. The first implemented initiative of the project members is this extremely useful lecture for 10th graders who are going to pass important exams at the end of school year. We have no doubt that it will help students to overcome stress more easily and to prepare better for the upcoming exams.
