Comenius project  and twin school visit to Hermannsburg Christian School  22.4. -27.4.2007

 

 

The participants of Hyrylä Upper Secondary School (Hyrylän lukio): assistant principal Ilkka Mäkinen, information technology teacher Pekka Sunila, German-language teacher Helena Leväinen, principal Riitta Eeronheimo and 11 students

 

We had combined our Comenius project and twin school visit. It´s important the students can take a part and visit to schools in  other countries. Pekka Sunila and assistant principal Ilkka Mäkinen took care of  the project and teacher Helena Leväinen care of the twin school visit.

 

The financing for the Comenius project was in condition. The financing for our twin school visit was challenging. Our students got the private scholarship for the internationality project which has two parts. The first part is the visit to our twin school and take  part in our Comenius project. The part is in next autumn and the students should be hosts for our student visitors from Germany, Poland and Hungary.

 

Before the journey

We had  the information evening for the parents and students. The students had to prepare themselves the program for the European Week for example the exhibition of Finland. The students answered also the questions about European Union.

 

During the journey

The students took room in the families. Our students went to school with their host students. It was very interesting to follow our students to speak both English and German. The program was very tight and we all both students and teachers must take part to many kinds of happenings. Sunday evening 22.4.07 we arrived at Hermannsburg. The host families took care of our students. We, the teachers from Germany, Poland, Hungary and Finland, had been invited to visit the home of principal ms. Schmid -Hennies. Monday morning 23.4.07 we met at the school and our hosts showed us the school and the city of Hermannsburg. We also visited the town hall. The concentration camp Bergen-Belsen made a great impression on us. Thuesday 24.4.07 we had a trip to Bremerhaven and Worpswede. Wednesday 25.04.07 we were all the day in the school. We took  part to the exhibition, Café Europe and Europe-evening. Every group had  a program number and the students took part in the panel discussion about European Union. Hyrylä Upper Secondary School and Hermannsburg Christian Schule undersigned the contract of the twin school for next ten years.   It was exact ten years ago our first group visited  Hermannsburg Christian Schule. Thursday 26.4.07 morning Ilkka Mäkinen and Pekka Sunila had the meeting of Comenius project and Riitta Eeronheimo visited  the physics, chemistry and biology classrooms. Helena Leväinen visited language classrooms. The students took part in their host students lessons. In Thursday we had also a trip to Hannover. It was very interesting to follow a discussion at Hannover Province Parliament. Before that we had the panel discussion with some representatives. The students made questions and the representatives gave answers. Friday 27.4.07 we travelled back home.

 

Feedback

It was very interesting to visit Hermannsburg Christian Schule and took part in Comenius project. During this week the teachers and the students have had a best possible opportunity to get to know each others. I wish that in the future this sort of co-operation will continue. After the journey the parents of our students gave very good feedback and send thanks.

 

 

                                               Riitta Eeronheimo

                                               principal of  Hyrylä Upper Sedondary School