November 15 to November 22, 2008
From November 15th to 22nd 2008, the six partner countries (Austria, The Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Portugal and Turkey) of the Comenius project Different Bridges from School to Professions, attended the third meeting in Tähtvere County, in the Ilmatsalu Basic School.
The main aim of this Project Meeting was to prepare all the activities for the second year of the partnership bearing in mind thestudents’ exchange that is going to take place in Portugal in May 2009.
We have planned our students and teachers activities for the final meeting of the project in Portugal:
• Partners selected the items that students are going to work on for the chosen jobs
• Partners set up the structures for the students’ presentations and the following workshops
• Partners worked out examples to help students
• Partners discussed how to present the students work
On Sunday the Estonian partner offered an excursion to the city of Tartu. The guide informed us about the history of Estonia and Tartu. We visited Tartu University the most important intellectual centre in Estonia, the KGB and the Toy Museums.
The partners were welcomed officially by Ilmatsalu Basic School on Monday morning. The students performed traditional Estonian songs, dances and music.
The teachers met the school staff, attended some lessons, were shown the school building and the classrooms and got an overview of the school. Afterwards we enjoyed a good meal in the school canteen. In the afternoon we were invited to a meeting with Esta Tamm, the County Governor, Eda Tagamets, the main specialist of foreign relations and Rein Kokk, Tähtvere Municipal Mayor at Tartu County Government, Anneli Võsaste, Manager of Educational and Culture department. The Comenius coordinator of the host school introduced our project Different Bridges from School to Professions. Then Eda Tagamets gave us basic information about Tartu County and the Education System in Estonia.
Hard project work on Tuesday morning was followed by a visit to the Green Class and the teacher gave us a typical outdoor lesson. We also took part in practical work together with students of the host school.
On Wednesday we were acquainted with different ways of learning a profession and how students are being prepared for work life in Tartu Vocational Education Centre.
After project work on Thursday morning, partners met with the local press Tartu Postimees and Tähtvere municipal press and gave an interview about the project in general and the Teachers’ Meeting in Estonia. In the evening a farewell dinner with the Ilmatsalu Basic School Headmaster Aare Treial, Head teacher Maie Sokk, the school teachers and the Comenius partners took place in Kantri Hotel.
We visited Tallinn, the capital city of Estonia on Friday. Getting to know the Estonian’s capital was the final highlight of our stay.
All the partners would like to thank you, the Estonians, for your warm welcome, generous hospitality and the perfect organization.
After this meeting we have all tools and ideas to work with our students and to be well prepared for the final meeting in Portugal from May 2nd to 9th 2009.