AIMS:

We are working on a set of European/International Lesson Plans about the consequences of the totalitarianism in the XX Century, in the WWII and in the Spanish Civil War, with emphasis on the Human Rights like the concentration camps during the Holocaust (Shoah) and the current consequences of the Spanish Civil War (Law of Historical Memory), and the resistance movement of people who thought other world and reality was possible. It means our main purpose is to make our students aware of the importance of critical thinking and political and social activism in the construction of the EU through the European History and the development of Human Rights against intolerance and totalitarianism in order to create pedagogical tools to offer a new perspective on the extermination: from Collaboration, Indifference and Resistance in response to the new rise of radical-right parties in Europe.

Wednesday 9 December 2015

History lesson at the Institute of National Remebrance in Katowice

Students of the third year of Gimnazjum nr 9 im. Jana Pawła II in Sosnowiec visited "Przystanek Historia" - Educational Centre of the Institute of National Remembrance in Katowice, where they participated in the history lesson:
 "Means of rescuing Jews during the German occupation". 

Tuesday 8 December 2015

It could be me It could be you




28th Thessaloniki Lyceum participated  in  the project “it could be me it could be you” organized by the  United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in association with the Hellenic Theatre/Drama Education Network.The project aims at developing students' awareness on human 
rights and refugees using theatre and drama techniques. After having attended a 18 hour training seminar last May and with the support and consult of the experienced drama pedagogue Jenni Karaviti, the teacher Theodora Glaraki involved students in simulation games and role playing games so as to raise awareness on refugees' harsh conditions and extreme need of help. Drama techniques can be proved very effective educative tools to develop empathy in students, mainly because their safe and comfortable life is far away from the flagrant violation of human rights that happens to refugees who are struggling to save their lives and resettle in a foreign and unknown country. 

Sunday 27 September 2015

European Day of Languages

The celebration of the European Day of Languages has become a tradition in our school. This year we wanted all the students, and especially the new ones, to learn something about the partner countries of our project. Each class had to prepare a PowerPoint presentation about the chosen country and took part in a competition which tested their knowledge about culture, traditions, sport, literature etc. of all the partner countries. There were also a “false friends” and a tongue twisters competitions. We all had a wonderful time and students learned more about the project and partner countries.


Thursday 24 September 2015

TEACHING TRAINING EVENT 14 -18 SEPTEMBER 2015 POLAND

Between 14 and 18 September the short term joint staff training event was held in Poland. 32 teachers from eight partner countries participated in lectures, workshops, meetings with survivors, gaining knowledge and skills necessary to fulfill a task that we have set ourselves at the beginning of the project – creating innovative lesson plans for teaching about the Holocaust and the II World War.

Participants of the meeting: 

Greece
Mrs Anna Doiranli
Mrs Despoina Demiri
Mr Anestis Chatziioakeimidis
Mr George Papageorgiou

Spain
Mr  Darío Martínez Montesinos
Mrs María Salud García Zamora
Mrs Ana María Ibañez Lopera
Mrs Carmen García Alarcón
Mrs María Belen Delgado Chaparro

Finland
Mrs Silja Kärjä
Mrs Mari Toivanen
Mr  Lauri Simpanen
Mr Petri Hokkanen

Slovakia
Mrs Sabína Blažová
Mrs Štefánia Nádaská
Mr Jozef Žilinek.
Mrs  Marta Fialková

Italy
Mrs Paola Perotto
Mrs Franca Ameli
Mr    Ilenio Celoria
Mrs Maria Laura Franchi
Mrs Laura Catalano

Poland
Mrs Joanna Janas-Sajdak
Mrs Joanna Hojda
Mrs Joanna Popławska-Kozłowska
Mrs Anna Badek

Lithuania
Mrs Teresa Segalienė
Mrs Jelizaveta Lichtinšain
Mrs Ela Pavinskienė
Ms Sofija Pavinskaitė

Turkey
Mrs Sibel Turk
Mrs Katarzyna Atmaca

14th September

We began our training in Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum in Oświęcim. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to meet prof. Długoborski as planned, for reasons we had no influence over. Instead, we were able to spend some time in the Reflection Room in the Block 27, where all participants could draw inspiration for further work listening to answers by famous people, survivors to such questions as: Where was God during the Holocaust? What happened to the notions of good and evil after the Holocaust? Can the same person be a victim, a perpetrator and a passive observer?   



After lunch we went on a study tour of KL Auschwitz, during which we could visit blocks that are not usually available for visisting. During this 4-hour tour two wonderful guides, Mrs Kasia and Mr Łukasz told us the story behind Auschwitz.



15th  September

We spent the second day of training in Oświęcim. First, we attended a lecture by dr. Piotr Trojański, the employee of the Pedagogical University in Kraków. The title of the lecture was: “Teaching about the Holocaust in Poland and other countries. Opportunities and obstacles”. We learned about the history of the museum, about international conflicts related to the place itself and about methodology of teaching about the Holocaust. Later, we participated in the multimedia presentation: “Memory and Identity. The meaning of Auschwitz in the historical education.”, which gave us cues concerning teaching about the Holocaust.



After lunch we set out on a study tour around KL Auschwitz II –Birkenau. Many of the participant of the meeting claimed it was one of the most important experiences of their lives.



16th September

On that day we moved to Kraków in order to visit Galicia Jewish Museum located in the former Jewish district – Kazimierz. We bagan training with an introductory lecture and a workshop: “Rescuers, passive observers, collaborators – the analysis of attitudes of Polish society towards the Extermination”. During the workshop, working in groups with biographies of people who experienced the war, we could find out that the distinction into victims, rescuers and collaborators is usually blurred, when we take into consideration the situational and historical context. Apart from that all participant gained interesting cues and materials for working in the classroom.



After the workshop we had an honour to meet Mrs Lidia Maksymowicz, rescued from the Birkenau camp. She told us the story of her difficult childhood in the camp. The meeting was a unique experience that we shall long remember.  



After lunch the management meeting was held.




17th September

Thursday was another hard-working day. By participating in a 3-hour workshop “Geography of extermination” we gained another innovative tool to teach about the Holocaust. We created maps of places related to the heritage and the Extermination of Jews in a chosen region, and then described the map using two types of narration. It is clearly visible in the photos that all participants were genuinely engaged in the activities: 



In the afternoon we took part in another workshop, during which we summed up the most important issues related to teaching about the Holocaust with the help of the museum education department employee. We have also learned how to use biographies properly and finally used all the knowledge we had gained to create innovative lesson plans based on the biographies of people who experienced the Holocaust.



18th September

On the last day of the training we returned to Auschwitz- Birkenau State Museum in order to participate in the workshops: “The fate of children and youngsters” and “The history of a single transport”.



We ended our training with the management meeting. 




Sunday 21 June 2015

"Revenge". A play by students of Gimnazjum nr 9 im. Jana Pawła II in Sosnowiec

"Revenge" is a play written and prepared by students of Gimnazjum nr 9 im. Jana Pawła II in Sosnowiec and presented during the Polish meeting in May 2015.

  

Monday 1 June 2015

Presentation of "Revenge' during meeting with parents

On the 19th May students of Erasmus + team of Gimnazjum nr 9 im. Jana Pawła II in Sosnowiec presented "Revenge", a play first presented during Polish meeting, to all parents who participated in the parent-teacher meetings. 



Sunday 24 May 2015

Polish Meeting 4th - 8th May 2015

We began our meeting of students and teachers from partner schools according to the schedule on Monday the 4th May. 

Participants: 

Ahmon Koulu, Siilinjärvi, Finland
Students: Emma Jokele, Henry Kataja, Niko Makkonen. Teachers: Mrs Silja Kärjä, 
Mr Petri Hokkanen
28th Thessaloniki  Lyceum,  Greece
Students: Maria Aslanoglou, Helen Vakrinou, Melina Maliogka. Teachers: MrsTheodora Glaraki, Mr Miltiadis Fardis
IES Tirant lo Blanc, Elche, Spain
Students: Barbara Macia Carrillo, Francisco Blasco Torres, Ines Nauhardt Rojo, Juan Jose Piqueras Macia. Teachers: Mr Darío Martínez Montesinos, Mrs María Salud García Zamora tohether with Mrs Maria Isabel Hernández Sanchez - president of Amnesty International, Elche and Prof. Don Miguel Ors Montenegro of Miguel Hernández University
Vilniaus Šolomo Aleichemo ORT Gimnazija, Vilnius, Lithuania
Students: Evita Zareckaitė, Gabija Liepinaitytė, Viktorija Verbickaitė.  
Teachers: Mrs Angelė Borodinienė, Mrs Teresa Segalienė
Gymnázium Angely Merici, Trnava, Slovakia
Students: Lukáš Harant, Michal Horváth. Teachers: Mrs Sabína Blažová, Mrs Štefánia Nádaská
Metod Koleji, Ankara, Turkey
Students: Songül Büyükkoşe, Mustafa Ercan.   Teachers: Mr Anil Ergül, Mr Barış Kılıç
ISS Leardi, Cassale Monferrato, Italy
Students: Marco Albieri, Marco Vaccarone. Teachers: Miss Jenna Frisone, Don Gianpaolo Cassano

The meeting began with an official Opening Ceremony, which took place in the Session Hall of the Town Hall in Sosnowiec. All guest were welcomed by the city president Mr Arkadiusz Chęciński, the head teacher of Gimnazjum nr 9 im. Jana Pawła II, Mr Tomasz Janus and the school coordinator, Mrs Joanna Janas-Sajdak. 

Our special guests were witnesses of history, Mrs Halina Skalbmierska and Mr Adolf Kasprzyk, the Deputy of the Head of Education Department of Sosnowiec, Mrs Wiesława Konobrodzka, coucillors of Sosnowiec City.
We are very happy that students of our school, their parents and teachers participated in the ceremony. 
The main coordinator of the project, Mr Darío Martínez Montesinos gave a speech, after which students of the Erasmus team of our Gimnazjum, Katarzyna Bąchor, Ola Papaj, Marlena Żejmo, Patrycja Trząska, Piotr Cesarz, Tymoteusz Masarczyk, Igor Pajkert, Konrad Sytrzelecki and Maks Zapisek gave a presentation prepared with the help of Mrs Anna Walas: "Sosnowiec during II World War."



After the ceremony we had the pleasure to visit places in Sosnowiec related to the history of the II World War. Our guide was Mr Artur Ptasiński of the Centre of Information about the City,  who told us many interesting facts about Sosnowiec. 


After the trip all students and teachers went to the seat of our school where everyone had the opportunity to talk and get to know each other.





After lunch, students Małgorzata Kowalska, Wiktoria Karbowniczek, Alicja Kosiec and Karolina Kotwicka with help of Mrs Joanna Janas-Sajdak gave a presentation: "Polish Educational System. The running of the school. Attention of the Leaving School  early and School failure."



After the presentation students went home to spend time with families and teachers held a management meeting. The subjects discussed:
- the progress of works on lesson plans
- documentary structure
- September training in Poland
- use and purpose of the Blog and e-twinning.



5th May Tuesday - A trip to Kraków 

We begam our visit at the Galicia Jewish Museum where we saw a permanent exhibition "Traces of Memory".


Next we took part in  a workshop: „In the face of choices. Moral issues during II WW  and the Holocaust.”



After the worshop we had the honour to meet Mrs Mirosława Gruszczyńska, the Righteous Among the nations, who told us the story of her family hiding a Jewish girl during the War.



After lunch we had a sightseeing tour around a Jewish district of Kraków - Kazimierz.  



We ended our trip at the Schindler's Factory Museum.




6th May Wednesday

On this day students and teachers of partner schools visited students of our Gimnazjum in the classrooms.



After the meetings our guests, together with students of a neighbouring primary school saw a play "Revenge" written by one of our students, Kinga Ptasińska, translated by herself, Zuzanna Marzec and Patrycja Trząska. The play showed the underground movement in Poland during  the II World War .



After a short break, students of our Gimnazjum, Oliwia Pikuła, Natalia Kwiatek, Krzysztof Kaczmarzyk and Mateusz Starczynowski gave a presentation : „Concentration camps in Poland during the II World War".



Later, we had the pleasure to see the presentations of students of all partner schools:
"My city during the II World War".

PRESENTATION GREECE
PRESENTATION SLOVAKIA
PRESENTATION LITHUANIA
PRESENTATION FINLAND
PRESENTATION SPAIN



After the presentations, despite a rainy weather our guests and students went on a trip to Będzin to see the traces of Jews of Będzin. The trip was guided by Mr Grzegorz Onyszko, a n employee of The City of Będzin Museum. We visited Mizrachi, the place where the Synagogue used to be located before the War, a former ghetto and Rutka Laskier's house.


7th May Thursday

We visited the State Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum in Oświęcim.



After seeing the permanent exhibition, we participated in the workshops: “The fate of children and youngsters in the camp on the basis of documents, photographs and testimonies” and “The fate of an individual on the basis of documents and photographs”


In the evening all the teachers had a pleasure to meet againg during the farewell dinner.


8th May Friday

On that day students of partner schools could learn about the way Polish school works during lessons they participated in.




After the lessons students participated in the art workshops "My feelings after visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum"


At the same time teachers dealt with management issues.

After lunch we said farewell to our guests from Spain who, unfortunatelly had to leave first. 


The farewell ceremony followed during which students Kinga Ptasińska and Patrycja Trząska performed a skit of „Ani mru mru” cabaret „A letter to Pipa” , and our guests received small gifts which, we hope, will remind them of us. At the end all students danced Makarena for the last time, a dance which accompanied us during the whole stay, as we had a very dancing group of students.


During this short meeting we could see friendships grow, students and teachers were improving their language skills, learned about the difficult history of the II World War, teachers shared experiences with their colleagues from the countries of the European Union, but most of all we all had a great time together. No wonder it was so difficult to part and say good bye.


Friday 1 May 2015

Participation of 28th High Scool of Thessaloniki in the "Righteous Among the Nations" award ceremony

Our school participated in the “Righteous Among the Nations" award ceremony, organized by the Municipality of Thessaloniki, the Embassy of Israel in Greece and the Jewish Community of Thessaloniki and attended by Ambassador, Irit Ben Abba. The ceremony took place at the Mayor Hall of Thessaloniki on April 27th . The award was bestowed on the offsprings of Stavros and Vasiliki Oikonomakos who rescued a two-year old girl, Victoria, during Nazis occupation of Greece. Having interviewed Victoria Benouzilio, a vivid, 72 year-old lady, 15 students of our school under the direction of the teacher Z.Spanos presented a very moving performance based on the rescue story. Dissemination of the event --> online newspaper article:
 http://www.alterthess.gr/content/o-d-thessalonikis-timise-elliniki-hristianiki-oikogeneia-poy-voithise-evraiki-tin-periodo

 http://www.makthes.gr/news/GR/reportage_S/reportage_C/Thessaloniki__I_sygklonistiki_istoria_tis_kyrias_Mpenoyzilio

 http://www.thestival.gr/society/item/166114-i-sygkinitiki-istoria-tis-evraiopoylas-pou-agkaliastike-apo-zevgari-xristianon-kata-ti-diarkeia-tis-katoxis-foto-video

 http://www.dimokratianews.gr/content/41118/se-elliniki-oikogeneia-o-titlos-toy-dikaioy-ton-ethnon

 http://www.efsyn.gr/arthro/epivraveysi-toy-altroyismoy