Primary School Strahoninec is a small suburban school, located near the town of Čakovec, in the north of the Republic of Croatia. In the school year 2018/2019 school had 332 pupils, 175 in the lower primary and 157 in the upper primary, distributed in 16 classes. The school attendants are children from Strahoninec and Savska Ves, but also pupil from other entry areas. There are 42 employees who take care of the pupils: 32 teachers and 2 professional associates, a librarian and a pedagogist, and other administrative and maintenance staff of the school.
The school building is located in the centre of Strahoninec and has enough classrooms to work in two shifts – the morning and the afternoon. The existing school space is being continuously renewed. All classrooms are equipped with a laptop for teachers, projectors, wireless internet access, and five classrooms have interactive smartboard. The ICT classroom has 25 desktop computers for students to work individually. We have 6 tablets that are borrowed when necessary for groupwork. For pupils with special needs, ergonomic chairs and tilt benches are provided, and for the blind Braille machine, sound ball and customized didactic materials. From the second semester we actively use the new school sports gym.
Our school and pupils are faced towards the future, and on improving the quality of work and education for all learners. We base our classes on the application of modern methods of learning and teaching, which we acquired through Erasmus+ KA1 and KA2 projects, and each year we strive to integrate them and innovate and enhance the school curriculum. Through regular and electoral classes
(ICT, German and Religion) and 24 extracurricular activities, we raise the quality of curricula and School annual plan. Children with special needs are integrated into the regular classes, and the school also provides support in socialization and integration into society. Equal attention is given to talented students who want to enable the development of their potential, learning and work resources to enter high school and faculty of their choice. Everyone is helped by creative teachers who are willing to do professional training and adapt to work in different conditions.
The school has started working on eTwinning projects since 2010, and from 2012 participates in Comenius and Erasmus+ KA1 and KA2 projects. The teachers of our school have achieved numerous results in county and state student competitions, and faculty members are diligently and regularly trained at local, state and European level through Erasmus+ KA1 projects. Our goal is to continue the quality of work, so we apply lifelong learning in our daily work, and the new knowledge and competences teachers regularly share with colleagues through dissemination.
(ICT, German and Religion) and 24 extracurricular activities, we raise the quality of curricula and School annual plan. Children with special needs are integrated into the regular classes, and the school also provides support in socialization and integration into society. Equal attention is given to talented students who want to enable the development of their potential, learning and work resources to enter high school and faculty of their choice. Everyone is helped by creative teachers who are willing to do professional training and adapt to work in different conditions.
The school has started working on eTwinning projects since 2010, and from 2012 participates in Comenius and Erasmus+ KA1 and KA2 projects. The teachers of our school have achieved numerous results in county and state student competitions, and faculty members are diligently and regularly trained at local, state and European level through Erasmus+ KA1 projects. Our goal is to continue the quality of work, so we apply lifelong learning in our daily work, and the new knowledge and competences teachers regularly share with colleagues through dissemination.
Places to see
Međimurje region is full of beautiful natural and cultural sights. Between two rivers, Mura and Drava, you can experience various landscape from the mountainous regions in the upper region, famous for its vineyards to the beautiful valleys and parks of nature. There are also many museums and visitor centers, so hosting teachers and students we always arrange excursions to our region. Here is a list of our favourites:
- Between two rivers - museum about the rivers Mura and Drava and the biodiversity of the nature park
- St. Martin's Mura trail - a trail along the river Mura with the horses, old mill and the northernmost point of Croatia
- Matulov grunt - an old house, typical of the region
- Rudolf Steiner Center - the birthplace of Rudolf Steiner, the founder of Waldorf education, anthroposophy and biodynamic agriculture
- Natural beauties - Mađerkin Hill, Deer farm, lakes of the two powerplants on the river Drava (Prelog and Kuršanec), labirynths
- Cultural and historical places - churches and museums
- Museum of Međimurje and Museum of non-material heritage - the museum situated in Old Town of Čakovec
Projects
Erasmus+ KA2 projects
1. "Let's cross the boundary of primary education together" where we collaborate with partners from 5 European countries: Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Spain and Greece through cooperation and joint activities of training, teaching and learning. The aim is to create an opportunity for learners to work in international groups in which, by creating thematic magazines based on school subjects, to discover new methods of learning, to improve foreign language knowledge and to develop ICT -related skills.
2. "Our Heritage is Our Treasure" is a two-year school partnership in which we collaborate with 5 schools from Italy, Portugal, Spain, Cyprus and Greece. During the project, 6 meetings with training, teaching and learning activities are being held. All activities are related to European Cultural heritage, development of ICT skills and competences, and learning foreign languages. In addition to educating teachers, students' mobility is a very important part of the project. Students will travel to Portugal, Italy and Spain and will host their peers from these countries.
3. "Numeracy@English"
During the course of three years, the project had three transnational meetings and six partner meetings with training, teaching and learning activities. All activities were related to numbers in everyday life, math games and strategies, learning English and training in the field of information and communication technology. Teachers improved their knowledge in the field of financial education, the use of WEB 2.0 tools and social networks in teaching and interactive whiteboards and tablets, the use of pedagogical math games and various mathematical strategies, and the use of CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) methods. The project also led to student mobility. Thus, six eighth grade students travelled to Portugal and Latvia and hosted their peers from Portugal and Latvia.
Erasmus+ KA1 projects
1. Korak do škole budućnosti / Step to a Future School (2016-2017)
The project dealed with the modernization and internationalization of the Strahoninec Elementary School by sending 7 teachers for professional development to structured Erasmus + courses in Europe. For the needs of the project, we have opened a special blog: http://korakdoskolebuducnosti.blogspot.com (posts from 2016 to 2017) where you can follow all the activities and use the available materials.
The topics of the project are improving the quality of the school and preparing for the future with the use of ICT - new technologies, development of digital competencies, intercultural competencies and the introduction of a healthy life in school. In addition, we want to fulfill the potential of every student, from those with special needs to the gifted, motivate them more to learn and foster tolerance, creativity and positive attitudes to life in the EU community.
The main goals of the project are:
- improving the key competencies and skills of teachers and students through lifelong learning
- modernization and internationalization of the school through interculturalism
- improving the quality of school, teaching, working methods and healthy life of employees and students
2. Step into Future (2017-2018)
The topics of the project were improving the quality of school and preparation for the future with the use of ICT - new technologies, development of digital competencies, new teaching methods in formal and non-formal learning and encouraging creativity of teachers and students. We want to motivate students more to learn and work, encourage their talents and innovation through creativity, to acquire basic skills and competencies and one day increase their employability. Through the project we want to nurture tolerance, interculturality, social inclusion and positive attitudes to life in the EU community as active members of society.
Objectives:
- improving the key competencies and skills of teachers and students through lifelong learning
- school modernization through new teaching methods and ICT teaching tools
- internationalization and improvement of the quality of school, teaching, methods of work through fostering creativity
3. Students & Teachers - Education Power (STEP) (2018-2019)
During 2018/19 we were implementing the Erasmus + KA1 project "STEP", which dealed with improving School Quality and working methods through CURRICULUM innovation, use of ICT and new technologies, fostering creativity and preparing teachers and pupils for the future. In the project 6 mobilities were finalized - in Spain, Ireland and Malta, on structured courses and job shadowing activities. Our goal is to continue the sustainability of this project through a new KA1 project that will build on it in 2020, which will continue our work for fourth consecutive year since 2016.
4. Ready - Set - Step Up! (2019-...)
The goals of this project are to raise the quality of the School through improved and new teaching methods, the use of ICT tools, curriculum innovations through raising and encouraging the creativity of teachers and students. We intend to achieve this by sending 8 teachers on the mobility of professional development through the activities of structured courses, periods of observation of the work of the institution and teaching activities. Upon returning from mobility, these teachers will disseminate new knowledge and skills through a dissemination plan so that they can be applied to daily work and integrated into the School’s Annual Plan and Curriculum.
eTwinning projects are also part of our daily work.
Projects awarded with European Quality Label:
The teachers and staff of the Strahoninec Primary school have been working on internationalisation and modernization of the school for years. From 2010 we actively participate in various eTwinning projects and have so far received 16 European quality labels as an acknowledgement for excellent project work. The "Mini Hotels Network" Project won the COMET Award, the National Award for Best
eTwinning Project in 2012. In the period 2012. -2014. Schools participates in the Comenius Multilateral School partnership, and in the period 2015. -2018. in the Erasmus + KA2 partnership. Teachers also regularly participate in all seminars, professional development workshops organized by the Agency for Education, local and state level, but also on international perfections in projects or online.
1. "Let's cross the boundary of primary education together" where we collaborate with partners from 5 European countries: Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Spain and Greece through cooperation and joint activities of training, teaching and learning. The aim is to create an opportunity for learners to work in international groups in which, by creating thematic magazines based on school subjects, to discover new methods of learning, to improve foreign language knowledge and to develop ICT -related skills.
2. "Our Heritage is Our Treasure" is a two-year school partnership in which we collaborate with 5 schools from Italy, Portugal, Spain, Cyprus and Greece. During the project, 6 meetings with training, teaching and learning activities are being held. All activities are related to European Cultural heritage, development of ICT skills and competences, and learning foreign languages. In addition to educating teachers, students' mobility is a very important part of the project. Students will travel to Portugal, Italy and Spain and will host their peers from these countries.
3. "Numeracy@English"
During the course of three years, the project had three transnational meetings and six partner meetings with training, teaching and learning activities. All activities were related to numbers in everyday life, math games and strategies, learning English and training in the field of information and communication technology. Teachers improved their knowledge in the field of financial education, the use of WEB 2.0 tools and social networks in teaching and interactive whiteboards and tablets, the use of pedagogical math games and various mathematical strategies, and the use of CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) methods. The project also led to student mobility. Thus, six eighth grade students travelled to Portugal and Latvia and hosted their peers from Portugal and Latvia.
Erasmus+ KA1 projects
1. Korak do škole budućnosti / Step to a Future School (2016-2017)
The project dealed with the modernization and internationalization of the Strahoninec Elementary School by sending 7 teachers for professional development to structured Erasmus + courses in Europe. For the needs of the project, we have opened a special blog: http://korakdoskolebuducnosti.blogspot.com (posts from 2016 to 2017) where you can follow all the activities and use the available materials.
The topics of the project are improving the quality of the school and preparing for the future with the use of ICT - new technologies, development of digital competencies, intercultural competencies and the introduction of a healthy life in school. In addition, we want to fulfill the potential of every student, from those with special needs to the gifted, motivate them more to learn and foster tolerance, creativity and positive attitudes to life in the EU community.
The main goals of the project are:
- improving the key competencies and skills of teachers and students through lifelong learning
- modernization and internationalization of the school through interculturalism
- improving the quality of school, teaching, working methods and healthy life of employees and students
2. Step into Future (2017-2018)
The topics of the project were improving the quality of school and preparation for the future with the use of ICT - new technologies, development of digital competencies, new teaching methods in formal and non-formal learning and encouraging creativity of teachers and students. We want to motivate students more to learn and work, encourage their talents and innovation through creativity, to acquire basic skills and competencies and one day increase their employability. Through the project we want to nurture tolerance, interculturality, social inclusion and positive attitudes to life in the EU community as active members of society.
Objectives:
- improving the key competencies and skills of teachers and students through lifelong learning
- school modernization through new teaching methods and ICT teaching tools
- internationalization and improvement of the quality of school, teaching, methods of work through fostering creativity
3. Students & Teachers - Education Power (STEP) (2018-2019)
During 2018/19 we were implementing the Erasmus + KA1 project "STEP", which dealed with improving School Quality and working methods through CURRICULUM innovation, use of ICT and new technologies, fostering creativity and preparing teachers and pupils for the future. In the project 6 mobilities were finalized - in Spain, Ireland and Malta, on structured courses and job shadowing activities. Our goal is to continue the sustainability of this project through a new KA1 project that will build on it in 2020, which will continue our work for fourth consecutive year since 2016.
4. Ready - Set - Step Up! (2019-...)
The goals of this project are to raise the quality of the School through improved and new teaching methods, the use of ICT tools, curriculum innovations through raising and encouraging the creativity of teachers and students. We intend to achieve this by sending 8 teachers on the mobility of professional development through the activities of structured courses, periods of observation of the work of the institution and teaching activities. Upon returning from mobility, these teachers will disseminate new knowledge and skills through a dissemination plan so that they can be applied to daily work and integrated into the School’s Annual Plan and Curriculum.
eTwinning projects are also part of our daily work.
Projects awarded with European Quality Label:
- Future Schools 2020 (2019-2020)
- CUP - Cheer U-ropean Pupils (2018-2019)
- Good friends in an air taxi (2018-2019)
- CODING FRIENDSHIP (2017-2019)
- Numeracy@English 2 (2016-2018)
- Numeracy@English (2015-2016)
- Unity through Diversity (2012-2015)
- Pots of Gold (2014-2015)
- The Friendship Rainbow (2012 - 2013)
- Mini Hotels Network (2011-2013)
- Let the children sing (2011-2012)
- Snapshot of Europe 2012
- Linguistic Scenery - European Day of Languages 2012
- London Olympics 2012
- The spring poster (2011-2012)
- The view from our window (2011-2012)
- International Art Contest "The Legends of My Country" (2010-2011)
- Comparing young people's interests and school life 2011
- The Big Bean Challenge 2010
The teachers and staff of the Strahoninec Primary school have been working on internationalisation and modernization of the school for years. From 2010 we actively participate in various eTwinning projects and have so far received 16 European quality labels as an acknowledgement for excellent project work. The "Mini Hotels Network" Project won the COMET Award, the National Award for Best
eTwinning Project in 2012. In the period 2012. -2014. Schools participates in the Comenius Multilateral School partnership, and in the period 2015. -2018. in the Erasmus + KA2 partnership. Teachers also regularly participate in all seminars, professional development workshops organized by the Agency for Education, local and state level, but also on international perfections in projects or online.
Learning never exhausts the mind.
Leonardo da Vinci
English club is an extracurricular activity in Primary School Strahoninec. We learn about English language, explore additional topics and create materials for learning English for everyone in a fun and easy way. The website was built as part of the Erasmus+ KA1 project Students & Teachers - Education Power - STEP of Primary School Strahoninec. |