CURIOSITY KILLED THE CAT

Have you realised our mayor is holding a packet of chewing gum?
Would you like to know why?
By mere chance, one of the Greek teachers Ms Anna Persidou had one and gave it to our mayor.
Our mayor visited this Greek island and

Read the importance of this in the following article :

Chios mastic (Mastiha de Chios), whose  label of Protected Designation of Origin comes  from 1997. It is a natural aromatic resin, in the shape of a tear, that comes from a tree originating from this Aegean island belonging to the family of  pistachia. 
The mastic tree grows only in 21 villages in the south of the island of Chios and it  is totally related to the  wheather condition.

This island has an excellent warm and dry climate. Chios is the only place in the world where the trunk and the branches of the mastija  throw tears. The mastija drops after the incisions made in the trunk of the tree. A viscous  transparent liquid appears in its secretion  At first, the taste is bitter but, quickly, it acquires a unique aroma.
The product, once solidified, is collected and cleaned, giving us the Chitos mastic in its natural form

Its production requires a long and hard work throughout the year. The first reference to the mastija comes to us from the historian Herodoto  from  V a.C  who said that n Classical Greece it was used as a natural tooth whitening, that is, it was the only chewing gum of the Ancient Greeks.

Since ancient times, doctors, such as Hippocrates, Galinós or Dioskuridis, had discovered their therapeutic virtues.
The mastija is good for digestion, it helps oral hygiene, kills germs, has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and makes cholesterol dissapear.

The cultivation of the mastija, due to the special knowledge it requires, has been included among the candidatures which will be evaluated by Unesco to be inscribed in the Representative List of the Intangible cultural heritage  of humanity

C3 SHORT JOINT STAFF TRAINING MEETING

C3 short joint staff training meeting

Fifth day
17th May 2019

In the morning we have been training about how to organise the open days and the possible activities we could organise in the students´mobilities.
We have also examinated the two platforms of the project, mobility tool and the platform of results .

Then the Greek students have said farewell to Elexalde teachers and Management team.
It has been a vey fruitful training meeting which will enrich the project.

C3 SHORT JOINT STAFF TRAINING MEETING

 C3 Short Joint staff training meeting

Fourth day 16th May 2019

Today training has been about dissemination. The project has to be disseminated at the beginning, in the middle and at the end of the project launch.
We have started with dissemination in the media, and continued with the dissemination in the comunity. We have been disscussing different ideas about it .

Then the mayor of Galdakao has welcome the Greek team. The Greek teachers have introduced themselves and have been talking about the common things between both countries.
The coordinator of the project Mrs Gemma Gutierrez has explained the project in detail and he has shown a big interested in it.

You can find the new about the meeting in this URL .
https://www.galdakao.eus/gehiago/greziako-irakasleak-galdakaora-datoz-bisitan-europako-erasmus-programaren-markoan-elexalde-institutuarekin-proiektu-aitzindaria-partekatuz/1001352/12577

Greek teachers have also met the Music teacher Ms Mertxe Candina to congratulate her on the job she has done. The creation of the song of the project and the dances students are learning.

C3 SHORT JOINT STAFF TRAINING MEETING

C3 short joint staff training meeting

Third day 15th May 2019

Before continuing with the asessment training, we have visited Andra Mari church 
Galdakao´s historical and architectural heritage .This church dates from XIII century . It belongs to the Middle Ages , its style is a mixture of romanesque-gothic and it is opposite our school.

Andra Mari´s altarpiece is plateresque style and a woodcarving of of Santa Maria  ( XIII century) can be found .
All of us have enjoyed this marvellous church.

We have come back to work and we have continued with the training related to assessment. We have analysed the different tools such as rubrics, cultural tests, questionnaries  and kahoot. We have seen all the different tools we have carried out until now and the activities which have to be done.
And to practise all the training done until now what better than a kahoot about what we have learnt in this training.!!

We have stopped for a little so that students have got to know the Greek teachers and talked with them. They have made them a lot of questions about the project, the activities they like the best. They have also asked them if they would like to visit Greece. Students have also danced a traditional Greek dance for them.

To end the day, we have had lunch in a txoko, a typical Basque gastronomy society . The Greek teachers have tasted the Basque cuisine which has also been worked in our project.  There is a section of them in this blog, where you can try to cook them.
Our menu was cod salad, squids in its ink, flan ,cod pil pil. All delicious!!

Mrs Anna Persidou has been helping our chef Jesus de Blas , teacher of Elexalde High School. She has learnt how to cook some of the dishes we have tasted.

C3 SHORT JOINT STAFF TRAINING MEETING

C2 Short Joint Staff Training Meeting

Second Day
Tuesday 14th May 2019

Today ,we have shown  Katerini teachers our historical  and architectural heritage as we are working it in our project.

We have stopped in Bakio and we have explained  to them the importance of this summer resort with surfing and the characteristics of the Basque coast .

Then we have visited San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, we have been welcome by Tartalo, one of the Basque mythological creatures of the Basque culture. We have been charactes of Game of Thrones, and we have climbed the 241 steps to the top and as it is tradition we have thought a wish and tolled the bell three times .

This idyllic place is located between the coastal towns of Bakio and Bermeo .It has been the scenario of pirates ,covens and legends.At the top of it, there is an spectacular view of Bay of Biscay.

Then we have visited Mundaka, Urdaibai which is natural heritage and our students will work and share with Katerini students. Urdaibai is a natural setting of outstanding beauty and diversity, which is listed by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve in 1984.

It has been a very interesting visit .

In the afternoon, we have arrived in Gernika and learnt the history of this town, the meaning of Gernika tree, the story of the town and the importance of it in  the Basque people´s lives.

C3 SHORT JOINT TRAINING STAFF MEETING

Monday 13th May  FIRST DAY
C3 short joint training staff meeting

Ms Katerina Koutroupa, Maria Dampratzidou, Ioanna Goula, Anna Persidou and Mr Iordanis Kyrailidis, Katerini teachers have arrived at Elexalde high school at 9:00 o'clock, they have been introduced to the management team and met the headmaster who has said a few words in Greek and Katerini teachers have given him the presents they have brought for the School

Then, they have been welcome with an "aurresku" performed by Ruben Azcona, Nerea Ereño, Maitane Molina, Annne Etxebarria, Peio Eguileor and María, students who participate in the programme.

The txistu has been played by the Basque teacher Raquel and a student from first batxiller 

It has been very moving and the Greek teachers have really enjoyed it and discovered one of our heritage and identity.
They have visited the high school and met all the teachers of the different subjects.

Then we have had a lunch with the School staff where Elexalde teachers have met Katerini teachers and have exchanged information about both schools and both countries

 The coordinator of the project Mrs Gemma Gutierrez has told them a few words giving them a warm welcome and explaining that this mobility will strengthen the links between both countries and she hopes their staying in our school and in the Basque country will unite both schools

The English teacher Mrs  Anna Persidou has also showed Greek teachers' gratitude for the warm welcome and also has insisted on keeping a future relationship between both schools 

After lunch, we have started our training. The points we have dealt have been a look at the programme we will follow in these five days ,a brief approach to Galdakao and Basque Country. Teachers have watched a video about Galdakao, Bilbao and the Basque Country. We have also explained to them our  system of education . Then, we have analysed the chapter of assessment in our project. The type of tools which could be used to assess our project and which will be disscused in these days.
We have started disssemination, reading the report we did in February and disscused about it .

C3 SHORT JOINT STAFF TRAINING MEETING

  12th May 2019

On Sunday 12th 2019 , five teachers:  Katerina Koutroupa, Maria Dampratzidou, Ioanna Goula,Anna Persidou and Iordanis Kyrailidis  from Katerini school in Greece will visit Elexalde school and will be with us for a week .

This activity C3 is a training meeting where asessment and dissemination of the project will be disscused. At the same time the Greek teachers will know our school, the Basque system of education and meet all the students who participate in the project. They will also visit Galdakao, some stunning  places of the Basque Country such as San Juan de Gastelugatze, Berneo, Mundaka, Urdaibai ,Gernika  and Bilbo. All of them are being worked in our project as our identity and heritage.

They will be welcome with an " aurresku" performed by five students of Elexalde who participate in the project. Some students of the school will also make an exhibition of an "eusku pilota  partidua" ( a Basque pilota match) .

They will also share a big lunch with all Elexalde staff and get to know 3 DBH Elexalde classes.

On Wednesday, they will eat in a "txoko" ( a typical gastronomy society)  named " umore ona" ( good humour) in Usansolo and discover the Baque cuisine which has been part of our project as heritage.

On Thursday, the major of Galdakao Ibon Uribe will meet us so we will explain to him our project and will have contact with the Greek teachers.

This short term  joint staff training meeting will strengthen the links between both schools and will be the second of the  mobilities included in the project.

Next year, our students will travel to Katerini in March and Katerini students will visit us in May to reinforce all the activities worked during the two years of the project.

Everything ready to welcome Greek teachers from Katerini school

P 8-9-10 Basque musical instruments and dances

P 8-9-10
This activity has been carried out in the Music class. They have prepared some Powepoints related to the Basque instruments. Students have chosen some popular ones and they have edited the two videos.
They have shared them with Katerini students and the Basque dance chosen "zazpi jauzik" will be played by both schools in the students´mobilities next year.

" Zazpi jauzi "

Welcome to P13 activity Basque mythology

15th April 2019

We have finished the activity P11-12 Greek/ Basque cuisine and we welcome P13-14 Greek/ Basque mythology

P 13 Basque mythology
A preview where the Basque mythological creatures are intoduced. They will be part of the characters who will be the protagonists of Elexalde students´ digital stories

Elexalde students practicing the Greek game " mila"

April 15th 2019

Elexalde sudents have practised the game "mila" which was taught by the Greek students. They have played it in the Physical education class and they had a very good time .

Katerini-Elexalde videoconference-twining to strenghen links

On Friday 12th April 2019 , Katerini and Elexalde students are having videoconferences. THey are getting each other and they talk about the project. The activities they have like the best, their feelings about it, their hobbies and they have also exchanged Instagrams aas a way to keep contact.

The activity has been very satisfactory and a way to strenghen links between both schools.

Elexalde BHI with the korrika

Korrika (Basque for running) is an exhibition race which takes place every two years in the Basque Country in order to raise funds for the adult Basque-language teaching organization AEK. It is one of the largest demonstrations gathering support for a language in the world,covering a distance of 2.557 kilometres. People run day and night without interruption for 11 days. The Korrika' s goal is to encourage, support and spread the Basque language .
This year is its 21st edition and the korrika has begun on April 4th in Gares ( Nafarroa) and will end on April 14th in Gasteiz ( Araba)  with a closing party, where the baton’s message will be read out. Its motto is klika ( click) as taking the decition to learn and speak Basque.

Today, Wednesday April 10th, it has arrived in our town Galdakao around 12:57. The students and teachers of Elexalde school have welcome it and have run their km ( 1448) from Ardanza park to the old firemen´s house. Two students of our school have carried the baton adorned with the ikurrina ( Basque flag) at Ardanza park and at the roundabout have passed it to another student from Andra Mari School.

It has been a big festivity 

Elexalde students have prepared a song for Katerini students

Elexalde students have prepared a song for Katerini students.

Here you can see the preparation of it and the final result.

Enjoy it!!

Visiting Bilbao like tourists (video)

In spite of the bad weather, the 3rd of April we visited Bilbao to get information, photos and videos to prepare a presentation of some typical places and buildings of the city and their history.

Enjoy this summary. https://youtu.be/8mVW8FhOVUI

Cooking traditional Greek dishes.

3^rd Junior High School, Katerini

    On Spring's Eve we gathered at the seaside tavern "Psarokokkalo" in Gritsa, students, teachers and parents to cook, to talk and present the activities of the project done so far. The students cooked traditional Greek dishes with the guidance of the head chef of the tavern, Mr. Lambros. They prepared stuffed squid, moussaka, grilled sardines, mussel pilafi (i.e. mussel risotto) and various Greek salads. After cooking the students served the dishes. Everything was really delicious and the experience was unforgettable! 

    After that the teachers presented to the parents the TwinSpace and the blog of the project and discussed details of the parents' more active involvement in the project. At the end of the evening the students danced to rhythms of Greek music played by our music teacher, Ms. Akrida. It was a night to remember!

Soul Kitchen

Soul Kitchen Erasmus+ Discover and Share your Identity Mark

Cuisine heritage

" Good food brings family together"

All the Basque students ´families have cooked  together traditional Basque recipes . They have also helped their sons, daughters, grandsons and granddaughters cook their recipes.We would like to share them with the Greek families.We also encourage all of you to look at them and try to cook them in our blog section recipes.Thanks to all the families for taking part in this activity!!

Bon apetite/ On egin 

Here you can also read an article about the importance of the Basque cuisine , as part as our culture and traditions. We have also mentioned that we have something in common with our Greek partners related to the cuisine

A brief approach to the Basque language . Leaflets prepared by students

17th March 2019 

P6 Language heritage

Elexade students have prepared these leflets about the Basque language to give Katerini students when they visit us in May next year 

A video of the leaflets

Summary of P6 language heritage and we are preparing musical instruments and Greek-Basque dance heritage

The Greek Linguistic Heritage

3^rd Junior High School of Katerini

October and November were the months of our Language heritage. The objectives of these months' meetings were:

−        To get to know the history of the Greek language.

−        To perceive its continuity in the process of time and its incessant course through the centuries (3000 years).

−        To realise the importance of Greek language for the modern spoken languages of Latin origin.

−        To wake up to the word the richness of the Greek language and enrich their vocabulary.

−        To create activities of interaction with the Basque students based on their search on Greek language.

There was reference to the Basque MEPs (Members of the European Parliament) who introduced an initiative to the European Commission to develop a program according to which Ancient Greek will be taught to all the grades of the Obligatory Education in all the countries-members, so that the Greek language will become the common language of the cultured Europeans. We discussed on this initiative and the thoughts it provoked.

Then we read Zolotas' text which was pronounced in the 50s, in the frame of the meetings of the 

World Bank. Xenophon Zolotas (former Prime Minister) was then the director of the Bank of Greece and his two speeches are considered to be historic and notable because they entirely contained terms of Greek origin, even though they were written in English. You can see an example below:

We learnt many new facts about our linguistic heritage and we enjoyed this trip into our language very much.

We would like to share some of this information with you. For this reason we have created the following Padlets.

The history of the Greek language Shall we travel back in time to meet the history of Greek language?

The influence of the Greek language in other languages the Spiritus Asper and other stories

Carnivals arrive at Elexalde high school

Carnivals Elexalde high school 2019

Our school welcomes carnivals and as it is part of our heritage and our identity mark, we have prepared a report to share it with all of you.

It is a discovery of our carnivals and a way to show our Greek partners how we enjoy these days.

Smile, laughter, joy and happiness will accompany us these days. Carnival is illusion, costumes, colours, paintings, masks, dances, songs, and a lot of fun.

Here you can see some videos about it.

Erasmus + students are preparing a carnival dannce for their Greek partners

Carnivals in Elexalde