From 28th June to 2nd July, 2019 Mazsalaca secondary school hosted the last transnational project meeting. The aim of it was to analyse the previous project activities, results and impact as well as to work on the final financial and content reports.
Thanks to the partnerschools for their imput in exploring eTwinning opportunities.
These days, when a lot of our thoughts revolve around who will be the one to represent Latvia in the European Parliament, students from our school had a chance to visit Brussels and the European Parliament as a part of the Erasmus+ project “Young entrepreneuers - learning from experience”. We learnt that the members of the parliament do not have to know English, because every single one of them has their own translator. This visit was sponsored by the Erasmus+ project which is funded by the European Parliament.
The aim of this LTTA was to visit Sint Romboutscollege in Mechelen, Belgium. The school has more than 1000 students and the history of this school dates back to 1863 but the building was renovated in 2012. The visit of this school left a lasting impression and thoughts. The number of students is growing, parents are queueing to get their kids in this school, students are very motivated. Usage of phones is forbidden in the school area, nobody is late - in fact - being late can result in bad consequences. The school has a swimming pool, most people use bikes as transportation even when school is 20 or 30 km away. People are very motivated and interested in volunteering in school and their free time. Mechelen is a very clean, peaceful and active city with beautiful architecture, polite and happy people.
The main aim of this project was to talk about social inclusion and entrepreneurship. Our students had to think about how they could help someone in need in their free time. The vision of our students was to help patients with moving difficulties go on walks, read books to them and just visit them once in a while. Also - playing and helping with homework to the kids waiting for the bus after school. We are hoping that these ideas will come to life one day.
In this visit we had a chance to see sights in a lot of different cities - Mechelen, Antwerpen, Brige, Brussels and more. Each city is developing, is modern but proud of their old tresures - old buildings, cathedrales, bridges and canals. Respect for the past, mutual respect for each other, the urge to learn and know more, desire to live beautifully, be healthy, friendly to the enviroment, discipline and responsibility - these are the things we saw in Belgium.
Estonia surprised every member of the project with its weather right away. A lot of the participants had never seen snow or felt -25 degrees. That was an extra experience.
During the visit participants had the chance to meet some successful entrepreneurs - Estonian artist Reena Curphey and her husband Matt Curphey - learn about their family business. Students got the chance to see Estonian manors - Palsme, Sagadi and Vihula manors that have been turned into successful businesses for example - a museum, Forest school, SPA centre or a hotel. While visiting the Kasmu captains’ village they got to see a museum and learn about Estonian history.
Within the project students and teachers made their own virtual businesses and presented their work to others in international groups. That was a serious entrepreneurship experience. To some - it was the first experience of this kind.
While also doing school work, students and teachers participated in different activities: skiing, ice-skating, swimming, building a snow village. On a trip to Rakvere castle students got to learn about the life of people in the Middle Age, in Kohtla - Nomma mines learned about the hard life of working as a coal-miner.
Even though the visit was very close to Latvia, the students got new experience, knowledge, and new friends from different countries.
Right before Christmas Mazsalaca secondary school students and teachers had a chance not only to learn more about local entrepreneurship and making wax candles but also to try their hand at the craft. The task required certain skills and technical precision so there would be no leak. Under the guidance of Dace Stepanova and students from grade 7: Mārcis Stepanovs and Matīss Meinards Puķulauks the result was worth the effort and we could share the joy with 35 retired former teachers and employees who received the wax candles as a Christmas gift.
Erasmus+ project “Young Entrepreneurs – Learning from Experience”.
This time the Learning visit took place in sunny Portugal. The way to get there was long but no wonder as it has the ancient ‘end of the world’. While waiting for the flights we managed to get to know Frankfurt better and visited the panorama platform of a sky-scraper.
Moimenta da Beira is a small town about 160km from Porto. During our stay we saw the area with spectacular famous Duoro region, mountains, caves, Nazare on the Atlantic Ocean, which holds world records for the highest waves surfed. And it is by far not everything.
To learn about the regional entrepreneurship, we visited one of the main granite factories in Portugal, local vineyard-farm-cooperative where they produce wine, apple processing cooperative. In Duoro region we visited a vineyard farm that Forbes announced to be the best. In addition, we could also learn the local craft by picking grapes alongside other workers in a local teacher Torcato’s vineyard. It was an amazing chance and experience. We had to admit that the grapes there outside in the sun tasted better than the grapes in our shops. During the visit we also saw a former hydro power plant, nature centre and a museum of bread. We got to know their study process and organisation better. Now we wish we had as much fruit for lunch as in our partnerschool. There were also 2 concerts by their student bands and we spent an evening on school grounds watching stars with the school’s telescope.
During the week in Moimenta da Beira, students also worked on the project themes: presented their homework, presentations, discussed about social inclusion and what is done in each partnerschool. There were interesting ideas to listen to and think how they could be implemented also in ours. On the last day students drew kerchiefs and brought them to an organisation that helps people with mental disabilities. Portuguese school also demonstrated some technical projects what their students are working on. The result can help children with special needs.
The week was full of exciting activities and we did not even notice how it was over. We are grateful to our Portuguese hosts, both school and families for their warm hospitality and the chance to learn about their country.
Erasmus+ project’s “Young Entrepreneuers – Learning by Experience” 2nd study visit took place in Mazsalaca’s Secondary school from 3rd to 11th May. Mazsalaca Secondary school hosted guests from partner schools in Tamsalu in Estonia, Volos in Greece, Mechelen in Belgium and Moimenta da Beira in Portugal.
The visit started with an introduction to Riga. On the 4th May guests had a chance to learn about Latvian history and the meaning of independence by visiting “The corner house” (KGB) and different events in Riga. After that followed a day dedicated to entrepreneurship around Valmiera. In the time of the visit guests got to know our school, went to some classes. One day was devoted to the homework presentations which helped us to learn what each school has done for the project. The schools had organised different workshops for the students, one of which sold the self-made items and spent the money on paints so they could improve their school’s rooms.
The guests at our school and the participants of the project had a chance to try making soap and wax candles, which they kept as souvenirs. Workshops were splendidly held by student entrepreneuers Diāna Varga, Aleksandra Kauliņa, Mārcis Stepanovs and Matīss Puķulauks, thanks to their teacher Kaspars Vāle. The participants were just as happy about the chance to make their own silver jewellery at Baltu Rotas and a cane at a cane workshop in Sigulda. Thanks to Staicele weaver house for the opportunity to try weaving and the chance to see their ‘artwork’.
Participants of the project went on learning trips to get to know the local entrepreneuers, get some ideas that they can give further in their own schools. Thanks to Maer Ltd in Mazsalaca, Aloja-Starkelsen Ltd, “Lielkalni” farm in Ungurpils, captain Vairis in Staicele and Helmuts Bondars for the video stories.
On the last day of the visit participants were working on presentations and watched a mother’s day concert. In the evening participants shared their experience and impressions: food and eating habits are different; Latvia has nature; people take care of the environment, it is very neat. Students said that they liked the classes as well as just spending time together, both – by the sea, and in Mazsalaca. Locals admitted that the little town seemed more lively with 17 foreign students.
Thank you very much to host families and the employees of school for the co-operation both – getting ready for the project and hosting the guests.
The first learning trip of the Erasmus+ "Young entrepreneurs - learning from experience" project was to Volos, Greece which took place 20 - 27 Februrary, 2018.
Our school had the opportunity to take part in this project sending 5 of our students from grade 9 to 12 as well as two teachers - Valentīna Golovņa and Amanda Rakecka.
These students enjoyed the weather which was very warm compared to our winter. Of course they were learning as well as this is a learning trip. They learned about the different culture, learning process in school as well as about the topics of the project - entrepreneurship and social inclusion. Students went to a soap making workshop, an immigrant inclusion centre. Before going to Greece they had to do some homework - they made and sent a video about our school to the other schools in this project, made a presentation about translating our school’s website, made suggestions for the other schools to translate their school websites as well. After the trip these students presented their experience to students in our school; taught students about social inclusion and ways to practise it in their everyday life.
We are happy about their good experience and the chance given not only to learn but also meet new friends, use their English skills and see Acropolis.
The next transnational project meeting will take place in Mazsalaca, Latvia 4th -10th May, 2018.
As part of our school’s Erasmus+ project “Young Entrepreneurs – Learning by Experience” (23rd - 27th October) our teachers Zane Luste and Vineta Tiltiņa attended the 1st TPM in Moimenta da Beira in Portugal.
The goal of the teachers’ meeting was to plan the work on themes and upcoming project activities, where the 1st learning visit will take place in Volos, Greece from 20th – 26th February, 2018.
The teachers from all partner countries discussed also the 2nd learning visit which will take place in Latvia in May 2018. Mazsalaca Secondary school will be the host then.
Apart from the upcoming activites, teachers worked on the assesment tools which will help evaluate our project activities.
↓Pictures below↓
Erasmus+ “Young Entrepreneurs –Learning by Experience”
Hurray! 01.09.2017 -31.08.2019 with the help of Erasmus+ our school will have an opportunity to learn more about entrepreneurship, social entreprenurship, social inclusion and integration as well as practice English and learn about the cultures and languages of our new Erasmus+ partnerschools: from Volos in Greece, Moimenta da Beira in Portugal, Mechelen in Belgium and Tamsalu in Estonia.
See you soon in Greece!!!
From 20th to 26th February, 2018 our students and accompanying teachers are going to meet the partnerschools at the 1st learning visit in Volos, Greece.
The weather
Library catalog
