This document provides information about Elementary School "Marjan" in Split, Croatia. It summarizes that the school has 490 students and 48 teachers. It also outlines four projects the school is involved in: 1) A UNICEF project to create a safe and stimulating environment in schools, 2) A UNICEF campaign against cyberbullying, 3) A project to promote a culture of respectful communication, and 4) A project to increase tolerance for diversity. The school aims to improve social skills and respect among students through these international cooperation projects.

1. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL “MARJAN” SPLIT October, 2011.

2. Elementary school «Marjan» is situated in the western part of the city, along the edge of forest park Marjan after which it is named.

3. B asic information about the school : 490 pupils , 23 classes 48 teachers 4 a ssociates in e ducation : psychologist, logoped , pedagogue , librarian 3 classes in Clinical Hospital Split our motto is «Let's make a man»

4. By examining the state of mutual relations between all participants in educational work we have long understood that for good atmosphere of the pedagogical work it's necessary to implement numerous activities which enrich it.

5. By various forms of research work we encourage the liberation of pupils’ creative thoughts and the develop ment of their creativity. We are aware of the importance of real life surroundings in education so we strive to make the whole city our classroom (out of classroom teaching, fieldwork and excursions), especially forest park Marjan and the sea shore surrounding it.

6. We have designed our own projects like Culture of speaking, Different people enrich us, Professional orientation – the choice of occupation and we have joined in other projects like UNICEF's “ Stop Violence among Children ” UNICEF's «Break the chain» a campaign against cyberbullying

7. 1. UNICEF PROJECT – FOR A SAFE AND STIMULATING ENVIRONMENT IN SCHOOLS In 2005 our school joined this UNICEF programme. In 2007, upon successfuly completing the programme “Seven Steps to a Safer School”, we were awarded Violence free status and joined the Network of Violence Free Schools. In 2009 our Violence free status was renewed.

8. Working with pupils – we have taught our pupils to recognize cases of bullying as well as violence victims and we empowered them to take appropriate action in situations of violent behaviour among children. We have established a peer support group – called Friends who have learned how to get to know themselves and others in a positive way, to recognise and tolerate the differences and similarities among people, to receive and to give support, to develop self esteem, to identify feelings and to intercede for themselves and their rights .

9. 2. UNICEF PROJECT – A CAMPAIGN AGAINST CYBERBULLYING “BREAK THE CHAIN!” Objectives: Raise awareness of the benefits and dangers of the Internet. Teach children how to use the Internet safely. Add to existing values, rules and consequences those that prevent cyberbullying. This campaign is being conducted in 29 schools in Croatia and our school is the first in our county involved in its implementation.

10. In November of 2010, we were invited to International Conference of Innovation in Education in Belgrade as an example of a school that successfully implements this preventive campaign.

11. 3. CULTURE OF SPEAKING The project is designed as a continuation of the UNICEF project “Stop Violence Among Children”. (For a Safe and Stimulating Environment in Schools) Objective: Prevention of verbal violence among children, promotion and adoption of normal and polite forms of communication and creation of better interpersonal relationships on all levels between all participants in the educational process.

12. Appropriate level of communication in the school is a guarantee of healthy atmosphere in which our children will grow. The project places a special emphasis on supressing negative forms of communication: profanity, threats, mocking, vulgar words, insults and derogatory words which are, most often, a trigger for all forms of violence among children.

13. 4. DIFFERENT PEOPLE ENRICH US Increasing sensitization and tolerance for diversity among children. Creating a positive environment for successful integration of persons with disabilities in social life. The project places a special emphasis on supressing negative forms of communication: threats, mocking, vulgar words,disparagement, insults, physical violence and all other forms of violence towards those who are different. Training of teachers and pupils for successful communication and problem solving in school, classroom, family and society. Developing pupils’ social skills: conversation, empathy, active listening, appreciation and respect for diversity, peer support...

14. We have visited the Center for rehabilitation of mentally and physically challenged persons “MIR” in Rudine And the Center Slava Raškaj

15. Those projects have greatly improved the general atmosphere in our school. We believe it is crucially important to continue working in that direction because it encourages improvement of personal, professional, social and developmental competenc i es and skills of all the participants in educational work through international cooperation of the schools involved in the project.

16. It’s a lofty mission of our and any other school as the role of a teacher is precius in any society. As lighthouses to children in their growing up, we are called daily to grow in humanity, well-being, truth and knowledge.

17. Have a nice day!