The document summarizes the first short-term exchange of students and teachers that took place in Istanbul, Turkey from February 16-20, 2015 as part of the Erasmus+ project "FAMILY, COMMUNITY, SCHOOL: The Troika of My Values!". Students and teachers from 7 countries participated in cultural activities and workshops to learn about each other's values and traditions. Key events included visiting historic sites in Istanbul, selecting the official project logo, learning about Turkish culture through art and dance, and building relationships across countries. The exchange laid the foundation for future collaboration within the project.

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NEWSLETTER 2 MARCH 2015
Project Number:
2014-1-PT01-KA201-001041
Contents
First short-term exchange of group of pupils (16-20 February 2015)
Short-term joint staff training (9-13 March 2015)
Opening Ceremony
First Exchange Summary
What We Did?
Logo Contest
Pictures
Students’ Expressions
What’s Next?

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My respectable teacher friends, our valuable guests and dearest stu-
dents,
We have gathered here within the context of the Project named
“FAMILY, COMMUNITY, SCHOOL: The Troika of My Values!” that has
multiple purposes such as encouraging family, school and society values
amongst students, developing useful effects on the field of family, socie-
ty and school values, also supported by Turkish National Agency.
Notably the coordinator country, Portugal, we would like to state that
we are very happy to host you, precious guests coming from Greece, Slo-
venia, Romania, Belgium and Austria in the most beautiful city of Turkey,
İstanbul and under the roof of Kartal Yuksel İlhan Alanyalı Science High
School. I do believe with all my heart that this Project will enable both
students and the countries to get to know one another and their cultural
values closely and will create a significant awareness as to family, society
and school values. I have the excitement of taking the first step of the
two year long process right here, with you. The persistence of these
kinds of projects increasing day by day among the countries will build in-
destructible heart bridges.
I would like to thank everyone each who has efforts on this unifying
Project and say “Welcome to İstanbul and our beautiful school.”
Muammer Okumuş
Headmaster
Yüksel-İlhan Alanyalı Science High School
Dear all:
One year ago, I had the possibility to witness the kindness of the Turkish people in the
person of our friend Köksal. Thanks to a common friend that put us in contact we had
the possibility of sharing some common concerns about education. With a distance of
more than 3000 km, we noticed that some of them were similar.
How can we learn from each other?
The Erasmus+ Programme allows schools to keep in touch, to develop a common pro-
ject with common purposes.
Two years ago, in a Seminar in Antalia, me, Anja, Sakis and Tjasa we shared a working
week about cultural exchanges. After a first contact we all agree that we would work
together. But we thought that we needed a different vision. Thanks to new technolo-
gies, we manage to find our partners from Belgium (Diane) and from Romania (Laura).
The team was completed. It was the time to design the project.
The Spanish philosopher Ortega y Gasset once said that a man is him and his circum-
stances. When we are born, the values are not coming with us. Our family first, the
community which we belong then and finally, the school, this three pillars prepare us
for live. How does this occurs? Do we all have conscience that a gesture, an attitude
teaches more than a thousand words?
This is our challenge. To engage people, in order to help them to realize that we must
all teach by our example of live.
But this project is not for the teachers. This is for you, dear students. In this project,
we want you to think about how your values have been internalize. What can you
share with us, about the way you were thought to choose the good, the right, instead
of the wrong? What can we learn from you?
I think we are going to have two excellent school years, and we are going to learn a lot
from each other.
As coordinator of the project, I would like to thank all the partners for the excellent
involvement, all the student for their energy and commitment, and to this school that
hosted the first pupils exchange of the project using such an high standard of quality
and for whom I ask a great applause.
Tesekkur Ederim.
Luis Gonçalves
Project Coordinator

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This first mobility story starts in the city many of us dreamed we would one day visit -Istanbul - where Europe and Asia
meet, where cultures and civilizations meet, seven countries got together: 15 students and 15 teachers sharing experience,
knowledge, culture, language.
Between 15th and 21st February, the YÜKSEL-ILHAN ALANYALİ SCİENCE HİGH SCHOOL gave the start to the ERAS-
MUS+ school project entitled “FAMİLY, COMMUNİTY AND SCHOOL: THE TROYKA OF MY VALUES!”, being the host for
this first mobility.
On the morning of the first day, Muammer Okumuş, the Headmaster of the school, along with teachers, students and staff
welcomed the delegations of the seven countries: Turkey, Austria, Belgium, Romania and Slovenia (2 teachers and 2stu-
dents each) and Portugal, (project coordinator, 2 teachers and 3 students).
The energetic ice breakers that followed were a wonderful way to make everyone feel at home in that very first morning.
And everyone did! By lunch time we felt we had known each other for years. Also on the first day, and besides the visit to
the premises of the school, all delegations attended the first workshop where they had the opportunity to present their
schools and their countries based on the work made by the students ( PPTs, videos, ...)
The second day was dedicated to learning Turkish while discovering the city of Istanbul, and its most famous monuments
and places of interest – Hagia Sophia Museum, Sultan Ahmet Mosque, The Basilica Cistern, the Grand Bazar and the
Spice Bazar. But there was an unexpected surprise for us! Snow, heavy snow made the city even more beautiful and unfor-
gettable to our eyes! Although every day and every activity had been carefully planned in advance, the weather forced the
Turkish team to prove its capacity to adjust and adapt, made the welcoming team of teachers and students work even hard-
er so that the programme could be continued without great loss.
All schools had to be closed due to weather conditions but that was no excuse not to work. In an alternative space, over-
looking the Bosphorus, all the project’s logos were officially presented and the best one chosen. The Romanian team was
congratulated. It was also time to prepare the project short term staff training event in Portugal as well as the next mobili-
ties: all delegations cooperated actively discussing project activities and further details to allow this project to reach its
goals.
It was time to cross the Bosphrus by ferry and to continue discovering the city and getting in touch with its people. Galata
Tower was waiting for us and so was a ride on an antique tram, Istiklal Street and Ortaköy and Taksim Squares. Delightful!
Back at school it was time to discover the Art of Ebru in a carefully planned workshop that allowed everyone to learn and to
actually make ART. It was also time for students to have the opportunity to express “Values through Literature and History”.
It made us know more about each country and the people who contributed to make our world a better place. It was time to
become astonished with the Turkish presentation of the dance: Whirling Dervishes. Unforgettable!
And all of a sudden it was almost time to say goodbye! The students gathered in groups to create and to present different
posters reflecting this week and what it had meant to them. Certificates were handed out in a beautiful ceremony and, last
but not least, a farewell dinner party where everybody was invited to wear and show the tradicional clothes from each
coutry and to join in the tradicional dances. And the truth is we are all exquisite dancers, aren’t we?
Five days we had to learn about each other. Five days to increase our respect for each other and for our diversity. In com-
mon we have the will not only to face the future together, but to prepare a better future for our students, for our sons and
daughters, for our mothers and fathers, for ourselves, creating a significant awareness to family, society and school values.
The words of the hosting school´s Headmaster proved to be absolutely true: “This project will build indestructible heart
bridges”!
This week isn´t over: it will definitely stay in our hearts forever. Thank you Turkey!

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Opening Ceremony
Ice Breakers
Presentation of the participants
Choosing The Project Logo
Discovering The City
Values Through Literature
Values Through History
Art of Ebru
Whirling Dervishes
Poster of Project

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Romania (The winner of
the logo contest)
Slovenia
Turkey Portugal
Greece
Austria
Belgium

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2nd Project meeting: Agrupamento de
Escolas Miranda do Corvo, Portugal, 13-17
March 2015
— Short-term join + Staff training event