Newsletter 4 final

Comenius Project Newsletter Issue #4
Index :
Impressions on mobility in Latvia
Quizz & Statistics
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.
This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held
responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

Latvian Team : REFLECTIONS ON THE FINAL MEETING IN
LATVIA (Jurmala)
On behalf of the Latvian team, it was our great pleasure to host our partners for the Final Meeting of the
COMENIUS Project ‘EAT smart, WORK more, BE healthy’ in Jurmala (Latvia), which is a member of European Spas
Association and it has a status of “Healthy City”, granted by World Health Organization. Most probably it wasn’t a
coincidence that we all met in Jurmala for the last project meeting to analyze the impact, content and improvement of
project activities and draw perspective conclusions.
The week was organized to meet the needs and purposes of the project dealing with healthy life issues and
habits. Before making the schedule and deciding on activities, we came together and asked ourselves some basic WHY?
questions – Why do you (our guests) have to see this/that? Why do you have to do this/that? Why is this/that
important? We didn’t want you to experience random activities, feelings, spaces and places. We wanted you to meet the
right people in the right place and the right time. We wanted you to experience what is special, unique and different
about our country, people and traditions in the context of our healthy lifestyle project. But in spite of that, the
weather was a kind of surprise – it was snowing heavily in the second week of April, which is not typical even
for our latitude, thus providing a welcoming northern
touch to our final meeting.
By organizing the activities we based our concept on
the following principles:
- Everyone should feel
like in a team;
- Provoke the exchange
of ideas and
experiences;
- Show, learn and
understand the cultural
differences.

Latvian Team : REFLECTIONS ON THE FINAL MEETING IN
LATVIA (Jurmala)
Firstly, we wanted that you to have an insight into our school’ s life, understand why we’re called Alternative
school, understand the basic principles of student-friendly and student-focused school, notice the advantages of so
called small school, as well as share some pedagogic experience.
Secondly, the people involved in team-building and drama activities were supposed to bring everyone together for
a fruitful and meaningful project work.
Thirdly, we definitely wanted you to taste Latvia through our national cuisine and slow food meals as well as
experience the modern trends concerning raw food. We wanted that you learn about our typical rye (black) bread,
which is so healthy and baked according to ancient Latvian bread baking traditions and only from quality and natural
ingredients.
As a conclusion, Participation in Comenius Multilateral School Partnership Project “Eat Smart, Work More, Be Healthy” since
2011 has proved to be an excellent tool for bringing classroom theories to life. Considering that 21st century education focuses
on the global awareness, civic and health literacy and wide range of skills and competences, participation in our Project activities
has turned out to be a challenge and at the same time an exciting adventure for everyone involved.
On behalf of our team, we would like to express our greatest thanks to all our partners for great work, mutual
cooperation, efforts and understanding in the course of our project. I think we all have gained experience, friends and
inspiration and judging from the final answer of our quiz, the project has changed our vision of life, which is considered
to be the greatest contribution.
It was a great pleasure meeting all of you!

LATVIA2013
Monday, April 8th On Monday morning, we met our partners
at the hotel. We went by bus to school.
The Director, Egils Blums, at the
"Alternativa Jurmalas Skola" gave us a visit.
The students had prepared a welcome
concert.
Welcome to the city of Jurmala by the
director of the tourist office was very
pleasant. After visiting the Kindergarden
Jurmala, we discovered the Baltic Sea.
In the afternoon, we
were involved in the
activities of folk dance.
The guided tour of
Jurmala is made under
the snow, it was
beautiful.
Home Dinner in
a raw food restaurant
French Team

LATVIA2013
Tuesday, April 9th
With Arthurs, we participated at the
activity to develop
team spirit.
Then we worked on our project "Eat
smart, work more and be healthy “
before the drama activity.
In the afternoon, guided tour of
the old town of Jurmala through
games on
the symbols of the city.
Dinner in a design
coffee "Galerija
Istaba"

LATVIA2013
Wednesday, April 10th
Departure for Liepaja and visit a
traditional Latvian bakery
(making black bread)
"Bakery Laci."
The after noon, we visited this
military town (Tsar and USSR).
The visit Karosta
neighborhood (USSR) and the
military prison was very
impressive.
Dinner in a "Three chef" gourmet restaurant,
run by a popular television cook Latvian
Martins Sirmais.

LATVIA2013
Thursday , April 11th
Departure for Sigulda, one of
the most picturesque cities of
Latvia. We visited a workshop
of amber jewelery "Magic of
the baltic amber." Then we
work on the project: creation of
a quiz and posters.
The after noon,
we visited a traditional factory
wooden spoon
Goodbye Dinner at the "Innocent Cafe" where
our guests gave us beautiful gifts: honey,
berries, chocolate, ...

LATVIA2013
Impressions of the meeting
The latvian hospitality :
We were greeted by Inga, a professor of English at the Alternativa Skola of Jurmala, on Monday morning. She followed us
throughout the week in various activities and parties. The director of the institution, Hegels and many teachers are occasionally
added, including Wolf, and Einars Arthurs, professor of sport.
The welcome was very friendly and professional, each participant had prepared their speeches and nothing was left to chance.
Students at the school were all of our arrival and were also very welcoming, they participated in the tour of the school and some
activities throughout the week. They had also prepared home combines music, singing and sports a demonstration show.
Activities in school:
During our stay, we participated in activities at the school:
- Folk dance: we understand the importance of preserving the Latvian heritage through this activity, but not only. The
competences worked through this activity are many: group cohesion, music listening the coordination, memory and breath
and all through the game
- The "teambuilding" Arthurs, the host of this event, managed through various games to create cohesion between the different
participants (from different countries): the game of rope or how can we get to spend 16 people in a circle of rope, ... This
sequence shows the importance of group work, social interactions .
- The theater in connection with the project "Eat smart, work more, be healthy"), we worked on the will and the courage to
express his views. The aim was to understand adolescents should not be influenced.
Visits:
- The capital Riga (800 000) is a beautiful city with 75% of Art Nouveau architecture. The major religions are represented in Latvia
through magnificent monuments of religion: the Orthodox Church of the Nativity, the Lutheran Cathedral of St. Peter and the synagogue.
The old town is being renovated to becoming next year the 2014 European capital.
- The city of Jurmala, the seaside city, showing its richness through many recent buildings (metal and wood) and sports facilities .
- The Baltic Sea was frozen , for us it was magical.
- The city of Liepaja, military port, put us to the heart of the history of the twentieth century. The visit of the military prison and the
surrounding areas, have shown us the trauma of the people: the occupation of the tsar, Nazi and Soviet.
- Visiting a traditional Latvian bakery, factory wooden spoon and workshop Amber showed us their desire to preserve their traditional
knowledge .

LATVIA2013
Impressions of the meeting
Meals:
We ate in different places during our stay from the school canteen at the gourmet restaurant: - The school canteen: the meal takes place
between 13:00 and 14:00, the students eat with their teachers. The food is on the table (salad, hot dishes, fruit drinks), each student takes his
plate and cutlery and uses. They always eat the input of raw vegetables (beets, cabbage, carrots, cucumbers, mushrooms), grilled or boiled
meat (mostly chicken) with potatoes or other legumes and fruit dessert. They do not drink of water but often berry juice, milk or apple juice.
They prefer black bread to avoid over consumption. Their meals are very balanced, we have seen little or overweight people.
- Restaurants: the Latvian team wanted us to discover healthy Latvian cuisine leading us in a vegetarian restaurant. Other Latvian restaurants
have confirmed our observation made at school: a balanced and healthy, low-fat food and sugar. The gourmet restaurant in the same way, we
did find the same types of products (salmon, vegetables, berries, ...) cooked even more refined.
Working time:
During the week we spent two times to work on the project:
-
In the school on Tuesday morning we thought about creating a poster that would aim to encourage young people to adopt a healthy lifestyle. As
a first step, we have with students and determined group of healthy and unhealthy lines then we began to realize the sketch of our project.
-
On Thursday, the students created the posters while the adults were the assessment meeting of the project.
Carmen, the initiator of the project, reminded us of the various documents to be made to finalize the Comenius project: common photo album
with various partners, a common slideshow of activities implemented in the different partner countries, creating the fourth Newsletter, the
assessment of the project quiz.
We have created a quiz on the project "Eat smart, work more, be healthy" to be given to students (minimum 50) and teachers (10 minimum) to
to evaluate the project's impact on students and adults.
The question was asked to repeat the experience, the situation was the same for the various partners :
-
The project has been very rewarding for students and adults discover new cultures, food habits, landscapes, ...
-
Difficulties were encountered: shortage of time for better cohesion between the different countries, a very important additional work for the
project.
All partners believe repeat the experiment but not in the coming year to take time to pause and reflect on another theme interesting year.
The Latvian team was able to show us some of his country, while sticking perfectly with our Comenius project "Eat smart,
Work more, Be healthy!“
We could see their involvement in the project and their students,
the Latvian culture seems to perfectly match a healthy lifestyle.

The visit to Latvia was our last mobility and although we
were eager to know, we felt that our project reached the
final and a cloud of nostalgia to cover us.
A short and memorable week infuses with taste, smells,
colors and warm feelings.
In Latvia, we had a lot of interesting experiences.
Firstly, the warm welcome of the host families to our
pupils, they were like in their own home and the hospitality
and kindness of the Latvian team.
Secondly, our students and teachers learnt many things
about the culture, the jobs, the customs and the cuisine from
Latvia. We had the opportunity of visiting a traditional
bakery and to make our own bread, an amber master, a
wooden spoon factory and different restaurants with healthy
and tasty food.
Thirdly, we learnt about the history and monuments and
simbols with the sightsee in Riga, Liepaja, Karosta, Sigulda
and the Former Military Base from Tsarist and Soviet time.
Our students enjoyed a lot in the Military Base because with

In conclusion, we feel very happy and grateful for getting to
know and learning many interesting things. And our pupils
have opened their mind being exposed to another culture,
lifestyle, cuisine, climate, habits... They have realized the
importance of learning English to communicate with foreign
people to have a large circle of friends and to share their
tastes and hobbies.
We want to give thank to Latvian team: Einars, Ilze, Volfs
and of course to Inga who has worked with all her interest
and effort for us.
You all are really our friends.
Spanish Team
Aurora, Ana, Mari Carmen y nuestros alumnos: Natalia,
Furthermore, our pupils enjoyed participating in drama activities and cooperation and relationship games.
The work teams were very interesting and funny and they could practice the language explaining their jobs.
I would like to highlight the activity in which students had to brainstorm about healthy lifestyle and the advertisement for teenagers.

“The end of a great experience or a new start?’’
Romania Team : LATVIA 8 -12 APRIL 2103
Mobility gives a chance for young people to do research or voluntary work in various countries – near or far away. Doing this,
they not only get to know the other countries' culture and people but also gain new knowledge and skills being parted from their
usual environment, thus getting good practice and exchanging experiences with their peers. The obtained experience and
knowledge will increase the students' open -minded in order to discover new approaches.
Within the COMENIUS programme young pupils did project development, teachers' exchange and other types of project
approach aiming to improve the quality of education and enhance the multi-cultural dialogue from Latvia ,Romania,Spain and
France go for mutual exchange visits working to establish better comprehension and friendship between the youth of the
countries. Youngsters participate in discussion forums, visits and institutions, as well as study the culture,educational sistems
and history of all countries.Shall I say to you all something about the latest Comenius mobility in :
LATVIA – AN AMAZING COUNTRY !
On Sunday, we started our fourth mobility within the Comenius
project. Our flights were due at 14.30 pm and lasted approximately
10 hours. We arrived at our hotel at 1 am, because we had to take a
taxi from the airport to our hotel.

On Monday
During the day, we did a lot of activities, such as visiting the school, attending a welcome concert, dancing folk, visiting JURMALA CITY
COUNCIL and a walking through the old parts of Jurmala that is a very exciting city, especially because its located on two different sites,
a spectaculous frozen bay .
On Tuesday
Today we started practicing “HEALTHY LIFE STYLE” participating : teambuilding activities, school drama, brainstorming about life issues.
On Wednesday
This was the day of promoting a good approach of eating habits. We took part in a bakery, ’’LACI’’attending an opening exhibition and
presenting results of their long time analysis connected with food . After a short lunch break with traditional Latvian food, we
proceeded with a visit at Liepaja, were we did a short guided tour. In the afternoon, we visited KAROSTA – a military port , a military
base where we practice sport in a different environement. In the evening , we were invited to a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.
On Thursday
We focused on one topic of the mobility : working hard and how to plan a new vision of life time. This plan mainly contains methods,
advice done by an amber master. The most of the presentations were very good and contained a lot of useful methods. After the
presentations, we had 4 hours final project Meeting talking about results, outcomes guidelines or the final report. The schools
involved both teachers and students held presentations about the activities done in their schools and design posters, having
spectacular ideas that are going to be used in commercials. After that, we had a guided tour through a spoon factory making our own
amulet and learning how to become skilfull craftmen.
In the evening, we exhibited pictures of the posters done during this day about HEALTHY LIFESYLE .
On Friday
We did more cultural activities : We visited the ancient city RIGA. After that, the certificates were given to us.
At about 12 o’clock we went back to Romania.
We have accomplished a lot of great experience in learning ,improving the vision of life, we made special friends.
WE ARE “ENRICHED’’ !

Quizz « COMENIUS »Quizz « COMENIUS »
« Eat smart, Work more,
Be Healthy »

QuestionsQuestions
1°. How many countries are involved in
COMENIUS ?
Three
Four
Five
2°. Does the project make you sport more ?
Yes
No
I don’t know
3°. Which sports practice in Comenius Project,
did you like the most ?
Football
Basketball
Others sports
4°. Have you change your eating habits ?
Yes
No
I don’t know
5°. Have you change the eating habits of your
family ?
Yes
No
I don’t know
6°. How many new friends have you made
during the Comenius Project ?
<3
3 to 5
>5
7°. Does Comenius project change your vision
of life ?
Yes
No
I don’t know

Results Romania
Three Four
Five
0
20
40
60
0
50
0
How many countries are involved in
COMENIUSProject ?
Pupils& adults
Yes
No
Idon't know
0
20
40
60
43
0 7
Does the project make you sport
more?
Pupils& adults
Football
Basket
Otherssports
0
10
20
30
40
33
5 12
Which sports practice in Comenius
Project, did you like the most ?
Pupils& adults
Yes
No
Idon't know
0
10
20
30
40
38
0
12
Have you change your eating habits ?
Pupils& adults

Results Romania
Yes
No
Idon't know
0
10
20
30
40
38
0 12
Have you change the eating habits of
your family ?
Pupils & adults
<3
3 to 5 >5
0
10
20
30
5
20 25
How many new friends have you
made during the Comenius Project ?
Pupils& adults
Yes
No
Idon't know
0
10
20
30
40
50
45
0 5
Does Comenius project change your
vision of life ?
Pupils& adults

Results Turkey
Three Four
Five
0
20
40
60
0
50
0
COMENIUSProject ?
Pupilsan Adults
Yes
No
Idon't know
0
10
20
30
40
40
2 8
more?
Pupilsan Adults
Football
Basket
Otherssports
0
10
20
30
30
10
10
Whichsports practice in Comenius
Project,did you like the most ?
Pupilsan Adults
Yes
No
Idon't know
0
10
20
30
40
50
42
4
4
Haveyou change your eating habits ?
Pupilsan Adults

Results Turkey
Yes
No
Idon't know
0
20
40
60
45
5
0
your family ?
Pupilsan Adults
<3
3 to 5 >5
0
10
20
30
30
12
8
Howmany new friends have you
madeduring the Comenius Project ?
Pupilsan Adults
Yes
No
Idon't know
0
10
20
30
40
50
43
4
3
vision of life ?
Pupilsan Adults

Results Latvia
Three Four
Five
0
20
40
60
0 7
43
0 0
10
COMENIUS Project ?
Pupils Adults
Yes
No
Idon't know
0
20
40
60
38
5 7
6
3 1
more?
Pupils Adults
Football
Basket
Otherssports
0
10
20
30
40
19
0
31
4
0
6
Pupils Adults
Yes
No
Idon't know
0
5
10
15
20
25
22
12
6
3
5
2
Pupils Adults

Results Latvia
Yes
No
Idon't know
0
10
20
30
18
11
11
3
5
2
your family ?
Pupils Adults
<3
3 to 5 >5
0
20
40
60
39
6
5
3
3
4
Pupils Adults
Yes
No
Idon't know
0
10
20
30
40
50
41
5
4
9
0
1
vision of life ?
Pupils Adults
This report contains the results of a survey of 60 respondents
ranging from the pupils of classes 4, 5, 6 and the teachers who
got involved into the project activities.
A survey was conducted with a purpose to find out the
impact and outcomes of two-year long healthy lifestyle activities
under the COMENIUS project name “EAT smart, SPORT more,
BE healthy”.
It should be pointed out that the activities have had a
positive impact on both respondent groups – students as well as
the teachers and the results suggest that involvement into the
project has had a positive impact on the most crucial habits of
human’s daily life – eating and sporting.
And last but not least, 84% respondents admitted that the
project has changed their vision of life which should be pointed
out as the most remarkable result since the changes in one’s
personal vision might lead to the better choices you make about
your further life.

Three Four
Five
0
20
40
60
2
49
9
0
10
0
COMENIUSProject ?
Pupils Adults
Yes
No
Idon't know
0
20
40
60
80
57
2
1
8
2
0
more?
Pupils Adults
Football
Basket
Otherssports
0
10
20
30
40
37
13
10
2
0 8
Project,did you like the most ?
Pupils Adults
Yes
No
Idon't know
0
10
20
30
40
50
37
13
10
7
1
2
Pupils Adults
Results Spain

Yes
No
I don't know
0
20
40
60
42
5 13
7
1 2
your family ?
Pupils Adults
<3
3 to 5 >5
0
20
40
60
51
0 9
2
2
6
Pupils Adults
Yes
No
Idon't know
0
20
40
60
80
53
0 7
10
0 0
vision of life ?
Pupils Adults
Results Spain

Results FranceResults France
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Three Four Five
0
9
46
0
0
10
COMENIUSProject ?
Pupils Adults
0
10
20
30
40
50
Football Basket Otherssports
38
7 10
4
0
6
Pupils Adults
0
10
20
30
Yes No Idon't know
28
20
7
2
6
2
your family ?
Pupils Adults
0
10
20
30
40
Yes No Idon't know
31
17
7
2
6
2
Pupils Adults

Results FranceResults France
0
10
20
30
40
Yes No Idon't know
35
11 9
4
5
1
more?
Pupils Adults
0
20
40
60
Yes No Idon't know
44
9
2
8
2
0
visionof life?
Pupils Adults
0
20
40
60
<3 3 to 5 >5
50
3 2
6
2 2
Pupils Adults

We can see that this project has a positive impact at various levels:
-On students: they were thinking mostly about their patterns of food life and sports.
Indeed, 60% of students say they have increased their physical activity and change their
way of eating.
- The students' families: 50% of students have encouraged their families to change their
eating habits.
- The cultural openness and communication students: 70% of students want to learn about
other countries and cultures. They realized the importance of learning a foreign language,
English to communicate and exchange ideas. 80% of them are made 1-3 friends at meetings.
-In adults: the theme of our project has enabled some of us to change their lifestyle to
make it healthier but unlike students, we were already aware of the importance which is not
the change in eating habits because they already matched healthy hygiene. These meetings
and educational exchanges have new friends (60% say they have 1-3 new contacts) and
discover other ways to teach.
In conclusion, the results of this quizz is rather very positive that this is for students or
teaching staff. Comenius has achieved the goals we set at the beginning of the project,
mainly to push our students to have a different look at their lifestyle, but also open to the
world and Europe through various exchanges . The teaching staff felt enriched by the
exchanges between our European partners.

« Eat smart, Work more, Be healthy ! » project is a
massive and complex effort that will likly stand as an
exemple and model for future project of the same scope.
It is important to remember that a purpose of this project
is to answer questions about the impact, the content and
improvment.
The project made every possible effort to arrive at final
determination of doses received by both students parents
teachers and community.
Because the feedback was a great one, we, the project
team, have been planning, new ways of approches of this
Theme for the future.

Newsletter 4 final

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