Day 3 - First day at the school

Good morning! I woke up looking forward to arrive to the new school, but before this I needed to have a typical Romanian breakfast, which gave me a lot of energy to enjoy the day. 

 Madeline, the Romanian teacher from the school, picked us up at the hotel and took us to the school, which is called Scoala Gimnaziala n° 11.

At our arrival, two students have recieved us inside with a traditional custom that consist of taking a piece of handmade bread and eat it with a little salt.  Then, I've been introduce to the Head mistress and other teachers, who accompanied us through the different facilities of the school. It was impressive, because I could see a musical garden, a green house and even bunnies, among many other things. 

In the music garden, there is a trail made with recycled plugs and decorative benches made with pallets as well as different instruments they can play at any time. On the other hand, there is a STEAM yard, in which we could see manipulative resources to work mathematics through them. Isn't it amazing?

In addition, did you know this school is the first circular school in Romania? That means, it involves the use of natural resources, the reduction of losses and costs and promoting selective recycling as well as the creation of a permaculture space done by building a teaching and didactic greenhouse. Thus, they puts into practice the fact of recycling, reuse, reduce and the permaculture concept. 

Do you know what permaculture is? Have you heard about it?

To continue, they take advantage of rainwater to give it various uses in the center, through facilities that the City Council has financed. Also, they have photovoltaic panels placed, to take advantage of solar energy, using LED lighting. Similarly, they make homemade filters for water heating.

After that, the teachers and I were in an interesting French class, in which we could listen to the presentation of very famous French books, such as "Le Petit Prince".

Then, we attended an English class with Madeline and it was amazing. Her students introduced me to the school and we even played through Kahoot to see what we had learned about it. And to finish the session...I have delivered to the students the letters that some of you have given us to bring here. Well done students from 5th grade! They were very happy to recieve them! It was a beautiful experience! 

Finally, I attended a small robotics class. There, a group of students with great interests in this subject, has taught me his work, always related to the promotion of the use of renewable energies and care of the environment. I have been able to take a walk through the ecological park, which they are riding and it has been a pass. This workshop is carried out autonomously and as an extracurricular activity. It has been impressive... They have also told us that they have won several prizes in competition related to robotics.

It's been a looong and exciting day!! Full of learning and great experiencies! Can't wait to see what they show and teach us tomorrow.

I am loving to be in a school of another country, with schedules and customs different from ours! 

Good night everyone!!!