The Comenius’ meeting in Arta
Monday 5th May, the students of the Music School of Arta welcomed their newlyarrived guests in the school yard playing music and dancing traditional dances. The
groups of students and teachers from the other countries came in as in a parade
and joined in. Then, a short outdoor ceremony followed where all the groups were
presented and the travelling suitcase was opened in front of everybody. The items
were shown from students of each country and short explanations were given. The
Comenius anthem was also performed outdoors. After that, every team was guided
around the classrooms where the students welcomed them, showed them the
corners with the material they gathered for each country, danced and played music
as well as offered them traditional home made treats. In this way, students and
teachers had the chance to meet in person. After lunch, a workshop about the
Odyssey followed. In the evening, a concert took place with Greek songs played by
the music school students.
Tuesday 6th May, the comenius team had a trip to the picturesque town of Parga
and participated in a land art activity in international teams. Music was performed
on the beach and in the port of Parga by the Greek students and teachers. In the
afternoon, all students have a rehearsal to prepare the Comenius concert and
teachers have a meeting. In the evening all teachers were invited for dinner.
Wednesday 7th May, a trip to Amvrakikos waterlands took place, so as to enjoy the
nature views, as well as some dancing outdoors. In the afternoon, the last rehearsal
took place where all the students participated. In the same time there was a
teachers’ workshop in which teachers were taught how to dance a traditional Greek
dance consisting of sixteen basic times, which upon teachers’ request were recited
in the numbers of the original Greek language, so teachers of European nations were
able to learn at least the first few numbers in Greek. In the evening, a second
concert took place in the Medieval castle of Arta. There, in the entrance of the
castle, an exhibition was linked to the Odyssey steps. In this concert, “Our voices
across Europe”, all the students sang songs from all the different countries, in
different languages.
Thursday 8th May, the groups discovered Arta and moved from one landmark to the
other accompanied by music. Lunch followed next to the old bridge of Arta. In the
afternoon, all groups joined in a workshop where they took the entrance exam that
the Greek students have to sit in order to get into the school. The farewell party was
held in the evening. Teachers, students and parents joined in and various kinds of
music were played by the students.
Friday 9th May, that day the evaluation of the activities, the handing in of the
certificates of attendance and the departure of the delegations took place.
FEEDBACK OF THE FOREIGN DELEGATIONS
Some issues that could have taken some improvement were the following:
Spanish and Hungarian team
 regretted that the dance that the teachers rehearsed was never performed.
Spanish and Polish team
 think that in the tour round the school more time in each class would make it
even more enjoyable.
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think that the workshop about the entrance test was a bit long.
Hungarian and Polish team
 would like to get their invoices earlier.
Catalan team thinks that in the Odysseys workshop, the presentation should have
been more participative and encouraging students and teachers to take part in it. It
would have been nice to work in internationally mixed groups.
Spain we would have appreciated a little more information about the waterlands
and an activity connected with it.
Hungarian team mentions that unfortunately, there was a family who did not
reciprocate the hospitality our child enjoyed in Hungary.
Strong points
All partners appreciated:
how the walk of local and international teachers and students to the school
site turned into a musical procession.
 the welcoming with music and dance.
 the Opening ceremony including the performance of the Comenius anthem
outdoors.
 the activity of the Travelling Suitcase as it was shown in front of everybody and
where we could all enjoy the items and the explanations.
 the tour of the school where all the partners made the discovery of all the
corners, the classroom decorations, the delicious snacks and students and
teachers’ hospitality.
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 the land art activity, especially in internationally mixed groups and the fact
that they could hear music during the land art activity on the beach
performed by the Greek students and teachers.
 learning a traditional Greek dance from the Epirus area - and also counting - in
the teachers’ workshop.
 the way that the two music conductors carried out the students (Greek and
hosting students) together in the rehearsals. They managed to create a fun
atmosphere while doing serious rehearsal for the concert. The cooperation of
the different teams was made possible by enthusiastic teachers.
 The artistic value of the concerts.
 The idea that the chronicle of our journey throughout the two years of our
project was compared to the Odyssey voyage and was linked to the Odyssey
workshop, with the exhibition in the ancient castle.
 The tour around Arta: All partners enjoyed to discover Arta by moving from one
landmark to the other accompanied by different types of music played by the
students. This particularity has made the whole tour very special on the one
hand, on the other it provided a fitting connection to the theme of our project.
 the organization that achieved a well balance of doing the project tasks and
cultural visits.
 that their physical well-being and culinary taste buds were continuously taking
care of. The meals eaten together also provided times to socialize for the
students and teachers alike.
 the atmosphere created during the farewell party thanks to the outstanding
music played by students.
Most of our partners mention also as strong points:
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The last game of writing comments on a piece of paper attached to our backs
was mentioned as a great idea to provide an opportunity to say thanks and
also to say goodbye to each other. This sheet of paper will remind us our last
meeting in this Comenius project.
The presents prepared by the students.
The professional videos of the concerts.
That the spirit of music was everywhere.
the fact that the headmistress and so many teachers were involved in the
program.
 the fact that the host students always were by the guest students and the
hospitality of the Greek families that accommodated.