The new school year was opened by the schools in the network “Every student will be an excellent student”

This September 15th has also passed. A very different first day of school. At the same time, despite all the news, one thing remains the same – the hundreds of children’s smiles that the school yard brought together. Although at a distance and with masks, you could see the excitement and happiness in the eyes of the students and their teachers that they are together again.

The Amalipe Center has always been part of the first day of school and this year did not miss it, albeit in a different way. Just before the beginning of the school year, we prepared information materials for schools and educational mediators to use in their work with parents and students. Through them we aim to make available the necessary information for all training in the conditions of Covid-19. The materials can be found here. In the following months we will continue to try to be useful, and we will organize various webinars.

The schools from the network “Every student will be an excellent student” also started the school year innovatively, trying to combine the celebrations with the innovations imposed on the safety of  the students. Part of the Amalipe Center team was present in places and was part of the first day of school.

Smiling, curious and hopeful, the students of PGOHHT Shumen, which is part of the network of the program “Every student will be an excellent student”, crossed the threshold of the favorite school

after the speech of Mr. Veselin Todorov – director of the educational institution and of course – the traditional first bell! The friendly building gathered the impatient students in the classrooms, all following the safety recommendations as required. Expert Silvia Stancheva congratulated the pedagogical team and the students and appealed for everyone to be healthy, good to each other and to help each other in the new school year! Together with the educational mediator, they distributed to the students explanatory materials for a safe stay in school, specially made by the Amalipe Center. Ms. Stancheva called: “After the new and difficult time of COVID 19 for all of us, we already appreciate the school even more, so let’s walk the path of knowledge with desire, to achieve success and all this to bring us satisfaction!”

 

At the secondary school “Lyuben Karavelov” in Varna, students and teachers were looking forward to this day! After some absence, the schoolyard was full again. “We know that this school year will be different, but there is no greater happiness for students and teachers than the meeting on the first day of school,” said the students. The principal – Dimitrinka Georgieva wished “Good luck” to the youngest students, to those who will cross the school threshold for the first time and a successful school year to all – students, teachers, parents. The guests of the celebration were Mrs. Daniela Panayotova – Deputy. Mayor of Asparuhovo region, Father Georgi from the church “St. Tsar Boris ”, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Eng. Mediha Hamza – Chairman of the Public Council at secondary school “ Lyuben Karavelov ”, Eng. Ivo Finkov – Chairman of the SS at the University of Food Technologies – Plovdiv and Mrs. Jana Vasileva – Regional coordinator  at CIDT “Amalipe”.

 

On the morning of September 15 – the yard of PGSS “Buzema” in Sofia was full of life – students, parents, teachers and guests. Greetings, smiles, cheers… Despite the high spirits, everyone tries to keep their distance, because of the necessary measures to prevent the Covid virus. The flag bearers who import the school flag are solemnly welcomed. Director Ivanka Stancheva emotionally greeted students, parents, colleagues and guests. She also welcomed the new 61 students – eighth graders, who chose the protected specialties Technician – Plant Breeder and Stone Making, as well as

Landscaping Technician. Greetings to the school team, students and parents were also presented by the official guests – Dimitar Antov – town councilor, representative of the Chamber of Stonecutters in Bulgaria and Valeri Lekov – regional educational coordinator of “Amalipe”. After a short musical program, Mrs. Stancheva “hit” the first one.

It is again the first school day at secondary school “Vasil Levski” in the town of Yablanitsa. And again it is a holiday, a real holiday for children and parents, for the teachers. We celebrated it together – unusual and non-standard with a holiday program with first, fifth and eighth grade and in every classroom with all other classes, because for the first time in history the school year began in conditions of an emergency epidemic situation with increased security measures due to COVID- 19. The school hospitably opened its doors to 467 students from the municipality in its renovated classrooms and gym. A colorful carpet of flower beds, new benches and stone paths that lead to recreation areas are part of the new landscaping of the school yard. And all this as a result of the work and efforts of the team of Mrs. Tsvetelina Valcheva. To wish a successful new school year, guests of the first school day were Plamen Vassilev – Deputy Mayor of Yablanitsa Municipality, Dr. Rumen

Gavrailov – The Chairman of the Municipal Council, Diana Vasileva – Chief Social Policy Expert, Yonka Danova – Regional Pedagogical Coordinator of the Amalipe Center, members of the Public Council. On the behalf of the Amalipe Center were presented а congratulatory address and a bouquet, and Ms. Danova thanked for the long-term successful partnership with one of the largest schools in Lovech region with the words: “I believe in your success because I believe in the professionalism of the teachers, in the dedication and partnership of the parents, in the diligence of the students ”. And this year the school managed to implement a plan – admission after seventh grade. Through the training in the specialty “Restaurant” and “Technician of transport equipment” is given the opportunity for full coverage of students from the municipality, as well as the opportunity to be realized on the labor market after the successful completion of five years of training.

The Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation to Bulgaria HE Muriel Berse Cohen and Deyan Kolev – Chairman of CIDT “Amalipe” were guests at the opening of the new school year at the Vocational School of Fashion Design – Veliko Tarnovo. HE Ms. Cohen welcomed the students, teachers and all those present, sharing

Switzerland’s experience in dual education and the Domino project, and emphasizing environmental education and upbringing. The first school bell was rung by the director of the vocational high school, Mrs. Boryana Mocheva. The students entered the school in a festive mood, after measuring their temperature and with masks prepared for preventive measures against COVID-19.

Ambassador Cohen toured the school and met with teachers, students and educational mediators. During the meeting, interest was expressed in deepening the Swiss-Bulgarian partnership in the field of education and environmental protection, by building bridges for cooperation with a vocational school from Switzerland, training personnel in the field of fashion, and the exchange of experience in the field of environmental education during the UN decade (2020 – 2030), dedicated to the conservation of biological diversity.

Ms. Cohen was also presented with the exhibition “Ethnicities”, depicting fashion and traditions in clothing through the eyes of students majoring in “Fashion Design”.

Ambassador Berse Cohen discussed with the school principal Boryana Mocheva the dual education and the challenges facing it during COVID-19, as well as the development of business in Bulgaria. Outdoors in the school yard, the Swiss ambassador talked with the school management, the team of the Center for Interethnic Dialogue and Tolerance “Amalipe” and educational mediators from Pavlikeni, Strazhitsa and Antonovo about the importance of their work for the education of vulnerable children, the situation with education during COVID 19 and distance learning, as well as the challenges  that the schools are facing in the coming months.

Good luck to all schools and students! May the new school year be healthy and present!