We're skyping together!

The videocall remote communication between the Marcel Callo and Val do Rio students has finally begun.

Each school has devoted one weekly hour (Fridays at 11.00 GMT) to be in touch with their counterpart and discuss the progress of the project activities.

The idea is to create a routine where they get used to and comfortable with informal oral reports in English. Last Friday's trial was a success and the students were quite happy to see their friends again. See you next Friday, partners!

Escola Electrão: Switch Off Session

The Switch Off Session took place on 5 June - World Environment Day.

This event was the closing of the first edition of Escola Electrão (see previous posts here and here), and it was held at the Pavilhão Atlântico, in Lisbon. Besides the illustrous presence of figures like the Portuguese Secretary of State for the Environment - Mr. Humberto Rosa - the session was attended by hundreds of students and teachers and was hosted by the well-known TV celebrity Sofia Carvalho. The highlight of the session was the disclosure of the winning schools that collected most electric and electronic equipment waste: 1.164.783 kg of waste were collected, an average of 2.820 kg per school and 4,09 kg per student. Considering that the goal for this kind of waste recycling is 4 kg/person/year we can conclude that on average the students involved reached this figure in only 6 days!

Escola Profissional Val do Rio managed to collect approximately 6.200 kg, a figure that is pretty much above the average, although (unfortunately) it wasn't enough to get one of the 16 top prizes. Our school was represented in the event by two of the project coordinators - Cláudio Gonçalves and Vasco Corisco - and a member of the school direction - Pedro Rebelo. Above are some photos of the event.

The French press on the project #2

Les Infos - Pays de Redon, 1 April 2009

The French press on the project #1

Ouest France, 27 March 2009

DAY 10: Good-bye Redon!

One last trip to La Gacilly in the morning, with a walk around Yves Rocher's botanic garden and then it was time to say good-bye! Next year, Oeiras, Portugal is the place where everybody will meet again and all the action will take place!

DAY 09: Manoir de l'Automobile and City of Rennes

I'd dare say that everyone in the group had great expectations for this day: since cars and car mechanics are one of the biggests interests for both the French and Portuguese students, le Manoir de l'Automobile in Lohéac was one of the highlights of the activities done. 400 cars of all kinds and ages are more than enough to satisfy most people's crave for horsepower!

After lunch, there was a guided tour through the old streets of Rennes, the capital of Britanny, and a reception at the City Hall. There we learned some of the most important aspects of the old and recent history of the city.

DAY 08: Field trip

A nice day out along the picturesque narrow roads of Britanny!

First stop: Carnac megalithic site, near the village of Carnac, with alignments, dolmens, tumuli and single menhirs.

Second stop: Presq'île de Quiberon, a narrow peninsula with the 'Côte Sauvage' facing west and fine sandy beaches on the eastern sheletered coast. Not just a tourist site, but also a port famous for the sardine fishermen and the related fish-canning industry.

DAYS 06-07: Weekend

Free time to get to know a bit more of the beautiful Brittany and strengthen the relationships with the partners and their families.

DAY 05: School visit and reception at the Town Hall

Students and teachers did a tour of the Lycée Marcel Callo to know the different areas where the school excels - aeronautics, electrotechnics, industrial works, mechanics, automechanics, renewable energy sources...

...and then it was time for an official reception at the splendid Town Hall of Redon. The project was explained, congratulating speeches were made, photos were taken for the 'Pays de redon' newspaper, and the Portuguese students felt once more that the tales about Britanny's famous hospitality are actually true!

DAY 04: Trip to the Mont Saint-Michel

The whole Thursday was dedicated to a trip to the Mont Saint-Michel, in Normandy, one of the most visited tourist sites in France. No wonder, it is a breathtaking masterpiece of mankind's attempts to reach spirituality. The images speak by themselves.

And to recover from the extreme cold and rain we had at the Mont Saint-Michel, the Lycée Marcel Callo was kind enough to invite the brave travellers to a comforting dinner at the school canteen. Hooray to the chef!

DAY 03: Workshop and soccer

The students continued their workshop activities eagerly, and it was also time for a group photo and an interview to the 'Ouest France' newspaper.

In the afternoon, the long-awaited soccer match - the Portuguese insisted on national teams: they'd had an unfinished business to settle since the 2006 World Cup semi-final...

DAY 02: A walk along the canal and first day of workshop

Morning: Meeting at the town cathedral with students and teachers from other local schools to start a walk with stopovers to reflect upon Easter Time. Most of the walk was along the Nantes-Brest Canal. A perfect time to get to know our partners and a magnificent landscape to inspire reflection. At the arrival point, 6 km later, everyone was happy to see we had a bus waiting to take us back...

Afternoon: Beginning of the workshop - while the students were dismantling old computing equipment and sorting all the different parts, the Portuguese teachers were guided through an explanatory visit to some of the very well-equipped technical premises at the Lycée.

Evening: Institutional dinner for the project coordinators and school board at a typical crêperie. The sarrasin 'complet' was a favourite...

DAY 01: Arrival and reception

First face-to-face contact of the Portuguese and French students. Everyone was anxious and excited with the expectation. A great reception was waiting for the Portuguese students and teachers at the Lycée Marcel Callo. The French teachers and students involved in the project and the school board of directors welcomed the Portuguese committee, and the pairing of students was made. Time to go home, because the day had been long and tomorrow would be a long day!