8 – 10 Οκτωβρίου 2024
Πρόγραμμα Erasmus+: Επίσκεψη συναδέλφων από την Ιταλία για “Job shadowing”
Η σχολική μας μονάδα συμμετέχει στο πρόγραμμα κινητικότητας Erasmus+. Στο πλαίσιο του προγράμματος, συνάδελφοι από την Ιταλία φιλοξενήθηκαν στο σχολείο μας, όπου είχαν την ευκαιρία να ξεναγηθούν στους χώρους του σχολείου και να παρακολουθήσουν μαθήματα (Μάθημα Φυσικών Επιστημών στη Στ3: Κυριακή Κωνσταντινίδου, Μάθημα Μαθηματικών στη Β1: Μύρια Σιακαλλή, Μάθημα Αγωγής Υγείας στην Ε3: Παναγιώτα Κουρέα). Επιπλέον, έγινε ανταλλαγή απόψεων σε σχέση με την οργάνωση και τη λειτουργία των σχολείων Δημοτικής Εκπαίδευσης, για το Αναλυτικό Πρόγραμμα, τα διδακτικά εγχειρίδια και την οργάνωση μαθήματος στην Κύπρο και την Ιταλία. Στο πρόγραμμα αυτό εταίροι της Κύπρου, πέραν από την Ιταλία, είναι η Πολωνία και η Ελλάδα. Την εβδομάδα 9 μέχρι 11 Απριλίου θα πραγματοποιηθεί η πρώτη μετακίνηση δύο εκπαιδευτικών και τριών παιδιών της Στ τάξης στην Ιταλία.
Γενικό θέμα του προγράμματος: “There was a forest - we were not there, there will be no us - there will be a forest”
Υπεύθυνη προγράμματος: Παναγιώτα Κουρέα
8–10 October 2024
Erasmus+ Program: Visit from Italian Colleagues for Job Shadowing
Our school is participating in the Erasmus+ mobility program. As part of the program, colleagues from Italy were hosted at our school, where they had the opportunity to tour the school premises and observe various classes (Science lesson in class St3: Kyriaki Konstantinidou, Mathematics lesson in class B1: Myria Siakalli, Health Education lesson in class E3: Panayiota Kourea).
Additionally, there was an exchange of views regarding the organization and operation of primary education schools, the curriculum, teaching materials, and lesson planning in both Cyprus and Italy. Apart from Italy, the program also includes partner countries such as Poland and Greece.
From 9 to 11 April, the first mobility visit will take place, during which two teachers and three sixth-grade students will travel to Italy.
General theme of the program:
“There was a forest - we were not there, there will be no us - there will be a forest”
Program coordinator: Panayiota Kourea
6 – 11 Απριλίου 2025
Πρώτη κινητικότητα στην Ιταλία στο πλαίσιο του προγράμματος Erasmus+
6–11 April 2025
First Mobility Visit to Italy within the Framework of the Erasmus+ Program
6 – 11 April, 2025
I.C. Pianello Val Tidone in Agazzano, Italy
European Erasmus+ KA2 Programme
Our school, the 9th Primary School of Paphos–Koupateio, is participating this year in the two-year European Erasmus+ KA2 programme entitled:
“There was a forest—we were not there, there will be no us—there will be a forest.”
With this symbolic title, “There was a forest… we were not there, we will not be there… but the forest will exist,” two teachers from our school—myself (Aikaterini Hasapi) and Maria Kalogirou—traveled to Italy, accompanying three 6th-grade students to take part in an international European environmental awareness programme.
The mobility took place from April 6 to April 11, 2025 (5 days in total). We visited the school I.C. Pianello Val Tidone in Agazzano, Italy, located 2.5 hours from Milan.
In Italy, 15 people participated: 5 from Cyprus (our group), 5 from Greece (2 teachers, 3 students – 2 boys, 1 girl), and 5 from Poland (1 teacher, 1 headmistress, 3 students – 2 boys, 1 girl).
This activity, with participants from Italy, Cyprus, and Poland (the coordinating country), aimed to raise children's awareness about the preservation of the natural environment and the sustainability of ecosystems.
Every day we attended school classes (from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.), and one day we participated in an environmental programme in a nearby forest.
The students worked based on STEAM principles, conducting field measurements in the forest, observing plant species, and studying forest life through both scientific and artistic approaches.
STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) is an educational approach that uses these disciplines as entry points for developing students’ inquiry, dialogue, and critical thinking. Integrating collaboration in the classroom based on these principles offers students a unique opportunity to enhance their skills through cooperative learning.
Our students had the chance each day to attend classes in Science, English, Art, Technology, Music, and Physical Education—all based on the collaborative learning model, in which Italian educators acted solely as facilitators and guides. Their teaching model was clearly student-centered and cooperative, which made a strong impression on us as educators.
The students—though older (aged 12–15)—worked independently, using tablets, markers, cardboard, and any other materials they needed, which they gathered themselves within their teams. They collaborated harmoniously, creating posters, drawings, logos, essays, poems, and even songs—all inspired by the forest, which was the core theme of the project.
Inside the forest, using scientific methods and worksheets, we conducted measurements, discovered plant species, explored a unique and valuable ecosystem, and truly experienced the life of the forest.
Our Italian friends, apart from the forest and school classes, also gave us a tour of their local historical sites—castles, cathedrals, monuments, statues—and took us on a visit to the nearby city of Piacenza, 40 minutes from Agazzano.
In conclusion, our impressions from this educational journey were exceptional! We had the opportunity to be hosted in a spotless, fully equipped school, featuring state-of-the-art technology and educational materials, a well-disciplined environment, and students with skills, knowledge, and values of hospitality and cooperation—a true culture!
Most importantly, both we and our students learned to collaborate with children and educators from other countries for a common goal. We enriched our knowledge of the English and Italian languages, exchanged views, learned about the lifestyle of others, and felt like true European citizens!
Naturally, we also informed our partners about the Cyprus issue, and most importantly—we made new friends!
Now, we are preparing to host them here in Cyprus from October 12 to 17, 2025!
It was truly a wonderful experience!
Aikaterini Hasapi-Papacharalambous
Primary School Teacher
What are the benefits of a child or educator participating in an Erasmus+ programme?
- They collaborate with students from other European countries.
- They use new technologies.
- They get to know other educational programmes.
- They help create a shared European culture, overcoming national stereotypes.
- They make friends and acquaintances from other countries.
- Their mutual understanding, self-confidence, and creativity are enhanced.
- They become participants in the Erasmus+ generation and true active European citizens!
