Celebrating the International Day of Persons with Disabilities

International Day of Persons with Disabilities (December 3) is an international observance promoted by the United Nations since 1992. It has been observed with varying degrees of success around the planet. The observance of the Day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life. It was originally called "International Day of Disabled Persons" until 2007. Each year the day focuses on a different issue.

The replacement of the term special needs to disability shows the change of focus on how we perceive, we understand and deal with issues related to disability. Nowadays the starting point is the potential within each person and the constant educational, professional, supporting systems and structures around them which will help these individuals become independent and autonomous adults.

As responsible citizens our main daily goal has to remain the constant wondering and questioning of our usual habits. Is the way we are behaving appropriate and just for every person around us? Do all people benefit from the way our city is working? Are all people able to reach the benefits of our city such as the seafront and the beach? Our task is to defend every person’s right to fell dignified and respected. This is an obligation and a task.

Let’s keep in mind that disability can occur at any second.  It is our duty to make it personal and to behave and live as citizens who respect and embrace diversity. We are not the same but we are equal. Let’s celebrate every day a world of diversity.  

Following, please watch a message from George Lazaridis, resident of Kalamata and Wheelchair Tennis champion. Mr. Lazaridis was involved in a car accident that stuck him in a wheelchair in January 1993.

Kidness Week

In an attempt to improve the interpersonal relationships between students, to enhance empathy and encourage a more kind behavior and a sense of altruism we organized a kindness week for the 2nd and 4th graders of our school. Here are some activities:

 Kindness Bingo: Each student was given a personal bingo chart with acts of kindness adapted to the reality of our school. The charts were placed on a big announcement board in each class and students were coloring each act of kindness they completed. There was a time limit of 1 week (adapted from https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Kindness-BINGO-2946306)

The wrinkled heart (or….The power of words): Students watched the story of ʺChrysanthemumʺ by Kevin Henkes  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xffkRIXpnwk  while listening to the story they were folding a paper heart each time something bad, worrying or stressful  was told to the heroine. And they were unfolding the heart when something nice and kind was told. The story had a happy ending however the wrinkles in the heart were irreversible. By the end of the story the message was clear: Before you speak think and be smart, it’s hard to fix a wrinkled heart (author unknown). https://gr.pinterest.com/pin/196399233725602155/

ʺHave you filled a bucket today?ʺ: Students watched the story ʺHave you filled a bucket today? ʺ by Carol McCloud https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EuemNAo6XE and were encouraged  to write down their emotions and thoughts. Two buckets were placed in the classroom one for bucket filling acts and one for bucket dipping. At the end of the week we read their posts and created a poster claiming that we are a bucket filling class that will try to spread the message to the rest of the school. 

Exploring our local products

First and second graders are learning to communicate and respect the place they live in with its quality and its assets. Messinia province is the area with the largest production of figs all over Greece and one of the finest in Europe. Each year the exports are large and the biggest production unit only 10km away from our school. Today was a great day to do that!

We went there and we got to see how the preparation of the figs which remains the same (without additions and preservatives) since 1910 when it first started. The only flavor added is the amazing messinian oregano which the students got to add to figs.

10th P.S. of Kalamata celebrates World Day for Disability

Today we celebrated the world day for disability by doing something different. We explored our neighborhood, in different terms. We were blind for one day. This is collaborative way of learning at its best. Our students were divided into small groups of 5 or 6 with specific roles. One acted as the disabled person. He/She was blindfolded and used a broom stick to provide him/her with the needed guidance along with oral instructions by a classmate who acted as the friend. The other three or four students, depending on the team, monitored and recorded the experience while at the same time they wrote down all botchery, errors and ill-practices by our fellow citizens and municipal authorities  in our neighbourhood towards short-sighted or blind people.

Reducing Plastic

Now in our second-year teaching through global goals changes are an everyday reality for our school. Decisions and actions are part of our life. Returning from Poland everyone thought we should take a step further. Best changes come from within! 

Day of Mediterranean Coast

Our school cited next to the sea, gave us the perfect opportunity to take action as responsible citizens. We organized ourselves by record, separate, declutter and gather all things not needed in a clean environment. Based on the collaborative learning and working as a team, students used critical thinking on a problem based environment in order to make decisions.

Final Day in Zblewo

During the final day of the project participating teachers also had the opportunity to discuss various aspects of Global Citizenship Education, such as Democratic Education. As part of the discussion we examined various teaching and learning methods that we could incorporate in our teaching. Below is the coordinator of our project, Wendy, and the coordinator from the Polish school, Joanna.