SPAIN
Colegio Nuestra Señora del Carmen, Cádiz.
carmelitascadiz.vedruna1826.org/
Our school is located in the center Cádiz, surrounded by official buildings and close to the Monument to the Spanish Constitution of 1812. It is located in a quiet area but at the same time very busy by the tourists who come daily to our city. Last year, 2,454,247 visitors visited the province of Cadiz, most of them arrived in the city on one of the 280 cruise ships that arrive to the city every year. The first thing these tourists see is our school and the monument to the Constitution, as we´re next to the port.
INNOVATIVE METHODOLOGY.
In our school there has been for three years an Innovation Group in which all levels and stages of the school and the Management Team are represented. This group receives specific training on innovative methodology, (cooperative learning, project learning, routines and thought strategies...) holds monthly meetings in which they organize and establish the action lines of the rest of the cloister.
Each educational stage is at a different point of deepening the use of innovative methodologies:
Infant Education:
The staff in this stage has taken 4 years in apprenticeship for projects and has implemented this methodology carrying out three projects each quarter of which two are coordinated by levels and the third is vertical for the whole stage. They often use thought routines and this year they have started to introduce cooperative learning techniques.
Primary education:
The teachers of this stage began their training two years ago. The last course, cooperative learning techniques were introduced, as well as routines and thinking strategies with very good results and this course they begin to work on projects (one term).
Secondary Education:
The teachers of this stage are waiting for specific training on learning by project but are working with some cooperative learning techniques.
A strong commitment is made to the increase of digitilization in the classrooms by the acquisition of computer media and the management of innovative tools and resources.
COMPLEMENTARY ACTIVITIES TO CURRICULUM
-The students of 3rd and 4th Primary Education participates during the months of March, April and May in sailing courses in which they learn to sail catamaran. This activity is organized by the city council and is completely free for students.
-The student of 5th grade Primary Education will participate in the "Cantania" project included in the official municipal program of the Gran Teatro Falla. It is a musical in which our students make the choir of the work.
- In our school, musical and dance concerts are organized in which teachers and students of the center participate, as well as artists who collaborate free, thus promoting the taste for music and performing arts.
-Our school is an examination center for official examinations of Cambridge and during the course prepares the students to carry out these tests by exam simulations.
- Summer camps in the region are organized for students from 10 to 16 years old and also camps of linguistic immersion outside our country (Ireland).
-It has the collaboration of the Parents Association of the school to organize activities related to festivities very rooted in the culture of the city as Tosantos, Carnival and Holy Week.
-In the extracurricular activities bets for sports (Football and Basketball), arts (Dance and Rhythmic Gymnastics), Technology (Robotics) and Languages (English Academy).
- Introduction of moments of interiority in school life such as a minute of relaxation each day when climbing the playground or morning prayer.
INTEGRAL TRAINING OF PERSON
- Solidarity campaigns (Christmas, solidarity project ...)
- Vedruna Groups, youthful coexistence ...
- Brotherhood between students of different stages.
- Collaboration with organizations: Tierra deTodos (for imigrant people), City council ...
Our students belong to all social levels, not allowing any child to suffer any type of discrimination or have to give up any educational right due to their economic situation. This project would be a great opportunity for students who have shown great effort and dedication to their studies to enrich their education and to know other countries, which would be impossible if not for European aid.