Best Practice: Heilige-Maagdcollege

1. KEYS FOR LIFE

Project day September
monthly lesson
orest classes April/May
All classes of the first form (12 & 13 ys old)

Keys for life

Themes dealt with:

• Social competences
• Bullying
• Risk behaviour
• Litter
• World solidarity

Worked out 'lessons' in units per class:

• "My stool with three legs" (building up self-confidence)
• "Well done!" (recognize and appreciate good qualities)
• "Bullying... not at my school!" (using video material)
• "Captain on my own ship" (taking up responsibility; working together with others)
• "Give a wink!" Paying each other compliments (on a bill poster at the end of the project day in September >>> ad valvas classroom

Activities:

• project day September on an outside location: combination of talks in group (making agreements; "I feel good if..."); teambuilding activities (games) and interclass competition spirit.
• litter action in the city of Dendermonde (October): cleaning green parks and borders
• "keys for Life" lessons on a monthly frequency in the "Keys for Life" classroom: mainly circle talks; cartoons; video presentation, ...
• solidarity action: project day in March with multimedia presentation by 5th formers who went on a sensibilisation journey to India, creative collective work of art (chalk tapestry on the playground), foot march sponsored by relatives and friends and at the end of the day balloon action on the playground
• forest classes: three days in a youth hostel in the Ardennes (April/ May); work and play together; rope circuit; "power trekking" and orientation walk in small groups, composed at random; respect for nature; show activity in the evening ; quiz activity, learn a song together (world music)...

Links to the curriculum: several of these themes are taken up in the cross curricular objectives of the Education Board (Ministry of education of the Flemish government): social competences, environment, responsible citizenship.

Students involved: 150

 

Litter action in the city of Dendermonde (October): cleaning green parks and borders

Evaluation

• Litter action: sensibilisation among teachers is necessary; some teachers were not pleased with the action in the city.
• Keys for Life" lessons: not all class teachers are working with the keenness necessary to be successful
• other activities: very good team spirit and well elaborated

Cartoons (with the themes) are transferable; other documents are in Dutch

 

Keys for life

2. "Drugs? No, thanks!"

Project day in February on an outside location in a green area
All classes of the third form (14 & 15 ys old)

Basic value: respect for my body and well being.
Theme: legal and illegal drugs

Project day:
1. interactive and multimedia information session bij the local police (prevention):

• What does the law say on drugs?
• What is legal/ illegal for their age?
• Consequences of use: law enforcement and influence on mind and body
• Influence of different kinds of drugs on body and mind
• Discussion in smaller groups

2. Theatre workshop led by a drug free community "De KIEM" (a reintegration programme for drug addicts in a living community); confrontation with young ex-drug addicts

• Presentation of the community
• The life story of three addicts
• Theatre workshop (role play; interactive)

School policy: reinforce pupils' defensibility and self-confidence>>> How to say no, also under group pressure

Curriculum link: cross curricular final objectives of the Education Board: health, social competences (self-confidence / defensibility), citizenship (contact with local police in a non-threatening and preventive situation)

Students involved: 130

Evaluation
Positive response from the pupils and teachers. The combination of 'the law' and 'the offenders' creates a well balanced and credible output for the pupils.

The age of the pupils: a considerable difference in individual patterns of going out, leisure activities and stage of development in their mental evolution makes it hard to work collectively. Individual approach in the follow up should be taken into consideration.

Is this best practice transferable to other schools?
Recommendations: Yes, if there are programmes of prevention in the local police department + a similar drug free community willing to bear testimony

3. THE MEANING OF LIFE-DAYS

Relaxing after discussions

2 days project in September in a congress centre (former abbey)
For all 6th formers (17 & 18 ys old)

Themes:

• Society, mundial training
• Basic values
• Religion
• Politics: the functioning of our democracy
• Health: first aid
• Career guidance (study)

Objectives:

• Confront the pupils with a number of problems concerning their functioning as an individual and within society
• Offer them the opportunity to reflect on these subjects and evolve ideas in discussing them with others
• Help the pupils to elaborate a personal values scale by confronting them with society problems

Workshops:

1. Political education: simulation game led by an external organisation for educational games
2. Health education: first aid practical training by PE teachers (cardio-pulmonar resuscitation)
3. Mundial education: led by an external studio about the millennium objectives (Kyoto, ...)
4. Fair Trade: a world trade simulation game led by an external organisation for educational games
5. MOVIE: The Constant Gardener (mundial awakening of consciousness in the pharm-industry)
6. Circle conversation with class teacher: study career guidance, self-evaluation, ...
7. Religion in a modern world: led by Religion teachers

Curriculum links:
Cross curricular objectives of the Education Board:

• social competences: learn to communicate effectively; learn to realise collective objectives; learn to assess the importance and risks of belonging to formal and informal social networks and learn to use the benefits
• citizenship education: get an idea of the working of Parliament and the decision making; accept democratically made decisions; make them aware of the mundial dimension and complexity of our society; be sensitive about the importance of individual commitment to improve welfare and well being
• health education: be able to help others in case of a CPR emergency

Students involved: 145

Evaluation
Very well received by the pupils
Timing: a lot of subjects in 2 days; little time for distraction

Is this best practice transferable to other schools?
Certainly: there must be organisations of educational games in all countries. The combination of these professionals with the own input of the school creates a good mix of credibility and professionalism.

 

 

Health education: first aid practical training by PE teachers (cardio-pulmonar resuscitation)