Author: roleplay

Butterfly Project @ DES

Using history’s darkest time to teach students about hope, resilience, and kindness, helping them develop the courage to stand up to injustice in today’s world.

The Butterfly Project’s programming is a gentle approach to teaching a difficult topic. It focuses on the power one person has to make a difference in today’s challenging world. Sharing personal stories from Holocaust Survivors and families, painting ceramic butterflies to honour the 1.5 million children killed in the Holocaust, and creating art installations as reminders of courage, justice, remembrance, and hope. Why the butterfly? The Butterfly Project pays tribute to the poem “The Butterfly,” written by a young prisoner at the Terezin concentration camp. Butterflies are beautiful, fragile and resilient and represent transformation and freedom.

The Butterfly

The last, the very last,

So richly, brightly, dazzlingly yellow.  Perhaps if the sun’s tears would sing against a white stone…

Such, such a yellow

Is carried lightly ‘way up high.

It went away I’m sure because it wished to kiss the world goodbye.

For seven weeks I’ve lived in here,  Penned up inside this ghetto But I have found my people here.

The dandelions call to me

And the white chestnut candles in the court.  Only I never saw another butterfly.

That butterfly was the last one.  Butterflies don’t live in here,  In the ghetto.

Pavel Friedmann  4.6.1942

IB PYP Year 2 English: Literature meets cutting-edge technology! 

As part of our Literature Friday, students delved into the world of storytelling with a twist—exploring the fascinating connection between storytelling and Artificial Intelligence. 

Guided by Chat GPT, our young storytellers crafted tales of inventors who changed the course of history with their remarkable creations. They carefully described their main character, the setting and the time frame and added details they thought would make their stories more interesting. Their stories showcased the power of imagination and technology combined, from groundbreaking inventions to life-changing innovations. 

Nevertheless, the adventure did not end there! With the help of another AI marvel, Natural Reader, our stories came to life in various voices and tones, captivating our senses and enhancing our storytelling experience. 

As our students immersed themselves in AI, they also pondered its impact on our future. From revolutionizing industries to transforming everyday life, the possibilities seemed endless.

Stay tuned as we share these captivating stories on our Parent Blog, inviting everyone to embark on this literary and technological voyage with us! 

#LiteratureFriday #AIStorytelling #InnovativeEducation #DESInteractiveEuropeanSchool

https://heyzine.com/flip-book/788ee26fb1.html

https://heyzine.com/flip-book/9a52f04cf8.html

IB PYP Year 2 English: Literature meets cutting-edge technology! 

As part of our Literature Friday, students delved into the world of storytelling with a twist—exploring the fascinating connection between storytelling and Artificial Intelligence. 

Guided by Chat GPT, our young storytellers crafted tales of inventors who changed the course of history with their remarkable creations. They carefully described their main character, the setting and the time frame and added details they thought would make their stories more interesting. Their stories showcased the power of imagination and technology combined, from groundbreaking inventions to life-changing innovations. 

Nevertheless, the adventure did not end there! With the help of another AI marvel, Natural Reader, our stories came to life in various voices and tones, captivating our senses and enhancing our storytelling experience. 

As our students immersed themselves in AI, they also pondered its impact on our future. From revolutionizing industries to transforming everyday life, the possibilities seemed endless.

Stay tuned as we share these captivating stories on our Parent Blog, inviting everyone to embark on this literary and technological voyage with us! 

#LiteratureFriday #AIStorytelling #InnovativeEducation #DESInteractiveEuropeanSchool

https://heyzine.com/flip-book/788ee26fb1.html

https://heyzine.com/flip-book/9a52f04cf8.html

Using the Uno game as a tool for learning multiplication offers a dynamic and engaging approach to mastering mathematical concepts. By assigning values to each card, such as 1 through 9 for numbers and unique cards representing operations like multiplication, players can strategize and calculate as they play. For instance, when a player plays a “multiply by 2” card, they must quickly determine the result of multiplying the current number by 2. This active participation fosters rapid mental math skills and strengthens multiplication fluency in a fun and interactive manner. Furthermore, Uno promotes social interaction, communication, and problem-solving as players collaborate and compete to apply mathematical operations effectively. Thus, integrating Uno into multiplication learning enhances arithmetic skills and cultivates cognitive abilities and teamwork.

Celebrating Black History Month in Year 2 English!

Today, our young learners delve into the rich tapestry of Black history, discovering its significance and the remarkable individuals who have shaped it. From Rosa Parks to Martin Luther King Jr., Barack Obama, and beyond, they explored the inspiring journeys of those who paved the way for equality and justice.

As part of our Literature Fridays, students were captivated by the audiobook “The Shade of Cocoa,” following Bella on a journey of self-discovery and embracing the beauty of her skin colour. Through Bella’s story, they learned the powerful message that while we may be different, we are all equally valuable and essential.

Here at DES Elementary, we believe in fostering understanding, empathy, and appreciation for diversity in all its forms.

#BlackHistoryMonth #LiteratureFridays #DiversityMatters #DESInteractiveEuropeanSchool

Today, we marked a spectacular finale of our Year 2 Architecture and Symbolism Exhibition. With parents by their side, our young architects and artists led the way, guiding them through a journey of symbolism and innovation.

Through this exhibition, our students honed their presentation skills and delved into the essence of teamwork, explored different languages, and unleashed their boundless creativity. From intricate designs to thought-provoking concepts, they demonstrated the power of imagination and the joy of learning.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed to making this event a success and to the parents who actively participated in their children’s educational journey. Together, we are changing perceptions about education and fostering a community of lifelong learners. Here are many more inspiring exhibitions ahead!

#Teamwork #Creativity #EducationRevolution #DESInteractiveEuropeanSchool

Guess what! We did it again! This time with our 6th-grade boys and girls. Six schools, a fantastic atmosphere and team spirit and we played exceptionally well…exhibition basketball! We swept again and won the tournament, but the most important of all was once again our DES values: the sportsmanship, the way they worked together, and the camaraderie. It was a joy to watch and to coach. We are bursting with pride again. It is another excellent day for DES sports!

International book giving day is a special day celebrated every year on February 14, dedicated to spreading the love of books worldwide. It serves as a reminder to share the joy of reading and make books accessible to those who may not have as many opportunities to enjoy them.

Actions measure love!
Today, the Des library ministers visited the Piraeus Children’s Shelter: “good shepherd” and handed over to the Shelter’s library books that we collected as part of the international book-giving day! The welcome we received was warm. The students were given a tour of the site, learned about its operation, and committed to coordinating new joint actions with the Shelter’s children. We especially thank Ms. Angeliki Kouzoumis, who is responsible for Stegi’s social services, for the hospitality. Books should change hands, and hearts should be full of love. This was the most important lesson of our day!

Champions are measured by their conduct off the field/court before being judged. Our 5th-grade boys and girls did themselves incredibly proud at St Lawrence, where they played against five other schools. Yes, we won both tournaments. However, most notably, they worked together as a unit, grew together as a unit, and had much fun, which was the prime target before we left DES to travel. NO words are enough to express their unique experience and our pride! It says a lot when we receive compliments from all our opponents and their desire to play us again in the future. DES is, once again, the home of Champions!

New Year!

Year 2 was treated to an enlightening presentation by our Chinese students, including Shirui and Gavin, who shared their insights into this joyous occasion’s fascinating customs and history. From the origins of the celebrations to interactive Kahoot games, our classroom buzzed with excitement and curiosity!

Let us embrace the spirit of unity and cultural exchange as we welcome the Year of the Dragon with open hearts and minds. Thank you, Shirui and Gavin, for an unforgettable experience!

#ChineseNewYear #CulturalExchange #YearOfTheDragon #GlobalLearning #DESInteractiveEuropeanSchool