Learning Through the Lens: Newark School’s Erasmus+ Exchange in Lithuania

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From the 8th to the 12th of October 2025, a delegation of Newark School Malta students and teachers embarked on an inspiring Erasmus+ exchange week, graciously hosted by the Troškūnai Kazys Inčiūra Gymnasium in Lithuania. This trip stands as a powerful example of the school’s commitment to fostering a global perspective and providing learning opportunities far beyond the traditional classroom setting.

The exchange was built around a unique and challenging academic project: developing qualitative and quantitative criteria for landscape photography. This theme provided a perfect blend of art and science, requiring students to engage in deep analytical thinking. Through collaborative seminars, group discussions, and hands-on workshops, participants from both schools worked together, promoting creativity and strengthening their teamwork and communication skills.

The learning truly came to life during the practical fieldwork sessions. Students applied their new skills while exploring the stunning natural and cultural beauty of the Anykščiai Regional Park. The itinerary was packed with unforgettable educational experiences, including a breathtaking walk along the Treetop Walking Path, visits to observation towers overlooking Rubikiai Lake, and a major cultural excursion. This excursion took them to the coastal city of Klaipėda and the Curonian Spit, a UNESCO World Heritage site famed for its dramatic sand dunes and unique ecosystem.

This programme perfectly embodies Newark School’s commitment to a holistic education that balances academic rigor with real-world experience. These Erasmus+ projects are a cornerstone of our educational approach , designed to build independence, instil respect for diverse cultures, and forge lasting international friendships.

The exchange was an outstanding success, offering unforgettable cultural and educational moments. Our students return not only with new photography skills but with a deepened appreciation for nature, heritage, and the value of international collaboration.

From Malta to Macedonia: Elizabeth’s Erasmus Experience

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I participated in the ‘Let’s play it again’ Erasmus project in North Macedonia and here is my honest opinion.

My week in North Macedonia was an unforgettable experience. My first impression was that it was very different from Malta and other countries I have been to. North Macedonia is a land rich in history, breathtaking landscapes, and warm, welcoming people. I really enjoyed learning about the local culture, especially through their traditional games. Playing these games with the locals was not only fun but also surprisingly familiar—I was struck by the similarities to the games I used to play back home. It was a unique and unexpected way to connect with the culture, making the experience even more meaningful.

I was also captivated by Macedonia’s stunning natural beauty and diverse landscapes! In a time when nature is disappearing in many places, it was refreshing to see such pristine mountains, rivers, and forests.

Another highlight of my trip was meeting new people through the project. It was amazing to connect with participants from different countries, exchange ideas, and build friendships. I also loved the traditional food—it was delicious, with a variety of rich and unique flavours.

One of my favourite days was visiting Skopje, especially the bustling Old Bazaar. The vibrant atmosphere, colourful shops, and enticing aromas made it an unforgettable experience.

If you’re considering joining an Erasmus+ project, I would definitely recommend it! It’s even more fun if you go with a friend—you can explore together, share some laughs, and maybe even pull harmless pranks like ding-dong ditch! I’m already looking forward to my next project, exploring a new country, and having more incredible experiences.

Overall, my week in North Macedonia was filled with adventure, learning, and fun. It’s a truly special country, and I feel lucky to have visited it. I can’t wait to go back someday!

  • Written by student Elizabeth Herve

Cassandra’s Erasmus Adventure: Discovering North Macedonia”

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This essay will be about my personal experience with Erasmus +.

This year, I was fortunate enough to get chosen to participate in an Erasmus project called “Let’s play it again”. I had gone with seven other students to North Macedonia – a beautiful country, full of picturesque nature, mountains and trees. It has also an interesting culture and delicious food!

Initially, I was a bit nervous to go on the trip since I wasn’t used to fly without parents, but the teachers were very supportive and protective, so I felt quite safe. They were also very kind and made the trip so much fun, and they weren’t too strict either!

During my stay, we visited many educational sites, different cities and schools. I learned a lot about North Macedonia and its rich culture.  I also really loved watching traditional dances other students showed us and it was a truly unforgettable experience! Moreover, I really improved my communication skills since we did a couple ice-breaking activities with others, which helped me to become more confident.

My favourite part of the trip was when we visited the capital city of North Macedonia, Skopje. It is a wonderful and beautiful city with many places to explore! We got to try not only some food and buy souvenirs, but also visited interesting museums, a mosque, with a beautiful chandelier, and an adorable cat walking around the mosque!  We also saw many old, but beautiful statues. Another thing I really loved was playing games, I got to learn new games and I even noticed similarities with games I used to play when I was younger!

However, if you are really considering going on Erasmus, it’s important to take note of the responsibilities and duties that come along with it! You might have to prepare presentations, testimonials or essays after or during the trip but this doesn’t make it any less enjoyable, and if anything, it can be fun to make presentations or essays or any other work that you might have to do.

Overall, this was an amazing project and if you ever get the opportunity to sign up for an Erasmus, I would totally recommend it! We created lots of unforgettable memories with my friends and even got to know them better. If I had the chance to, I would even go on a second Erasmus trip! The teachers were the best and getting to know the other students from all over Europe was a truly great experience. Learning about Macedonia and its culture was definitely exciting too. So, I do recommend participating in an Erasmus project!

  • Written by student Cassandra La Rose

Erasmus+ Project: Outdoor 4 MI – KA220- SCH – Cooperation Partnerships in School Education

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The main objective of this Erasmus+ project is to promote outdoor education within the younger generation of EU citizens so as to create an awareness of our natural environment from a young age.

The aim of this project is reached through the divulging Early Childhood Education and Care teachers. In this way, the obstacles which are present in this sector can be observed, as well as providing the teachers with the means necessary to enable the implementation of these Outdoor Education activities among students between the age of 3 and 5.

In light of this, special attention is given to those students who have a physical impairments, since for these students it is more difficult to enjoy the Outdoor Education activities, however through this project this limitation is dealt with, so that no student will be in at a disadvantage, and every student has an equal opportunity to experience Outdoor Education Activities.

Throughout this project, there are a number of multiplier events so that these activities are further promoted. Furthermore, through this project a number of outcomes are expected, namely that the ECEC teachers adapt and are well equipped when it comes to these activities; that teachers are upskilled with regard to mobility impaired children in light of these activities; as well as creating awareness of the importance of Outdoor Education among the families of children, and stakeholders.

This project is co-ordinated by a partner from Tuscany, a region in Italy. The other partners in this project are from Portugal, Cyprus, Romania, Spain, Malta and Lombardy, another region in Italy.

 

English – Newsletter Outdoor4mi #1

Flyer – English

Erasmus+ Project: Let’s Play It Again

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Let’s Play It Again

2023-1-PL01-KA220-SCH-00158550

 

The aim of the project is to strengthen the language skills of young people and to acquire key competences in the field of social, cultural, technology and communication competences.

The aim is also to change PE curricula by introducing traditional games based on seniors’ memories.

During the project, the schools will produce films from meetings with seniors.

There will also be a publication containing 24 scenarios of educational and integration games and activities – both in paper and electronic versions, organization of 6 festivals of traditional games and activities for the local community, conducting 12 sessions of  2 hours duration on the use of games in the physical education of students.

There will be the  participation of 48 students (8 from each country) in mobilities in the different countries.

The project is co-ordinated by a school in Poland.

The partners are from Crete, Cyprus, North Macedonia, Lithuania and Malta.

The project is for two years and will finish in 2025.

Erasmus+ Project: LINNEO

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LINNEO is framed in the field of Technology Enhanced Learning and aims to innovate Natural Sciences (NS) education by
creating a web-based platform nurtured with high quality and engaging Digital Educational Resources (DER) for primary
education. It will target 2 categories of users: teachers and students in primary education. The platform will support formal
and non-formal learning experiences, and it will be developed with appropriate gamification features (Deterding et al., 2011)
to guide children in the exploration of the available DER. This approach will guarantee access to the DER to a wide number
of children, especially to those who cannot access on site educational experiences (due to health problems, social
disadvantage, etc.) and enrich their digital competences. The platform will be also endowed with resources for supporting
teachers in its use, to sustain the uptake of innovative methods and tools beyond the project boundaries
SUPPORTING TEACHERS, SCHOOL LEADERS AND OTHER TEACHING PROFESSIONS

The pandemic made even more evident that teachers should be able to effectively integrate digital technologies in their
teaching practice (OECD, 2021). This process needs a redefinition of the overall teaching methodology and an accurate
design of learning activities (Ott et al., 2015). LINNEO aims to train teachers in adopting the digital resources developed
through:
– an online course, piloted with the teachers of the partner schools, that will remain available for future users.
– a set of reusable activities and lesson plans for the design and implementation of blended or distance lessons integrating
LINNEO digital resources.

Finally, LINNEO will foster teachers’ collaboration by supporting the creation of a community for primary school teachers
that will build up on the e-Twinning platform. This aligns with one of the principles of successful professional training
programmes, that is to encourage the development of teachers’ learning communities (Schleicher, 2016).

PROMOTING INTEREST AND EXCELLENCE IN STEM AND STEM APPROACH
Technology has already been recognized as a key component of education in STEM (Dogan&Robin, 2015), and has
become even more important recently. Limited access to on-site education (due to emergency measures, children’s health
issues or social disadvantage) prevents students from experiential learning (Kolb, 1984), particularly important in the NS
field (Gorghiu&Santi, 2016). LINNEO grounds on the collaboration of Natural Sciences Edutainment Institutions with
educational institutions and a digital company to develop a student-centered system supporting technology-based NS
education. The project will provide teachers with resources aimed at involving students in educational experiences based on
exploration, discovery, and active participation. Resources will be tailored to the diverse students’ needs and support
conceptual change that is fundamental to science learning (Nadelson et al., 2018).

The project will pursue the following OBJECTIVES:
1. To increase the availability of high quality and engaging digital educational resources in NSs, targeting primary school
students.
2. To reduce the gap in the teachers’ competence as to the integration of digital technologies in their teaching practice from
the technological and methodological viewpoint
3. To increase the access to educational activities organised by NSEIs due to restrictions linked to societal emergencies or
specific disadvantages
4. To increase the cooperation opportunities between NSEIs, educational institutions and digital companies
The LINNEO platform ADDRESS DIGITAL TRASFORMATION by strengthening the readiness of Primary Schools [PSs] to
implement effective digital education in NS. This will be done supporting the implementation of a longer-term approach by
making available innovative resources and SUPPORTING TEACHERS in the process of integration. Finally the project will
PROMOTE INTEREST AND EXCELLENCE IN STEMS by making available resources aimed at involving students in
educational experiences based on exploration, discovery, and active participation also for those who cannot visit NSEIs
onsite.

The partners in this project are:

ITALY – Costa Edutainment SPA

ITALY – SI4LIFE – Scienza E Impresa Insiemeper Migliorare La Qualita’ Della Vita SCRL

LITHUANIA – Vilniaus Universitetas

LITHUANIA – Gedimino Miesto Mokykla

ITALY – Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche

ITALY – Istituto Comprensivo Staglieno

MALTA – Be2Bit

MALTA – Newark School Malta

Erasmus+ Project: Explore, Learn and Protect our World

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The main objective of this project is to equip students with necessary the knowledge and tools to find real solutions to combat climate change, and to make contributions towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals, on a local, regional, national and European level.

The partners participating in this project are:

  1. Basque Country (Colegio de Educación Infantil y PrimariaOrokieta/Zarautz)– coordinator
  2. Romania (Școala Gimnazială Petriș) – partner
  3. Turkey (Mezitli Anaokulu/ Mersin)– partner
  4. Malta (Newark School ) – partner
  5. Bulgaria (Purvo Osnovno Uchilishte “Sveti Kliment
  6. Ohridski” /Sandanski) – partner
  7. Latvia (Jūrmalas pirmsskolas izglītības iestāde “Lācītis” ) – partner

The project objectives for the students are:

1. To develop awareness of global issues while experimenting scientific phenomena throug
real world examples in real environments.
2..To explore the environment in non formal areas such as forests, the countryside, parks.
3. To respect and protect nature and the living environments, which lays the foundations for
an environmentally responsible adulthood.
4. To stimulate the children’s motivation for environmental protection, by creative activities
done outside the classroom.
5. To lean how to protect the living environments, by finding real solutions to real problems.
6. To develop the children’s inquiry skills, by doing research in order to learn the cause and
effects of climate change.
7. To reduce the negative impacts of the long periods of lockdown on the children’s well being,
by increasing the level of learning activities in outdoor spaces.

The project objectives for the teachers are:

1. To develop early childhood environmental educational programmes outside the
classroom.
2. To specialize themselves into delivering environmental education lessons outside
the classroom for a variety of subjects, such as math, art and science, games,
literature and geography.
3. To increase the number of outdoors lessons taught in each partner school.
4. To develop interdisciplinary collaborations among different departments in each
school.
5. To make an exchange of good practices among all the partner schools, by
observing lessons, face to face, meetings and virtual exchanges.
6. To increase the amount of time the teachers get actively involved in outdoor
envirinmental learning with students.
7. To design and use materials for environmental education in outdoor spaces.
8. To promote the internationalization of each institution and specialization of
teachers on this topic by taking part into an international project.

The project objectives for the school management team:

1. Encouragement, support of kindergardens staff interest in a larger participation in
activities of international cooperation.
2. Improving of the kindergarten policy through developing a European dimension in
education; increasing of quality in environmental education.
3. Establish an outdoor classroom (benches, tables, whiteboard, gadgets that are
constantly present outside, regardless of the weather and can be used to learn the
direction of the sky, dive objects, speaker, etc.)
4. Set policies as a first step in becoming eco schools in the future.

Erasmus+ Project: Colourful School

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Project Title: Colourful School

Project Number: 2022-1-PT01-KA210-SCH-000083857

The main objective of this project is to promote inclusive, fair, and equitable education that values and respects cultural and linguistic diversity, fosters innovation and integration, and is aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The project has 4 partners from 4 European countries. These include partners from Portugal, Turkey, Spain and Malta.

Our Colourful School Erasmus project will promote inclusive education through a variety of activities. These include cultural workshops using art and digital tools, foreign language learning workshops with digital tools, and the development of a strategy for inclusive education. We will also improve our understanding of common European values and identity and our outputs will be shared on a digital platform.

The project expects to achieve several results. These include the creation of a digital material pool for learning about cultural heritage, the development of resources such as e-books, e-magazines, and animations, and the establishment of an open source code platform for sharing digital materials related to cultural unification. We will also develop a strategic plan and action plan for promoting inclusive education with a focus on European common values.

For more information about this project please follow the link below:

Homepage

 

IDEAS

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The IDEAS project is a project which aims at combining the creative aspect of learning through hand on, practical activities. During the project students will work together in teams to solve real problems together not just through memory but rather through the application of the acquired knowledge students will find ways to be proud of their work.

The IDEAS project is an immense opportunity for schools to focus on education in a way that the learning approach has to be integrative of both theory and practice and where students are able to create value out of these experiences.

Furthermore, Design Thinking as a mindset and work attitude for creative problem solving has become crucial for many activities in education. These methodologies encourage students to think broadly about problems, develop a deep understanding and recognize the value in the contributions of others. This project focuses on the mindset of “how to think” not “what to think”.

The partners in this project are from Sweden, Latvia, Italy, Turkey and Malta

Let’s All Go to the Theatre of Our Dreams – A project to combat and reduce bullying in schools

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According to the UNICEF report released in 2018, half of the 13-15 year old students (approximately 150 million students) around the world are exposed to peer violence in and around the school. UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore, on the subject: Education is the key to peaceful societies; however, he said the school itself might not be a safe place for millions of children around the world. While this situation affects the education of children in the short term, it can lead to depression and anxiety, even suicide in the long term. The most intense security problem in educational environments is all kinds of bullying. With this project, we aim to make our project partners more inclusive and peaceful organizations. Our project will tackle all types of bullying and develop critical-creative-collaborative and caring thinking skills of our target groups. Our basic intervention logic is to achieve sustainable results with effective and innovative methods. The thesis that negative emotions are the basis of negative behaviors and negative thoughts are the basis of negative feelings is an accepted thesis in the academic world. This shows that if we want to change a negative behavior, we will have to change the thinking first by following the opposite path. From this perspective, our project will create sustainable changes in the way individuals think about all kinds of bullying. For this, drama, P4C and non-violent communication techniques will be used separately and together. New training contents will be created. Project publications and campaigns to be carried out with the active participation of target groups are also among our effective tools. Prevention of the types of bullying in educational environments is possible by supporting all factors concerning students. For this reason, educators-students and parents were chosen as the target group as the actors involved in the process in our project. Separate activities were planned for these three target groups and the preventive and sustainability dimensions of the project were strengthened. Our General Goal: To contribute to the goal of creating more inclusive and more peaceful learning environments where each individual has the opportunity to realize their potential.

 

This project is co-ordinated by a partner from Romania. The other partners in this project are from Turkey, Bulgaria, Croatia, UK, Greece and Malta.

theatre of our dreams leaflet (1)