Present:
Clara Rech (Principal) Liceo Ginnasio Statale Augusto, Rome
Maria Teresa Ciaffaroni (Co-host) LGSA Rome.
Carlo Panizzon (Co-host) LGSA Rome.
Paola Aloi (Project Leader) LGSA Rome.
Christian Duntsch (Project Co-ordinator) Carl Zeiss Oberschule Berlin.
Thomas Scafer (Project Leader) Carl Zeiss Oberschule Berlin.
Hans Joachim Rhode (Deputy Headteacher) Carl Zeiss Oberschule Berlin.
Marc Neven (Project Leader) Sintermeerten College Heerlen, Holland.
Marielle Rooduijn (Project Leader) Sintermeerten College, Heerlen, Holland.
Norman Bradley (Project Leader) Furtherwick Park School, Canvey Island, Essex.
Paula Quinn (Project Leader) Furtherwick Park School, Canvey Island, Essex.
Norman Bambridge (Advisor) Furtherwick Park School Canvey Island, Essex.
Students:
Valentina Bauccio (LGSA Rome)
Flavia Tocella (LGSA Rome)
Srevia Valeuthu (LGSA Rome)
Sean Clow (FWP Canvey Island)
Aaron Acraman (FWP Canvey Island)
Lewis Lacey (FWP Canvey Island)
(SM Heerlen)
(SM Heerlen)
(SM Heerlen)
(SM Heerlen)
In attendance:
The class group from LGSA Rome.
The co-hosts (MTC and CP) introduced the School Principal (Head teacher) Clara Rech who formally welcomed all the delegates and students attending this conference at LGSA and
re-iterated how much importance was attached to energy and environmental sustainability projects and was sure the outcome of this project would have positive outcomes to that need.
Carlo Panizzon outlined the project aim and objectives for the Conference from the agenda previously circulated which were:
Aims: Forms of Energy and Production.
Objectives: Review the use of Energy by using sustainable alternatives.
Processes to include: Pupils creating Individual Environmental Plans.An overall School sustainability plan on energy usage and the potential for saving.A Media/School handbook which includes the review projects.
Communication between students and schools.
Marc Neven mentioned that the students from Sintermeerten had produced a power point presentation as their introduction to this project meeting based upon the use of Minewater heating in the Limburg which was formally a coal mining region.
This was commended as being informative, well thought out and containing all of the processes of research for any topic chosen by all other schools.
They also gave a second (discussion) presentation based upon developing and undertaking surveys of peer groups and the collating of information based upon the preparation of Individual Environmental Plans.
He also mentioned other projects his students were undertaking including the recycling of ‘training’ shoes which the worldwide brand named company will shortly be contacted to establish what they may already have in place and, what the future plans are for recycling.
Referring back to the Mine Water presentation, he suggested that Water problems are not restricted to one particular country, noting the very recent issues again on tidal surges and flood and coastal defences the consequences of which all pupil could review the issues and perhaps produce linked ideas and solutions.
A discussion concluded that pre-emptive peer group surveys for the Individual Environment Plans could be followed by a project end survey to ascertain if thoughts and actions has changed over that period, necessarily regardless whether it was from the same student and commencement.
On the subject of video or handbook production, it was seen as a means of showing the project development to other groups including EU funding co-ordinators and could form part of the joint project report.
Paola Aloi agreed with Student lead groups, as those were attending this conference and how this better radiates information with their peer groups. She also supported the fact of each country has the same generic problems, perhaps only affected by the priority each country places on the issue. For example, in Italy, the current emphasis places Waste Disposal and Recycling very high on the political agenda.
Norman Bradley mentioned the proposed expansion of the wind farm located offshore in the Thames Estuary, to which this pilot scheme exists of some twenty wind turbines and depending upon the results will positively inform the eventual expansion and thereby determine the eventual numbers.
Also, two fairly local schemes will form the base project information on sustainable energy production for students at Furtherwick Park School, one being the Veolia Landfill site at Pitsea, our adjoining borough neighbour and how they are active in the capture and conversion of methane into electricity and their expansion plans to increase current levels of eight megawatts to twelve megawatts.
They have also produced a school based DVD which through Norman Bambridge being a member of their consultative committee, had previously been distributed to this schools consortium.
It is intended to request Veolia’s Manager of Special Projects (Nick Walker) to arrange a small teacher and student lead group of up to eight people, to visit the site shortly with perhaps a follow up of them lecturing student groups at the school and perhaps extend their support by some means of formal linking.
The second area project involves the Tilbury Power Station’s (Coal fired) intention to close in 2015 and to review current energy factors and environmentally led industrial changes now underway to make their production more energy efficient. This links directly to alternative provision already mentioned through wind farms.
Christian Duntsch observed that FWP (Canvey Island) SM (Heerlen) and CZ (Berlin) were already working on Energy and Environment projects whilst LGSA (Roma) were discussing Waste Disposal and Recycling and this met the aims of the project in context that:
Holland: Water and energy heating efficiency.
Germany: Solar energy efficiency.
England: Alternative energy capture and efficiency.
Italy: Recycling, landfill and energy capture.
He also supported the need for Individual environment Plans, noting the generic areas could be different but necessarily would have a structure or survey process that teachers could agree upon which may prove similar to all projects.
Thomas Schafer supported the fact of alternative forms of energy production benefits the school environment and would show that these ideas for IEP’s could have similar processes but produce different and abstract solutions or benefits that had not been considered singularly.
Paul Quinn said this would raise the issue of communication detail which although mentioned earlier has to be carefully considered as to the time effort at commencement and project aims over the two year period. Also, the issue of all schools have or not having conferencing networks.
Hans Joachim Rohde highlighted how important student interaction was, but was also equally aware not all schools having video conferencing facilities, so that a universal project method should be established.
Sean Clow (FWP Student) led the student response in supporting the need for students to communicate with each other or lead group, which also should include proposed and actual methods of presentation. This was also mentioned by the LGSA lead students.Christian Duntsch suggested that all project leaders and co-ordinators consider using a central base communication channel such a Etwinning, which also fulfils another requirement of accessing project development to others and that each representative should look into this. It was noted that another proprietary method used earlier this year had not proved successful.
Maria Teresa Ciaffaroni said this was imperative to a successful project and would be viewed in that context by outside agencies who could also link to a communal information base.
She also mentioned that Video Conferencing is not yet available to LGSA.
Paula Quinn said that year one of the project should concentrate on topic production and individual video monitoring to which most students seem to have a greater ability to undertake whilst year two could conclude with video conferencing exchange and even a communal video presentation, possible even including those companies who may have acted as consultants or advisors during the project development.
Norman Bradley explained the current situation regarding the future of Furtherwick Park School. This unfortunately includes not being accepted into this next round of funding meaning that the school was self funding this project lifetime of 2007 and 2008 and that at conclusion, with the impending closure in 2011 would consider the effectiveness of continuing in 2009 through 2010.
He also explained some of the legal requirements of the Local Education Authority (Essex LEA) has as regards the safety of pupils and this has placed restrictions on how we both host and receive students.
Christian Duntsch sought agreement on the number of meetings that should take place between project co-ordinators and project leaders with students where necessary, which resulted in agreement that four meetings will be held over the two years one meeting of which will be a host meeting.
All teachers will e-mail him with preferred dates as soon as possible, with also the probability the next meeting will be in Heerlen. It was also noted that not all meeting may necessarily involve student attendance particularly where this impacts upon curriculum and finance although of course it is always preferred. It was also agreed that presentations will continue to be undertaken in English
The conference included visits to various locations of this city, most of which can only be described as awe inspiring in concept and build. The hospitality and friendship that has evolved over many years of association, necessarily changed by both schools, teachers subject matter and location in the cultural and curriculum sense has made this another success for Europe.
Norman Bambridge
