LATVIA

Gulbisa pamatskola, Gulbitis, Jaungulbenes pagasts

Gulbitis Primary School is situated in Jaungulbene village Gulbene municipality. There are about1100 inhabitants and some education establishments in the village. These establishment related to education are: Gulbitis Primary School, Jaungulbene Kindergarten"Pienenite", Sveki boarding school, a culture house and a library. The distance from the village of Jaungulbene to the municipality centre Gulbene is 18 km, to the Latvian capital city, Riga, the distance is about 200 km. Gulbitis Primary School is a public school. It was founded on 1st October, 1928. There are about 70 pupils from 7 to 15 years of age and 16 teachers. The school has a library. The school realizes a Basic education programme and several programmes of interest: folk dances, a theatre group, a school choir. The school has many interesting traditions. We celebrate Latvian folk traditions Mikeli, Martini, Christmas, Easter etc. We celebrate the Latvian Anniversary, as well as the Birthday of our school. We have funny, educational, entertaining and attractive activities before Christmas together with the parents, such as the Day of Theatre and the Sports Day. All our teachers use technology in lessons and teach students how to use it to perform various tasks. It is worth mentionong that the school has internet connection in all classrooms. There is ICT classroom with 20 computers and 3 interactive boards. A computer lab is available for teachers and students to use to engage and promote different skills with the use of computer technology. The school management as well as the school staff are interested in involving learners in cooperative European programmes that will have beneficial effects both for the learners and the teachers. European projects have the ability to work miracles on teaching tolerance to diversity, integrating students with learning difficulties, teaching life and social skills and boosting the learners' self-confidence and that is why we always try to involve our staff and learners in such an educational and fruitful experience. As far as the key people are concerned, Sarmīte Puriņa and Iveta Ziepniece are the teachers who are going to be primarily involved in this project. In case someone cannot contribute any more, there is another group of teachers at hand (ICT teacher Anda Pelse, class teacher Tija Veidemane), available and more than willing to offer and contribute to our project. Biology teacher Iveta Ziepniece has an experience in making Project websites and Project dissemination activities. Our school could be responsible to design the project website as the most significant tool for dissemination and also update the project website for sustainability.