3rd English Poetry Competition "TOGETHER"

We are happy to announce the 3rd English Poetry Competition for secondary schools students is opened.

The competition shall take place on 1st December 2011. Students attending 1st, 2nd and 3rd form of all secondary schools in Torun are welcomed to participate.

This year the competition’s theme is...

„TOGETHER”

The contestants shall present a recitation of one poem of their liking of any of British poets, which shall obviously be associated with the main theme of the Competition. The jury of the competition shall assess the style of recitation and interpretation of the chosen poem.

Schools willing to enroll their students please apply not later than 10th November 2010.

The successful applications shall contain:

• the name of the school
• the name(s) of the contestant(s)
• the title(s) of the poem(s) to be recited along with the
• name(s) of its/their author(s)
• the name(s) of the supervisor teacher(s)
• an e-mail address for communication purposes

 Do not hesitate!

Enroll now and astonish and amuse us with your actor's skills!

The best contestants shall be rewarded with valuable and attractive prizes

If you are interested please contact us online:

Organizers:

Monika Jurska and Iwona Zakrzewicka

lo7@viilo.torun.pl 

Or send us an application containing all the aforementioned details for the following address:

VII Liceum Ogólnokształcące im. Wandy Szuman

Ul. Batorego 39B 87-100 Toruń

*** HALLOWEEN ***

Halloween is a holiday that's celebrated annually on the night of October 31.  Halloween is celebrated in Ireland, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Sweden among others. It's celebrated in a variety of ways and activities including trick-or-treating, ghost tours, bonfires, costume parties, "haunted house" tours, carving pumpkins (Jack-o'-lanterns) and reading / watching scary stories / movies.

Halloween has its origins in the ancient Celtic festival known as Samhain (celebration of the end of the harvest season in Gaelic culture) and it is connected with druids. Traditionally, the festival was a time that was used by the ancient pagans to take stock of their supplies and slaughter livestock for winter storage. The celebration of Samhain would frequently involve bonfires, upon which the bones of slaughtered livestock were thrown; costumes and masks were also worn in an attempt to mimic the evil spirits or placate them.

The essential elements of Halloween are bonfires, costumes, trick-or-treat, telling ghost stories and attending parties. „Trick or treat” is an activity that's usually reserved for children; they proceed from house to house in costumes, asking for treats such as sweets, chocolates and snacks and asking the question, "Trick or treat?". The "trick" part of "trick or treat" is a threat to play a trick on the homeowner or his property if no treat is handed over. Trick or treating is now said to be the most popular and socially expected aspect of Halloween celebrations. 

Apple bobbing, also known as bobbing for apples, is a game often played in connection with Halloween. The game is played by filling a tub or a large basin with water and putting apples in the water. Because apples are less dense than water, they will float at the surface. Players (usually children) then try to catch one with their teeth. Use of hands is not allowed, and often are tied behind the back to prevent cheating.

The trick or treat activity is extremely popular in the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada. It is also spreading quickly to other countries due to the impact and influence of American culture on these societies.

Based upon:

www.whatishalloween.com

www.czarymary.pl
www.szybkajazda.pl
www.shoptostopslavery.com
www.wikipedia.org

Comenius Assistant in VII LO

From 1^st September 2011 until the end of June 2012 VII LO hosts Comenius Assistant  
Mr Zoltan Arga.

English speaking Assistant helps students communicate in English, teaches British Culture and …. photography! 

Welcome to our school!
   

A key aspect of Comenius Assistantships  is that they introduce or build on a European dimension in the host school and community.

Assistants:

==> raise pupils’ awareness of another European culture

==> help break down prejudices

==> increase students’ speaking and listening skills

==> help build up students’ linguistic self-confidence

==> provide tangible evidence to pupils of the benefits and potential of the European Union

==> inspire them to seek further information on how they too ==> can participate in such programmes. 

Each year up to 1 500 future teachers participate in the Comenius Assistantships. They spend between 3 to 10 months in a school in another European country, assist with classroom teaching, support school projects and often teach their native language. It gives them the opportunity to enhance their knowledge of other European countries and education systems and to improve their teaching skills. The action supports language teaching in the host schools, improves the language skills of pupils working with the Comenius assistant in any subject and increases both their motivation to learn languages and their interest in the assistant’s country and culture.

If you wish to find out more, visit the following website: COMENIUS ASSISTANTSHIP

Advanced Matura extra classes

Are you planning to take Advanced Matura Exam in English Language?  

If yes, consider increasing you chances of receiving higher score and join English language extra classes!

 

 

Time: Every Friday at 07:20

Place: Our school, Classroom No.6

Teacher: Krzysztof Malinowski

First meeting: This week 30th Sept. 2011 at 07:20

Subject: Advanced Matura Exam Structure    

"Learn and Smile"

Summer is coming so.... it's perfect time for evaluations, awards and congratulations.

This year again the students of VII LO are going to be awarded prizes for their achievements in learning English by the foundation “Learn and Smile” – Fundacja na Rzecz Wspierania Nauki Języków Obcych *

The top prize: a yearly course of English in one of the language schools in Toruń  for the academic year 2010/11  goes to …… Marta Kaletta (Ia).  Marta fulfilled all the necessary requirements and was elected by the teachers’ committee. The committee took into consideration the candidate's final grades, participation in competitions, extra social activities and obviously student's language achievements.

  CONGRATULATIONS!

Apart from that the best students will get books and dictionaries.

*The foundation “LEARN AND SMILE” was established after the death of our dear colleague, the teacher of English Lilianna Szczepna, who died tragically on 2 February 2008. 

 Lilianna Szczepna, RIP

Lilianna was the teacher full of enthusiasm, passion, loving her students, with a constant smile on her face. The society of our school will always keep her in our hearts.

You may find out more about the Fundation here:  FUNDACJA "LEARN AND SMILE"  

The differences between Polish and English culture

Last Monday (11th April) the presentation entitled 'The differences between English culture and Polish culture' took place in our school.

Glenn Standish, the citizen of New Zealand who lived in Great Britain for most of his life, was invited to conduct this presentation by the teacher of English from our school Barbara Henke. Students from classes 1b and 2d participated in it.

The presentation was carried out in such a way that all the students were engaged in it and listened to the presenter attentively. Glenn is not only the source of cultural information but also a great performer.

All these made the presentation an unforgettable event. The students are willing to take part in more presentations of this kind. Let's hope that the students from our school will have a chance to participate in a similar one next month.  

2nd Interschool Love Song Contest

On 17th February 2011 our students took part in the 2nd Interschool Love Song Contest  organized by the Secondary School No. 9 (LO IX) in Torun. The competition was fierce and all the contestants demonstrated breathtaking singing skills. The songs were sang in English, French and German.

Daria Kmiecikowska (2E) and Marianna Korman (1A), two pupils of our school, presented their vocal skills and talent. Marianna, having successfully attended the first stage of competition, took part in the final round on the 18th February.

  

Congratulations and good luck next year!

We are happy to announce that two students of our school, who participated in the “Juvenes Transaltores” competition, were recognized by the jury and their translations were marked out among 10% works as the highest rated ones.

The successful contestants are:

* Piotr Talkowski

* Daniel Panfil

 

There may be only one winner for each EU member state. However, taking into consideration the number of participants and fierce competition among them, such acknowledgement is obviously a distinction.

Congratulations!

For further information please visit:

http://ec.europa.eu/translatores/

7th English Language Competition

7th English Language Competition 

Regent College in Elbląg 

All contestants willing to put their language skills to the test are warmly encouraged to take part in 7th English Language Competition organized by Regent College in Elbląg. If you wish to enroll, contact your English Teacher or speak directly to Krzysztof Malinowski not later than 25^th February 2011.

The qualifying round shall take place on 1^st March 2011 at 10:55 a.m. in our school.

Details:

The competition may be approached as an ultimate test of contestants' knowledge in the field of lexis and grammatical structures at Matura Rozszerzona level. Students who intend to study at English Philology Departments may also be strongly encouraged to participate.

1st stage: qualifying round in our school (written part only)

2nd stage: final round in Regents Collage in Elbląg (written and oral part)

Prizes:

1^st prize: iPod, reimbursement of tuition fees at Regents Collage in Elbląg for 3 years along with a 3-year scholarship (PLN9000)

2^nd prize:MP4 player, reimbursement of tuition fees at Regents Collage in Elbląg for 3 years along with a 3-year scholarship (PLN6000)

3^rd prize:MP4 player, reimbursement of tuition fees at Regents Collage in Elbląg for 3 years

For more information and sample papers please visit:

http://www.anglistyka.edu.pl/olimpiada.php

 

GOOD LUCK! 

An African Affair

On 27th January 2011 our school had the pleasure and privilege to host an unusual quest. Robert Mutegeki, a priest from Uganda, who was visiting Poland with a series of presentations regarding  African issues,  agreed to hold a meeting with students and teachers of our school.

His visit gave as the opportunity to become more sensitive to many crucial issues troubling African people, such as HIV and AIDS disease, widespread poverty and limited access to education.

Reverend Robert Mutegeki turned out to be a man of great charisma and personal charm. He told us about Uganda and the way of life of its people. His presentation was accompanied by vivid slides showing Ugandan wildlife, cities, villages, landscapes and most of all the life of ordinary folks in Uganda.

Mr. Mutegeki put emphasis to the issue of AIDS and millions of orphans, who were left alone after their parents had been taken away by the disease. It has been estimated there are about 2 million orphans in Uganda. The children have nobody to look after them, no shelters, no everyday facilities that our society takes for granted every day. They have limited access to education and those lucky ones who may attend the classes learn in groups of 50, 100 or even 200 pupils.

Reverend Mutegeki appealed to everyone to support his kinsmen and participate in a project called “Distance Adoption”. The project means giving a child or youth in particularly difficult conditions the possibility of growing up in his own country, respecting his culture and human dignity. It means food, medicines, schooling, a family, the love from far away persons who are concerned with his growth and to participate to his life, exchanging letters, drawings and experiences. The only thing we need to do is express willingness to participate and contribute €25 a month.

Those willing to learn more on Distance Adoption and Uganda may visit the following websites:

http://www.adopcjanaodleglosc.caritas.pl/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uganda

http://www.statehouse.go.ug

http://www.caritas.pl/

The meeting with the Reverend  was also an excellent opportunity for our students to practice their language skills and gain some hands-on linguistic experience.

We would like to express our gratitude to Reverend Robert Mutegeki  for making time to meet us and share his experience and knowledge. THANK YOU!