Cyprus

 OUR SCHOOL - KAKOPETRIA PRIMARY SCHOOL

Kakopetria is a traditional famous mountain village in Cyprus, rich in history and culture, with a river passing by. 

More information about the village https://www.kakopetriavillage.com/ 

Our school is a regional rural school that has 102 students with a multicultural background aged 6-12 years, and 11 teachers. 

Our 6th grade students worked hard to prepare a video to introduce our school to the partner countries.

As a school, we aim to develop in intellectually capable young people the creative minds, healthy bodies, and ethical spirits needed to contribute wisdom, compassion, and leadership to a global society. We also want to prepare students to understand, contribute to, and succeed in a rapidly changing society, thus making the world a better and more just place. As a school with multicultural background, we are committed to sustaining a school in which individuals representing diverse cultures and experiences instruct one another in the meaning and value of community and in the joy and importance of lifelong learning.

Traditional crafts is a subject we want our students to get to know and appreciate. Kakopetria was for many years a village renowned for its silkworm breeding and the production -and also the processing -of silk, until even after W.W.II. Indeed, it is mentioned that during the years of W.W.II the British took all of the silk production from Kakopetria (like they did with the production from other villages in Cyprus) for the making of parachutes. Women exploited the cocoons of the silkworms and used them to make decorations, artifacts and trays. We consider extremely important for our students to get to know their cultural heritage and preserve it. Taken in mind that a number of our students’ ancestors were involved in these crafts and trades, it is very important to know the historical roots of their families. It is also considered very important for students to understand how other factors such as the morphological structure, the weather affected the choice of trades in the past. 

Key persons in charge of running the project are our principal, Mrs Niki Pieridou and Mrs Katerina Kontoyianni (Teacher, Project Coordinator). 

CHRISTMAS CARDS

Our students worked with enthusiasm and Christmas spirit, in order to prepare Christmas cards to send wishes to our partners in the project! The cards were created using traditional Cypriot textile patters and a lot of imagination!

PROJECT LOGO COMPETITION

Here are the two logos selected for the project logo contest.

CALENDARS

Students from various classes worked hard to produce products derived from Cypriot traditional crafts.  Products include clay pots, prints on white clay created from cypriot traditional embroidery, basket weaving technique using wool, simulating mosaic on clay and reviving the decorative art of adding symmetrical engravings using pyrography (our students used black markers) on dried pumpkins.

A 2021 yearly calendar was designed and printed with photos of these creations.

Thanks to amberndust for the design of the calendar (https://www.instagram.com/amberndust/)

The calendar has been posted to the partner schools in the last week of January 2021. Can't wait for every school to receive it!!!

Take a look here !   by pressing YEARLY 2021 CALENDAR

ANNOUNCEMENT OF LOGO RESULTS

On the 23rd of February, a special event took place at our school. More specific, all students were gathered in the school yard. There, the school principal, Mrs. Niki, gave a certificate to all the students who participated in the logo contest. Additionally, Mrs Niki gave a book as an award to the two finalists chosen by our school to proceed to the final stage of the contest. 

Evdokia Violari (6th grade), one of the two finalists.

At the end, a special glass plate was awarded to Marilia Christodoulou (6th grade), whose logo won the contest! We are so proud as a school!

Marilia Christodoulou (6th grade) - 1st place in the logo contest

PROJECT BANNER

A banner was designed for dissemination purposes of the project. 6th graders were responsible to hang the banner and afterwards posed for a picture!!!

ERASMUS OLD CRAFTS CLUB - WOOL WEAVING

On the 6th of April 2021, 5th graders had a great time knitting on a diy weaving loom, as part of the activities of our ERASMUS OLD CRAFTS CLUB. They were so excited, that students took their projects with them during school break, in order to finish them!!! Congrats kids!

Many thanks to our 5th grade teacher, Irene Michael for her valuable insight during the knitting process!!!!

ERASMUS OLD CRAFTS CLUB - PAPER STRIPS WEAVING

Our 3rd graders practiced paper strips knitting as part of our ERASMUS OLD CRAFTS CLUB, under the coordination of their art teacher, Mrs Noni Adamou. After finishing paper knitting, the project was finished by transforming into an Easter bunny, since Easter is just around the corner in Cyprus! Well done everyone!!!

ERASMUS OLD CRAFTS CLUB - FLOWER WEAVING

On the 22nd of April 2021, 4th grade students practiced flower weaving as part of our ERASMUS OLD CRAFTS CLUB! Our students hand picked most of the flowers themselves and were taught how to use natural materials to make an art piece! So many happy faces today!!! Great work boys and girls!!!!

ERASMUS OLD CRAFTS CLUB - BASKET WEAVING

BASKETS MADE BY TOUCH, NOT VISION

On the 14^th of May 2021, we had the pleasure to welcome Mr Andreas, a basket weaver and his assistant, Thea, in our school. Mr Andreas, a humble and warm hearted man, overcame his blindness and now uses his touch and memory to create masterpieces. When he works, his fingers see what his eyes cannot as he deftly weaves strands of cane into beautiful baskets.

In this ERASMUS + OLD CRAFTS CLUB workshop, canes were soaked in water to render it pliable before being woven around cane supports fixed to a wood or hardboard base. Mr Andreas showed the weaving technique to our 5^th and 6^th graders, who could not wait to try to weave themselves. In an hour, each student was able to finish a small basket to be used as a pencil holder! Students were very proud of themselves to be able to produce a wooden craft in such a short amount of time and expressed their warm express gratitude toward Mr Andreas for his guidance.

Thank you, Mr Andreas, for the empowering lesson you gave to our students. Overcoming obstacles and finding ways to adjust and thrive is an invaluable life lesson, along with the joy of making a handicraft from scratch! Thank you, Thea, for your great smile and enthusiasm to assist students while weaving!

DECORATING COOKIES

In October 2021, our 2nd and 3rd graders were inspired by the LTT activities in Romania and prepared heart shaped cookies. Students baked their cookies and afterwards they decorated them with icing. They had a blast!

MOSAIC TRAYS USING CERAMIC TILES

In November 2021, our 5th and 6th graders involved in activities to get acquainted with the ancient craft of creating mosaics. More info about this craft can be found at http://www.meci.gov.cy/meci/chs/chs.nsf/page8h_gr/page8h_gr?OpenDocument

More specific, students had the opportunity to create mosaic trays using ceramic tiles in the school yard. Students appreciated the persistence, hard work and effort required to make a mosaic. They were excited with the result that came after 3 weeks of hard work! Well done kids!

MOSAICS USING GLOSSY PAPER CUT OUTS

In November 2021, our younger students (1st-4th graders) involved in activities to get acquainted with the ancient craft of creating mosaics. More info about this craft can be found at http://www.meci.gov.cy/meci/chs/chs.nsf/page8h_gr/page8h_gr?OpenDocument

More specific, students had the opportunity to create mosaics using glossy paper cut outs. 

DECORATING JARS WITH ACRYLIC PAINTS

In December 2021, our  6th graders  were inspired by the LTT activities in Romania and decorated glass jars using acrylic paints.

DECORATING WOOD LOGS WITH ACRYLIC PAINTS

In December 2021, our  5th graders  were inspired by the LTT activities in Romania and decorated wood logs using acrylic paints.

CHRISTMAS CARDS

In December 2021, οur students worked with enthusiasm and Christmas spirit, in order to prepare Christmas cards to send wishes to our partners in the project! The cards were created with love and a lot of imagination!

CYPRIOT HONEY PIES

Due to our inability to travel to Poland for the planned mobility in March 2022, our school organized activities related to old crafts and traditions, in parallel to those organized in Katowice, Poland.

So, our first activity was to visit a local bakery, see a traditional flour mill and learn how to make traditional honey pies! Our 5th graders had a great day there!

CYPRIOT DUMPLINGS

Due to our inability to travel to Poland for the planned mobility in March 2022, our school organized activities related to old crafts and traditions, in parallel to those organized in Katowice, Poland. 

So, two grandmas came to school and showed our students how to make traditional Cypriot dumplings (ravioles). These dumplings are filled with halloumi cheese and are delicious! The dumplings were boiled and the kids had them for lunch!

CLAY BASKETS

Due to our inability to travel to Poland for the planned mobility in March 2022, our school organized activities related to old crafts and traditions, in parallel to those organized in Katowice, Poland. 

Our fourth graders worked with enthusiasm to form clay into clay baskets. They were so engaged, that they even embellished their creations with clay flowers, birds and much more!

MOSAICS

Due to our inability to travel to Poland for the planned mobility in March 2022, our school organized activities related to old crafts and traditions, in parallel to those organized in Katowice, Poland. 

Our fifth and sixth grade students created mosaic trays using ceramic tiles, grout and a lot of imagination. The trays will be on sale at the end of the school year and all proceeds will be used to buy tablets for educational use!

CYPRIOT DANCES

Due to our inability to travel to Poland for the planned mobility in March 2022, our school organized activities related to old crafts and traditions, in parallel to those organized in Katowice, Poland. 

So, a dance choreographer visited the school and taught Cypriot folk dances to our students!!

ERASMUS+ DAYS

In the framework of Erasmus+ Days, in October 2022, we organised an online meeting with parents. In this meeting, the Erasmus project was presented, we explained the objectives, the content and actions for the year, as well as the upcoming mobilities.

The presentation can be accessed here.

CHRISTMAS CARDS

In December 2022, οur students worked with enthusiasm and Christmas spirit, in order to prepare Christmas cards to send wishes to our partners in the project! The cards were created with love and a lot of imagination!

MOBILITY IN SLOVAKIA

In February 2023, six students and two teachers traveled to Kosice in Slovakia for a mobility related to old crafts of Slovakia. 

EASTER KNIT BASKETS

In March 2023, οur fifth graders created Easter knit baskets. 

PAPER STRAPS KNITTING CHICKENS

In April 2023, οur second grade students created chicken using paper straps that were knitted together, resembling the craft of knitting! The chickens were created with love for Easter!

MOBILITY IN GREECE

In May 2023, six students and two teachers travelled to Athens, Greece for a mobility. There, students learnt about Greek crafts, such as ceramics and pasta making and visited famous landmarks such as the Acropolis and a Naval museum.

MOSAICS

In May and June 2023 , our fifth and sixth graders created mosaic trays using tiles.

ERASMUS FINAL EXHIBITION

During our graduation, we prepared an exhibition to showcase samples of students' work during the project. Mosaic trays were sold and all proceeds were used to buy tablet for educational use.