How it all started (a memòrie of a teacher)

You are probably asking many questions by now... HOW?? WHAT?? WHEN??WHY?? Actually – we could answer some of these now, couldn’t we?? To start from the scratch... we got to know each other (me and Gemma) thanks to a website globalgateway.com where I have registered Gimnazjum nr 8 as a school seeking for pen pals from all around the world... I’ve registered the school around June 2006 (I think but I don’t remember for sure ;o)) and waited and waited and waited... first I got in touch with couple of schools from some exotic places like Nepal or Ghana but then I thought that it would be kind of difficult to start and maintain a close relationship with schools in such remote places. And then at some point during the summer I received an email from Gemma... We had to wait until the school year begins to start with the whole project but we were thinking of how to organize it all throughout the summer... and somehow it clicked...We’ve prepared the letters and sent them to Saronno and some time later got the answers and the pen palling couples now are ready to get to know each other better ;o) And then we created a rough schedule of our aims and ideas for the project. You can see the schedule below:

PENPAL PROJECT
Saronno (Liceo Legnani) – Plock (Gimnazjum nr8 im.Aleksandra Macieszy)
2006/2007

A. GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER

1) students exchange handwritten letters (Polish pals start) with individual introduction, family, favourite music, free time activities, movies, actors, books etc., their photo, CDs containing their favourite music etc.
2) students exchange individual emails in which they speak about their class, deskmates, teachers!!, favourite/hated subjects, trips… etc.
- letters are accompanied by a film showing a bit of the school and its area/the history of the school, its organization and staff/educational system in both countries/the aims of the school and so on
3) students exchange individual mails about their home town (location, geography, number of inhabitants, what to do and what to see there – famous sights, famous inhabitants if there are any, pictures of sites and landscapes around the area etc./students’ social background …
- letters are accompanied by a film showing a bit of Saronno and Plock, their sites etc

B. INTRODUCING ITALY/POLAND
1) students create a power-point presentation showing maps of both countries and the regions where the schools are, national symbols of both countries and the anthems, most famous sites and landscapes of both countries, famous places/cities worth seeing while visiting this or that country and what to do and what to see there/introduction of separate regions by means of pictures/maps/films/ traditional music for that particular region etc.
- Each student will send an individual email to his/her partner telling about a holiday/trip/outgoing …
2) - students create a power-point presentation on Polish and Italian cuisine – the most popular and traditional food, meals in Poland and Italy/ Examples of dishes and typical drinks in both countries + swapping the recipes
- students create a film in which they explain how to make a typical dish
3) - Greetings – a short lesson of Italian and generally about the languages used in both countries – by means of tapes where students pronounce the words and then we swap the tapes and Polish students record greetings or simple phrases in Italian and Italian students record their efforts to pronounce Polish words and phrases (that can be lots of fun!!)
- a short video with words and gestures typical for both nations
4) - Students create a list or cards showing what you have to know about Poland/Italy when you go there – the do’s and don’ts in both countries: how to behave/what to say what not to say/what to wear/what not to wear/the table manners etc.
- individually students can write about rules in their families
5) -Art of clothing : students describe the ways people in both countries dress on the daily basis/ for elegant occasions and national clothes characteristic for regions/towns etc. They can send pictures or comment on a fashion show
- individually students can write about their favourite clothing, what they can/can’t wear, what they’d like to wear, in which occasion…
6) Saying goodbye for the summer - students exchange individual mails wishing great holiday to their pen pals ;o)After constructing all of that Gemma came up with a wonderful idea of setting up the blog that you’re reading right now. For the time being it might be not an especially exciting or rich diary of our cooperation but we are both really ambitious and with the help of our students we hope to make this blog a real fun site and a decent journal to write down all of our experiences.... Our ‘Pen Pal project’ caused understandable excitement in both schools especially among the participating students. Below I am enclosing a list of the pen pals couples – the names of our students who were willing and ready to take part in the project....: Malgosia and Riccardo;Marta and Concetta;Marcin and Benedetta; Karolina and Federica B.; Maciej and Claudia C.; Kasia and Sara; Maja and Nicole; Renata and Jessica; Dorota and Ambra; Natalia and Greta; Magda and Lucrezia; Monika and Eleonora; Marta and Carola; Paulina and Fabiola; Ula and Claudia G.; Magda and Andrea; Maja and Arianna; Dorota and Micaela; Marta and Davide; Kasia and Chiara; Ewa and Federica M.; Klaudia and Gloria; Martyna and Ilenia; Eunika and Emma; Paulina and Michele; Milena and Stefania; Dominika and Susanna; Adam and Alessia; Natalia and Giulia; Marta and Daniele... So these are the students who work really hard alongside with us to make the whole project run smoothly. And we all devote much of our time and put a lot of heart into the project. I hope you will keep your fingers crossed and have as much fun with reading the blog as we do have with creating it!!! Please feel free to comment on our cooperation and anything you’ll be willing to share. And I’ll keep my fingers crossed for us to make good friends and broaden our knowledge about each other’s countries. Take care everyone :o)

A. Kopec & G.Settembrini

The City of Saronno

Saronno information:
Geographical position: Italy

Location: Northern Italy - Lombardia

Region Province: Varese (VA)Population: 37.000

Postal code / 21047

Phone dialing (0039) 02 - 123456

Geographical position in Italy: 20 Km north of Milan, 20 Km south of Varese and Como. Northern hub of Northern Railways with direct connections to Milano, Como and Varese.

Worldwide, Saronno is probably best known for it's almond liqueur DiSaronno Originale, which used to be called Amaretto di Saronno until a copyright issue on the name Saronno, forced the company to rename it. But the taste is still superb. Saronno is also well known for it's apricot kernel macaroons (amaretti).

Saronno is a residential and business town, as it is 20 minutes by frequent trains from the center of Milan, is surrounded by motorways that lead to Milan, Varese and Switzerland, which is perfect for commuter employment in for example Milan.
Life in Saronno is still a little more quieter and calmer than it is in Milan or other larger Italian cities and the Saronnesi are friendly people.

A Brief History of Saronno

There are various theories on the origins of Saronno. Recent studies demonstrate that it would have Etruscan origins, since that in same local dialect of the town, currently little used, there are terms of such origin (Etruscan) but the first theories make allow one to presume too that Saronno is of Celtic origin since in the surrounding area there have been archaeological finds going back to that ancient civilization.
The first historical signs with regard to the existence of the city go back to 796, with the vicus that it called "Solomnum.

Only after the 17th century its denomination began to approach the present day one, transforming itself in "Sarono" and, in the successive century, "Saronno".

More recent theories show that possibly the first settlements go back to the Roman era. From the Middle Ages to the 12th century this then village slowly began to develop itself much to become an agricultural and trade center of some importance.
Subsequently Saronno was governed by the Visconti, by the Sforza and then by the Biglia from the end of 1700 to 1800. Saronno during these centuries alternated between splendors and miseries.
Worthy of note are the pillages endured from the army of the Lanzichenecchi, the plague epidemic in 1576 and also another plage more serious for the consequences in 1629, which was cited by Manzoni in his famous novel ' I Promessi Sposi' (The Promised Spouses), and which exterminated more than 1500 persons. At beginning of the 1700 Saronno was conquered by the Austrians, a domination that was interrupted for a few years by the Napoleonic invasion, but in 1827 tragedy it was once again in ambush and the city was again put to it's knees by a violent fire, that destroyed the entire quarter of Saint Cristoforo leaving thousands of Saronnesi homeless.
Mid 19th century Saronno counted little more than 5000 inhabitants and the economy, mainly handicraft and agricultural, slowly began to flourish.

In 1879 the first industries come to being.

Saronno, in 1927, after the first world war, passed from being a province of Milan under the province of Varese and in 1960 it obtained the title of city of equal parity of commercial and demographical development.

Get Your Own! View Slideshow

The City of Płock

Płock - the city of two Polish rulers Herman and Krzywousty, the former capital of Poland; today, rapidly changing capital of Płock's Mazovia and capital of Polish oil industry.Płock is a city of 130 thousand inhabitants picturesquely located on a steep Vistula riverbank. Płock is one of the oldest Polish cities with its numerous monuments speaking for its thousand years' history.Płock is a historical capital of Mazovia and true capital of Poland under Władysław Herman (1079 - 1102). In the Cathedral Basilica dated back to the XII century, there is a sarcophagus of two Polish rulers - Władysław Herman and his son Bolesław Krzywousty, and a copy of famous Romanesque Płock's Door in a porch. Opposite the Cathedral arise the walls of former Benedictine abbey and dukes' castle. Right beside, there is Diocesan Museum with a unique exhibition of sacral art. The beautiful renovated Art Nouveau tenement-house on 8 Tumska Street houses the Mazovian Museum.The museum boasts the richest in Poland collection of secession art.Płock is also famous for the oldest Polish school - more than 800-years old Stanisław Małachowski High School, the oldest in Poland Scientific Society (established in 1820) and magnificent, classical City Hall building. The latter housed the last session of Polish Parliament in 1831.At the same time, historical Płock is the city of modern industry. Polish Oil Concern "ORLEN" is one of the biggest Polish companies - a magnate on the market of liquid fuels and petrochemical products and one of the biggest companies in this part of Europe. American "king of jeans" LEVI STRAUSS built its factory in Płock. From 1992, the company has been successfully producing clothes there. The company CNH is the only in Poland manufacturer of combine harvesters. Apart from Levi Strauss and CNH, there are other companies with foreign capital in Płock i.e. Basell Orlen Polyolefins, Hoppenstedt Bonnier Information, Hero Polska, Bildau&Bussman, Adler Polska, A.Szulman. Tourist attraction of Płock is the Zoological Garden beautifully located on the Vistula river escarpment with impressive collection of poisonous snakes. Additional value of the city is the vicinity of the evergreen forests of Gostynińskie Lake Region. Nowadays, Płock is an academic center with over 16 000 students. Sports teams of Wisła Płock club take part in football and handball premier league. Płock boasts its Olympians, World and European Championships medalists (kick-boxing, rowing, wheel chair tennis).Płock is also an academic city with more than 16 thousand students. The number of colleges is still increasing. Currently these include: Institute of Technology and Social Studies of the Warsaw Technical University; private Paweł Włodkowic College; State Higher Vocational School; and Higher Theological Seminary with the 400-year tradition. Furthermore there are in Płock, Department of Management of the Warsaw University and Advisory Center of Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw.Płock city hall was constructed in the twenties of the 19th century and designed by Jakub Kubicki, one of the leading architects of classicism (creator of Belweder building in Warsaw). The City Hall housed the last session of the Polish Kingdom Parliament in 1831 (so called Uprising Parliament). From the very beginning the building was the seat of local authorities. After the complex modernization, completed in September 1998, the city hall became a modern, functional building, one of the city's tourist attractions. Feel free to visit Płock any time of the year ;o)

Twinning Saronno-Płock

PENPAL PROJECT
Saronno (Liceo Legnani) – Płock (Gimnazjum nr8 im.Aleksandra Macieszy)

The partners:
1) Gimnazjum nr.8 im.Aleksandra Macieszy w Płocku
ul. Generała Tadeusza Kutrzeby 2a
09-409 Płock fax/tel. (+4824) 364 78 10

http://www.plock.edu.pl/szkoly/g8/news.php
Our Gimnazjum was opened in the year 2001 so it's quite a new school. We have around 1400 students and over 90 teachers. We've been at the recent location since 2002 - the building of the school is separeted into three main sectors: Sector A (with Headmaster's Office and Vice Head's offices, the school's store, teachers' changing room, reception desk and couple of classes and toilets); Sector B (with classrooms only); Sector C (with classrooms, library, gym halls and the canteen). The Patron of our school is Aleksander Bolesław Maciesza (1875 - 1945):

He was born in Syberia, came to Płock in 1901 and was given a position of a doctor in a local prison – his specialization was an oculist. Soon he became a significant figure of the city’s social life. He opened an oculist ward in Saint Alex’s hospital and since 1927 he was the President of Plock’s Medical Society. Medicine man was his educated profession but he was also extremely active in many other areas of social and professional life – he was a real Renaissance man. He conducted a well developed archaeological and regional researches, he was a journalist and publicist, he wrote over 100 essays and was the main editor of “The Voice of Plock” (“Głos Płocki” – the city’s local newspaper), he was a member of Polish Bibliographical Dictionary editorial board and a passionate photographer – he was the first to elaborate on the history of Polish photography. He was also extremely meritorious in Plock’s educational area...thanks to his efforts a Polish Lower Middle School (Polskie Gimnazjum) with its patron Władysław Jagiełło was opened in 1906 – now it’s a successful Secondary School in our city. He is known for being an active member of various organizations and societies (like hygienic society, rowing and cycling organizations, regional society and many many more); we also was Płock’s Mayer and the Chairman of Płock’s Council. He took part in reactivating Płock’s Science Society (Towarzystwo Naukowe Płockie) in 1907 and became its President. For the next 38 years the Society widely expanded its researching activities, developed its library and museum and continues its educational traditions up till today. For his plentiful merits Maciesza was awarded countless medals and diploma including the Order of Poland Restored (Polonia Restituta).
Gimnazjum's nr.8: logo and banner:

2) Liceo Ginnasio Statale "S.M. Legnani"
via Antici N°1 - 21047 Saronno (VA) - Italy
tel. 029602580 - fax 029620170

- email info@liceolegnani.it
website: www.liceolegnani.it

Our “Liceo” was opened in 1964. Born as a section of the Liceo Classico” of Busto A. ( a town nearby), it became independent in 1974.
We have around 1300 students and 125 teachers.
The headquarters is located in the city centre, another branch is located in the suburb. Our students can choose among three different curricola: classical studies, modern languages and social sciences. The three courses of study last five years.
In our “mission” there is the effort to understand, to be keen on life, curious and altruistic. Stefano Maria Legnani, called 'Il Legnanino', was an Italian painter of religious subjects; born in Milan in 1660, died in Milan in 1715.
He was educated in Bologna, then in Rome. On returning to Milan, probably before 1687, he painted the ceiling of the main Hall of “Giureconsulti” Palace.
Later he moved away from the academic style of the Roman artists, towards the High Baroque, investing his paintings with an expressive sentimentalism that echoed the style of Borromini. Besides numerous altarpieces, Legnanino is known for the luminous frescos in the Palazzo Carignano in Turin, and those in the central nave of Monza Cathedral and Palazzo Clerici in Milan.