The sixth mobility event in the ENIEDE project took place at the Etchecopar private school in Saint Palais, bringing together Delphine and Myriam from Saint Palais with Evi and Kyriaki from Greece. This return trip followed on from the one to Préveza last May. Initially scheduled for December 2023, it has been postponed to June 2024 due to administrative difficulties linked to the replacement of our Greek partner. Despite this, the teams continued to collaborate remotely via videoconferencing and shared documents to prepare the planned teaching activities.

Etchecopar is a bilingual elementary school in the diocesan network, with 135 pupils in 7 classes at different levels, including a Basque immersion section and a Basque bilingual session.

This mobility aimed to :

  • Observe the pedagogical practices of French teachers in their double-grade classes.
  • Create direct contact between the Greek teachers and the children taking part in the project.
  • Share best practices in sustainable development and international cooperation.
  • Find out what the students and the school have done for this latest mobility project.
  • Make an overall assessment of this first year of the project.

Program and schedule

Monday June 24th

Morning: The day began with a warm welcome from all the students and the Etchecopar school team, including teachers, the head of the middle and high schools, members of the parents’ association and the local diocesan administration. The students performed a traditional Basque dance, sang the Helicopter anthem, and sang several songs about the environment. They also showcased various local sports in traditional dress, sharing aspects of their cultural heritage.

We then observed Mme CASTEL’s class (CM1), where we discovered how the school integrates education for sustainable development into its curriculum, with concrete actions carried out by the pupils. CM1, CM2 and CE1 pupils prepared questionnaires for the Greek teachers, demonstrating the positive impact of the Erasmus project on the whole school. The Greek pupils had also prepared gifts in French and Greek for their French correspondents, offering an interactive introduction to the Greek alphabet.

The lunch break took place in the school canteen, offering an informal opportunity to chat between participants and exchange views on the different specialties of the teachers and their inclusion practices in the school, highlighting the immersive, bilingual Basque program.

Afternoon: The afternoon was devoted to discovering the cultural heritage of the Basque country, with a visit to the Don Quichosse workshop to learn about local crafts, followed by a tour of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. The day ended with a convivial meal in a local restaurant with the teaching team, strengthening the bonds between the participants.

Tuesday, June 25

Morning: The day began with an observation of Mme DURCOS’s class, from petite section to CP. The Greek teachers discovered the pedagogical methods used, in particular the emphasis placed on student autonomy, based on Montessori guidelines and play. An interesting conversation followed, comparing French and Greek students of the same age.

Afternoon: The afternoon was marked by two simultaneous activities co-hosted by the French and Greek teachers of the CM1 and CM2 classes. The first activity, led by Evi, consisted in discovering the Greek alphabet through the writing of their first names, reinforcing the students’ linguistic and cultural skills. At the same time, Kyriaki led a workshop on Greek mythology, including Athena and the origin of the name of the city of Athens, given in English.

The last part of the day was devoted to our latest hybrid mobility meeting. We discussed the observations of the two days, the feedback and the impact of the mobilities on teachers and students, while reflecting on the evolution of this first year of the ENIEDE project.

Wednesday, June 26th

The last day was dedicated to visiting several important sites in the region. Delphine, Myriam, Evi and Kyriaki explored the Basque coast, including iconic places such as Biarritz, Saint-Jean-de-Luz and the Bay of Fontarrabie, enriching the cultural experience of the Greek teachers.

The Greek teachers left for Bordeaux, marking the end of a mobility program rich in exchanges and discoveries. The experience was mutually enriching thanks to the observation of teaching practices, the co-hosting of educational activities and cultural discovery, consolidating the links between the participating establishments.