During the hot summer months, our school was busy working on the project “I Love My School”. It was hot not only by degrees outside, but by the emotions and the expectation, because to turn the ordinary classrooms into different magic worlds and write in them the messages to sink into the hearts and souls of the young disciples – it is not an easy job…
The realisation of the idea was made possible thanks to our wonderful initiative and partnership with the LightSource charity foundation, founded by Arthur Spurling and his wife, Mrs. Albena Spurling. Their mission: “We encourage education by providing a comfortable and relaxing learning environment in the municipal schools, and by decorating we improve and increase the realisation of the creative potential and awareness of children under the age of 18”.
Inspired by her, we decided to make this our mission!
And here we were on 19.09.2017 at the official opening of the Four Seasons Project. “Autumn” is the motif for the third floor of our school, and the idea is to make one floor every year, respectively Spring “1st Floor,” Summer “- 2nd Floor and” Winter “- 4th floor.
Every class leader personally chose the motifs and messages that are written on the wallpaper, thus transmitting to the students knowledge, understanding of life and our place in it, the wisdom spoken by writers, thinkers, great people – something to remain deep in the hearts of the children.
Mr. and Mrs. Spurling attended personally and paid attention to every class, to every child willing to speak to them, to every member of our team, which was another proof that they were not just doing this job , but they put everything inside of it – both soul and heart, and emotions, hope and faith.
Here’s what Mrs Albena Spurling said to us: “Especially in this school I was impressed that there are many inspired people in both the leadership and the teachers – all of whom were ready for the new idea – to change the environment in which children learn we build a new, fabulous world – full of dreams, love, inspiration. The idea is to keep the Bulgarian children in Bulgaria because when you are nice somewhere, you want to stay … “I love my school -” The Four Seasons “- this is a sign of the project at Lyuben Karavelov Primary School. The idea was not only to change the classrooms, but also the lobby because it is a place to rest for the children. The wallpapers there are Bulgarian holidays, because the power and history of every nation is in the traditions. I want to awaken the faith and the power of the Bulgarian people. “
In an emotional address to leadership and teachers Mrs. Spurling thanked everyone for the work together and expressed her admiration that everything else that was needed for a whole year was here only in two months! Maria Ivanova, a teacher, also received special thanks for the essay she wrote, mistress Spurling’s tears.
Mr. Todor Todorov, director of “Lyuben Karavelov” Primary School, told local cable television journalists that the decision for this project came after seeing his realisation at Sofia High School. An invitation was made to Mrs. Spurling and so she started working together. Mr. Todorov expressed his impressions about the growth of the whole school team in the process of working together, creating a new thinking both for students and teachers and that this new thinking is not only the result of the wallpapers placed, but also of the fact , that many of the details are made of recyclable materials.
Entering the classrooms, Mr. and Mrs. Spurling were interested in the opinion of the students and the teachers – whether they liked it all, how they felt in this environment, whether the change in the learning environment made them feel different. They were reading the messages from the wallpapers together with the children, discussing the moods and ideas they bring.
Here’s what we shared with our partners:
Teachers:
“I am delighted that there is such an environment that inspires me” – Gita Petrova, a teacher at GECD
“This beautiful wallpaper inspires the children and makes them come with a desire to school” – Maria Petrova, a teacher at GCMC
“I am also a photographer of the project, so I had the opportunity to see and track things from the very beginning through the camera lens, but for me it is much more important and even more exciting to see them through the eyes of the children” – Petya Angelova, 4E class
“I’m glad that this wallpaper is in our room because the children need fairy-tale characters to inspire them” – Dora Tacheva, 4th grade class teacher
“You gave us a beautiful autumn on the floor and we want to give you a small, Bulgarian autumn with its colours, aromas and colours (a basket of autumn fruits – a gift to Mrs. Spurling and her husband). Make other children happy “- Maria Ivanova, 4th-grade class manager
“I love short messages, reading them just happiness” – Irina Ivanova, 4th grade class teacher
Students:
“I feel at home … It makes me feel like I’m flying” – a 4th grade student, CGOC
“I hope others like them as much as I do” – a 4th grade student
“They give me delightful moments and joy from learning,” a student of – 4E class
“You have won our hearts, thank you for what you have done for us – a beautiful and modern school environment” – student of 4th grade
“This wallpaper is so beautiful that I want to paint my experience – what I feel like watching it” – a 4th grade student
The guests also received many greetings: a wonderful Bulgarian dance rachenitsa, performed by the fourth grade Ralitsa, to which all pupils spontaneously joined – 4E class; “Soar, let’s jump” – a brilliantly executed by Emilia – 4th grade, which she liked so much to Mrs. Albena Spurling and all that she did for the school that she decided to give her another song; the sound folk song “Macedonian girl”, performed by Simona – 4D class; “Little Boy Flower Brat” – performed by Joan – 4C class; drawings with the slogan “I love my school” and two incredible performances of the songs “The Little Musician” and the film “Sheep or Wolf” that made Mrs. Spurling feel the happiness of the children and dance with them.
Many cards, drawings, even Cinderella slippers made from paper – all inspired by the new, magical world in the classrooms – were also presented.
With gratitude and love to all for teamwork!
Тanja Alexieva – Manager of the Projec “I love my school”, Deputy Principal
