Online Meeting of Project Partners – Children’s Rights and World Children’s Day

As part of the eTwinning project Healthy Minds, Happy Students, an online meeting of all project partners was held on 19th of November at 5 p.m. on the Zoom-Platform, focusing on children’s rights and the celebration of World Children’s Day, observed annually on November 20th.

Teachers and students from all partner schools participated in the meeting, sharing ideas and reflecting on activities that raised students’ awareness of the importance of children’s rights. The discussions also highlighted how to empower students to understand their role in society and actively promote and protect these rights.

A key part of the meeting was  interactive online workshop for students held by teacher Željka Hutinski, which combined educational content (presentation) with engaging activities such as a Kahoot quiz, discussions, and the creation of messages about children’s rights. Through these activities, students learned in a collaborative and playful way, gaining a deeper understanding of how children’s rights shape our world.

The meeting was highly productive and inspiring. Partners shared best practices from their schools, evaluated the workshop outcomes, and reaffirmed the shared objective: to empower children to be aware of their rights and to actively respect and protect them.

This meeting once again highlighted the value of international collaboration as a powerful tool for promoting awareness and understanding of children’s rights among young people.

Link to presentation used in a Workshop: https://www.canva.com/design/DAG2EHV2Z40/naiJMEm-2O9blJM-67n4Yw/watch?utm_content=DAG2EHV2Z40&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h29acf2fce7

Link to a Kahoot quiz used in a Workshop: https://play.kahoot.it/v2/?quizId=32143a1f-a65f-4829-b312-80ce28f57951&hostId=e26d7586-650d-4c60-9c82-9b0e762e13f1

Evaluation of the Workshop: https://read.bookcreator.com/G6ac7KlorlgY2U8MrCJwTW1BCUt1/3d87-FNGSZWueAA-w0X3iw

Goals of the Workshop – Children’s Rights and World Children’s Day

1. Raise Awareness of Children’s Rights

   • Help students understand their rights as outlined in international conventions and why they are important.

2. Promote Empathy and Respect

   • Encourage students to recognize the needs and feelings of others and to show respect for all children.

3. Foster Critical Thinking

   • Enable students to reflect on issues related to children’s rights and discuss real-life scenarios.

4. Develop Communication Skills

   • Provide opportunities for students to express their thoughts, ideas, and opinions through discussions, quizzes, and creative messages.

5. Encourage Collaboration

   • Strengthen teamwork and cross-cultural cooperation among students from different partner schools.

6. Engage Students in Interactive Learning

   • Use fun and participatory activities such as quizzes, discussions, and creative exercises to make learning about rights meaningful.

7. Promote Positive Actions

   • Inspire students to take simple, practical actions in their communities to respect and protect children’s rights.

Webinar -Emotions and How We Express Them)

Dear Teachers and  students…

*We will have an online meeting on December 10 (Wednesday)  at 5:00 PM CET as part of our project   "Healthy Minds, Happy Students"

Teacher Dareen Ammourah will prepare everything for this session and be the coordinator. It will last approximately one hour. Please select 2 to 5 students from your class who will be able to join the webinar from home via the Zoom link. Teachers are welcome to join as well.

📌 Each school introduces itself, at the beginning......

Please tell us your school’s name, your country, and one thing that makes your students special…Today we feel… (Happy / Excited / Proud….

choose one to talk,or use your way to represent your school.

*During the meeting, we will learn how to recognize our feelings and express them in healthy and positive ways.

*We will also play fun activities and share simple examples about our emotions.

📌 Please prepare the following before the session:

* Draw any emoji you like or print it(you can draw more than one..) 😊 😡 😢 😍 😱 ......(Students and Teachers), and bring it with you,For a small creative activity during the meeting.

Mid-Teachers Meeting: Project Progress and Planning
Date: 7 January 2026
Time: 17:00 CET
Platform: Zoom

A mid-teachers meeting was held on 7 January 2026 via the Zoom platform to review the progress of the eTwinning project and plan upcoming activities.

During the meeting, teachers discussed the activities implemented so far and shared feedback on student participation and collaboration. The overall progress of the project was evaluated positively, with partners highlighting good engagement and quality student work.

Upcoming activities were explained in detail, including timelines, tasks, and expected outcomes. Teachers clarified their roles and agreed on the next steps to ensure smooth project implementation.

Special attention was given to dissemination. Partners discussed updating TwinSpace regularly, publishing project-related content on school websites, and sharing activities on social media. The importance of activating and using the TwinSpace forum to encourage student interaction and communication was also emphasized.

The meeting concluded with a summary of agreed actions. All partners expressed satisfaction with the project progress and motivation to continue the collaboration.

In addition, the project coordinator organized a satisfaction survey using Microsoft Forms to collect teachers’ feedback on the project implementation and overall satisfaction. The results of the survey are available via the provided link.

REPORT ON THE ONLINE DEBATE (eTwinning)

eTwinning Project:Healthy Minds – Happy Students
Activity: Online Debate
Topic:School Pressure: Does it help learning or cause stress?
Date and time: 15 January 2026, 5:00 p.m.
Format: International online debate (live meeting)

On 15 January 2026 at 5:00 p.m., partner schools participating in the eTwinning project Healthy Minds – Happy Students held an international online debate on the topic “School Pressure: Does it help learning or cause stress?”. The main aim of the activity was to encourage students to express their opinions in English, develop public speaking skills, practise critical thinking, and raise awareness about students’ well-being and mental health in school life.

The debate brought together 17 schools from different European countries and Jordan. Students were divided into two teams: the Affirmation side (For) and the Negation side (Against). Each school was represented by one student speaker, while other students and teachers formed the audience and participated in the Q&A part.

Participating schools

Affirmation side – “School Pressure helps learning” (8 schools)

1. III. osnovna škola Varaždin

2. Almzareb Primary School, Jordan (Dareen Ammourah)

3. Panevėžys Primary School, Lithuania (Laura Liepine)

4. Batumi N23 Public School, Georgia (Teona Vasadze)

5. Sukru Celıkalay Imam Hatıp Secondary School, Türkiye (Ayse Capraz)

6. Primary School Ferdo Vesel (Amela Abdijanović)

7. AE A Lã e a Neve, Portugal (José Carlos Figueiredo)

8. Orhan Dengiz Anatolian High School, Türkiye (Ayla Akcin)

Negation side – “School pressure causes stress” (9 schools)

9. Keşan Science and Art Center, Edirne, Türkiye (Seher DEMİR)

10. Şehit Nefize Çetin Özsoy Science and Art Center, Edirne, Türkiye (Özge Erdoğru)

11. Gesamtschule Eilpe (Seda Kirac)

12. Dobruca Secondary School, İstanbul, Türkiye (Tuğba CEYLAN)

13. Școala Gimnaziala Angels, Prahova (Stemate Elena)

14. Ikasbidea Ikastola IPI, Durana (Aranzazu Villarejo)

15. Ercişli Emrah Anatolian High School, Türkiye (Hale Günan)

16. Alqadisya School, Jordan (Sumayya Almuhasen)

17. Lower Secondary School “E. Montale” – IC Montessori, Italy (Loriana Casadei)

Debate structure

The debate followed a clear structure:

1. Introduction (3 minutes)

The moderator (teacher Željka Hutinski, coordinator) introduced the topic, explained the rules, and presented the roles (For / Against / audience). During the debate, teachers noted the most important quotes and ideas on a shared link (Zumpad).

2. Opening Statements (1–2 minutes per school)

First, the Affirmation schools (1–8) presented their main arguments, followed by the Negation schools (9–17).

3. Rebuttal Round (1–2 minutes per school)

Selected schools responded to the opposing side’s arguments by asking questions and giving counter-arguments.

4. Closing Statements (1 minute per school)

Final messages were summarised by:

• Affirmation side: Orhan Dengiz Anatolian High School

• Negation side: Ercişli Emrah Anatolian High School

5. Audience Q&A (5 minutes)

Teachers and students in the audience asked questions and both sides gave short responses.

6. Summary & Conclusion (5 minutes)

The moderator summarised the key points and highlighted the importance of balancing school responsibilities and mental health.

Students’ main arguments and messages

✅ Affirmation side – School pressure helps learning

Students emphasised that a healthy amount of school pressure can be useful and motivating. They highlighted that:

• Homework helps students become responsible and organised, and it improves understanding of lessons.

• Digital tools (video lessons, online quizzes, quick feedback) can support learning by explaining topics in different ways and allowing students to work at their own pace.

• Deadlines and tasks help students develop important life skills such as discipline, focus and planning.

• Time management can reduce stress and help students feel more in control of schoolwork.

• Students often feel motivated when they see progress and good results.

• Working in groups supports learning and reduces stress because classmates help each other and students do not fear making mistakes.

• Students agreed that stress is not always negative: a small amount of stress before exams can help them prepare better, focus more, and become stronger and more confident.

One strong message from the Affirmation team was that mistakes are a natural part of learning and that a positive classroom atmosphere helps students feel safe and supported.

❌ Negation side – School pressure causes stress

Students on the Negation side explained that too much pressure can harm well-being and create serious stress. They pointed out that:

• Too much homework reduces students’ free time and prevents them from relaxing or spending time with family and friends.

• Tests and exam pressure can cause anxiety and fear instead of supporting learning.

• Strict deadlines and constant expectations may lead to fatigue, loss of motivation and emotional overload.

• Students can start comparing themselves to others, which may reduce self-confidence and create negative feelings.

• Stress can “kill creativity”, and students mentioned that subjects such as art and music are sometimes undervalued compared to grades and academic results.

• When the pressure is too high, students sometimes complete tasks only to finish them, not because they want to learn.

• Competition can increase stress and make students focus on winning instead of enjoying school and learning.

Students concluded that reducing pressure and offering emotional support can help students learn better, feel calmer and stay motivated.

Conclusion

The debate was highly successful and very engaging. Students showed excellent communication skills, confidence, and the ability to listen and respond respectfully to different opinions. The activity strongly supported the aims of the eTwinning project Healthy Minds – Happy Students, as it encouraged students to reflect on stress, school expectations, and healthy ways to cope with challenges.

Both sides agreed on one important point: school pressure can be helpful in small amounts, but too much pressure causes stress and affects students’ mental health. Therefore, balance, emotional support, and a positive learning atmosphere are essential for students’ success and well-being.

This debate strengthened collaboration between partner schools and helped students develop important skills such as teamwork, critical thinking, public speaking, and empathy.

After the debate, we conducted a survey to explore students’ satisfaction with the activity.

Survey Summary (Overall Results)

The survey results show very positive feedback about the international debate activity. A total of 43 students completed the survey, and the answers confirm that students found the debate engaging, meaningful, and educational.

• Enjoyment: All students (43/43) said they enjoyed the debate.

• Interest in the topic: Almost all students (42/43) found the topic interesting.

• Organisation: The debate was evaluated as very well organised, with 41/43 students agreeing or strongly agreeing.

• Understanding: Most students (40/43) understood the main arguments from both sides.

• New perspective: The debate helped 41/43 students think about school pressure in a new way.

• Peer learning:41/43 students learned something new from other students.

• Debating as a learning method: All students (43/43) agreed that debating is a good way to learn.

• Future participation: Most students (38/43) would like to join another debate in the future, while 5 students were unsure (“Maybe”).

Conclusion

Overall, the survey confirms that the debate was a successful and impactful activity. Students enjoyed the experience, improved their understanding of school pressure, learned from their peers, and strongly supported debating as an effective learning method. The results clearly show that similar debates should be organised again in the future.

Online Project Meeting – Report

An online project meeting was held to coordinate upcoming activities and strengthen collaboration among participating teachers.

The meeting focused on preparations for Internet Safety Day (10 February). A collaborative presentation project was agreed upon, with each teacher responsible for a specific section. All contributions (content, visuals, and personal messages) are to be completed by 6 February. Once finalized, the presentation will be published on school websites and shared in the dissemination section.

Project dissemination activities were also discussed. Teachers were encouraged to share project outcomes on their school websites or social media pages and post links in the shared forum. Active engagement through commenting and exchanging feedback in the forum was emphasized as an important part of collaboration.

Several activities promoting friendship, kindness, inclusion, and teamwork were presented. Students will participate in Padlet-based activities, reflect on acts of kindness, and comment on their peers’ contributions. These activities aim to foster respect, trust, and positive relationships among students.

Finally, the meeting included planning for creative student activities in February, such as sharing creative work on Padlet and participating in an international mixed-team activity focused on collaborative art and friendship. Organizational details were clarified, and the rescheduling of a workshop was discussed to respect religious holidays.

The meeting concluded with clear agreements on tasks, deadlines, and shared responsibilities, ensuring smooth implementation of upcoming project activities.

Friendship Online & Offline Workshop

On 11 February 2026, an online meeting with students was successfully held via the Zoom platform. The session was led by teacher Željka Hutinski, who conducted an interactive workshop focused on the theme Friendship Online & Offline.

At the beginning of the meeting, students were introduced to the topic through a presentation created by the teacher titled Love and Friendship – Small Things that Matter. The presentation encouraged students to reflect on the importance of small acts of kindness, respect, empathy, and support in both online and offline friendships. It also highlighted how positive communication and responsible online behaviour help build strong and safe relationships.

Presentation: https://www.canva.com/design/DAG_Jyjsaso/m6P_GDmg0GEUiTuTPscY_w/edit?utm_content=DAG_Jyjsaso&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton

Following the presentation, students actively participated in an interactive activity using the Mentimeter application. They answered questions related to friendship, eSafety, bullying, and cyberbullying, and shared their personal opinions and experiences. This part of the workshop created a safe and open environment where students could express their thoughts and learn from each other’s perspectives.

Some students Menti-answers are possible to find in a document: 

Download

A particularly emotional and inspiring moment of the meeting was when students Nicole from Italy and Hatice from Turkey shared their original poems about friendship. Their poems deeply touched all participants and highlighted how friendship connects people across cultures and countries.

In the final part of the meeting, students shared their own friendship messages through creative works. They presented drawings and visual messages they had created, showing their understanding of friendship values such as trust, respect, kindness, and support.

The meeting was highly successful, engaging, and emotionally meaningful. Students demonstrated excellent communication skills, creativity, and openness to sharing their ideas and feelings. The workshop strengthened the sense of community among partner schools and promoted positive online and offline relationships.

Overall, the meeting was excellent and left a strong positive impression on both students and teachers.

Photos from the meeting: 

https://padlet.com/zeljkahutinski/friendship-online-offline-workshop-11-2-2026-xiexj8ukdgxdkp37