PUERTOLLANO, Spain.
San José School and Puertollano City Council have signed a collaboration agreement for the development of a project called "Pedro Poveda Gardens: a space for learning and fellowship." The City Council gave this name to these Gardens, which are located in front of the school, on the occasion of the canonization of Pedro Poveda and in gratitude for the educational work of the Teresian Association for so many years in Puertollano.
This is a service-learning project on the social, natural and environmental awareness of our environment, dedicated to all the students of the school. This initiative aims at encouraging the formation and comprehensive education of young students, who will be able to build a more just world and develop values of peace, conservation and protection of the environment, as well as coexistence and peaceful resolution of conflicts.
This is an innovation project, guided by IEPS since last year. It is aimed at conducting cultural activities with associations of neighbors from "Las Trescientas" (area where the school is located), graphic displays on the history of the neighborhood, planting and care activities in the Gardens. It is a way of "opening the school to the outside," trying to make students responsible for the environment and develop a social conscience. It is also intended to share the educational work with other social groups: neighborhood associations, the city, the Parish, PTA, and so on.
Collaboration in awareness activities
The mayor of Puertollano, Mayte Fernandez, and the director of San José School, María José Labrador, signed the agreement. Puertollano City Council is committed to working on outreach activities within the classroom through the participation of local experts to promote a civic culture on the maintenance of green areas and sustainability. It also authorizes and assists in activities that address personal, social and instrumental skills of students, such as cleaning and planting plants in Pedro Poveda Gardens, thus allowing them to feel responsible for maintaining and improving public spaces, revitalizing the recreational and cultural character of this space.
Continuous reading of Don Quixote
On April 23, as part of the project, a continuous reading of Don Quixote took place in the Gardens throughout the school day. This activity, which was open to all citizens who wished to participate, involved students of all levels -with materials adapted to the little ones- the school staff, families, alumni, neighbors, the mayor, the president of AMPA and the Director, Mr. Pedro Antonio Rodriguez Menchén.
Exhibit on the history of the neighborhood
Before the end of the school year, students will make a display in the gardens on the neighborhood's history of "Las Trescientas." Students from elementary and secondary grades will participate in this project. This exhibition aims at reevaluating the identity of this space in the collective memory of the educational community, the neighborhood, the collaborating institutions, and the entire city of Puertollano.
The school administration is grateful to the group of teachers that promote the project and to the coordinators Maria Gonzalez and Patricia Paniagua, for their the effort and enthusiasm on this initiative that is so well received by all participants.
Info.IT
Information: Administration of San José School, Puertollano