Dear friends,

many months of dedicated work have passed from the moment the idea to es-tablish a school had been created to the time the project has been carried out. Various teams and working groups had been developing concepts and goals of a new school. At the same time, we had to obtain different consents and licences from state authorities in order to be able to start. We were lead by the spirit of unity and strong desire to courageously contribute to positive changes within society.

Immense interest of pupils of Međimurje to be enrolled to our school justified the vision we had and the need of our youth to choose an educational programme that had not existed until then, to educate themselves in an envi-ronment based on modern educational methods and strategies, those provid-ing students with high-quality educa-tion developing their creativity and research abilities at the same time.

We are happy to have founded the institution where young people will be able to attend school which upholds Christian values. Namely, we would like to bring up and nurture young people on the unique basis, the one that ensures humanity, life in accordance with moral principles, a life full of love, peace, forgiveness, honesty and devo-tion to the truth.

This academic year has passed very quickly, probably due to the fact that we have been working hard. We believe we have accomplished a lot. The aim of this letter is to present ourselves and the work we have done so far.

We would like to express our grati-tude to our supporters, sponsors and

friends, those who were truly recep-tive to our idea and have also dedicated their time to the work needed to bring this project and the first Christian sec-ondary school to life, here in Čakovec.

We lack space at school. However, we have already laid plans for the fu-ture. We will be grateful for every sup-port and help, every effort you make in attaining our objectives and the pros-perity of our school.

Who are we?The founders of the school are the Bap-tist Union of Croatia and the Pastoral Centre in Čakovec. The school was founded in 2009 and began with active work in 2010.

Why have we founded the school and what progress have we made so far?The aim was to establish a school with educational programmes that would fulfil the existing state programmes in Međimurje County, to supplement those with new programmes we believe have been missing and are needed in our local community.

Srednja škola Čakovec is a state ac-credited Christian school. There are two grammar school programmes (general and classical) as well as voca-tional programmes in medicine (nurs-ing and physical therapy).

There are 112 pupils at the moment. In school year 2011/2012 we plan to enrol the same number of pupils with-in 4 new classes, so that the number of students will double.

Where are we?By the time a new building and a gym will be built, classes are held in mod-

SREDNJA ŠKOLA ČAKOVECFIRST CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL IN MEĐIMURJEA letter to friends“The one who builds a school for chil-dren, builds a temple for God.”Friedrich August Kothe – Evangelical theologian and writer 1781-1850

ern classrooms at the Pastoral Centre in Čakovec (2 Jakova Gotovca Street), which meet the requirements of the National Pedagogic Standard. These are four typical classrooms, a library, specialised IT classroom, two labora-tories for medical training and a sci-ence lab.

Our values• Religion and society: We nurture

Christian values. The school is open to anyone and serves the society, no matter of what religious orientation.

• Excellence and creativity: Our aim is to achieve best possible results. Our programmes are designed in such a way that they motivate pupils to discover and develop their abilities and talents.

• Modern technique and media: The equipment at school meets the requirements of modern teaching and educational process.

• Partnership and co-operation: In-ternational organisations, various insti-tutions and entrepreneurs are impor-tant factors in achieving high-quality education.

• The school and the local com-munity: Think globally, act locally. During their schooling process pu-pils will learn about the needs of the region they live in and how to serve their local community as well as wid-er than that.

Basic principles of our educa-tional concept

• creating a motivating atmosphere for cognitive, social and personal de-velopment of young people

• the assumption that learning is an active process while teaching is an in-teractive process

• respecting the fact that various people study in different ways

• methodical diversity and individ-ualised approach to pupils

• promoting tolerance and equality in life, autonomous of sexual, ethical, religious, social or individual differ-ences

• implementing the atmosphere of partnership, mutual respect, under-standing and acceptance

Some of the basic aims are:• nurturing people to open and pos-

itive spirit

• helping each pupil to feel accepted, not neglected or left alone at moments of crisis and difficulties

• helping pupils develop decision-making based on their own choice, that will guide them for life

• shaping people who can respect others, who stick up for social justice, who can sympathise with others and with those living at the edge of a society

• shaping people who will be capa-ble of resisting to trends and think for themselves, those who will be persis-tent and who will know how to raise af-ter a fall, who will be capable of taking the responsibility without being heart-less to others at the same time

• shaping people who will be com-petent and capable of co-operation, dialogue and mutual respect as well as open to cultural diversity, keeping their ability of a healthy critical judgement at the same time

• shaping people who will have strong Christian belief, far away of any fanaticism, people who will respect those thinking differently and who will be willing to talk to them

How are we different from other schools?

BLOCK SCHEDULINGIn Grammar school programmes les-sons are unitized, meaning that pupils attend lessons in unitized subjects in periods of 8 to 12 weeks while they do not have lessons in other subjects at the same time. After that the unitized pe-riod subjects are changed.

WORKSHOP WEEKTwo times per school year the school organises so called workshop weeks during which both educational and non-educational material is approached differently than usual. Traditional les-sons are replaced with modern work-shop classes where roles of teachers and pupils change, but not exchange. Pupils are divided into groups accord-ing to their interests and affinities while teachers are moderators of the activities in which pupils research, conclude and express creatively on individual basis. Some of the typical activities are dis-cussions, singing, taking photographs, drawing, cooking, acting, learning and discovering personal abilities.

SREDNJA ŠKOLA ČAKOVEC FOUNDED

The youngest, but the best! At the beginning of this school year the youngest secondary school in Međimurje was founded. It facilitated its pupils with medical programmes, namely nursing, physical therapy and medical beautician.

This was an important event for high-school pupils of Međimurje County since previous generations had to travel to Varaždin. Except medical programmes, the pupils of Srednja škola Čakovec can attend general and classical programmes of Grammar school, being the first clas-sical Grammar school in northern Croatia.

(Tihana Flegar, Damira Tomšić, Josipa Zbiljski)

First enrollmentsDuring the enrolment period it was obvious that there had been a great interest of future high-school pupils of Međimurje to study at our school.

Unfortunately, we could not enrol all the interested applicants since there had been too many of them.

The beginning of the school yearWe started the new school year 2010/2011 by holding a meeting of all new pupils, their parents and the staff. The Principal, Mr. Josip Zbiljski, wel-comed both pupils and their parents in the full Worship Hall of the Pastoral Centre. Mr. Zbiljski presented peda-gogical principles and values of the school, the organisation of lessons and the staff.

HOLIDAYS AND FESTIVITIES

The Reformation DayOn 31st October there was a lecture on the Reformation and Martin Lu-ther. The pupils also watched a film about Martin Luther.

What have we been doing during our first school year?

IN THE BEGINNING

The blessing at the beginning of the school yearCeremonial blessing was held at the beginning of the school year.

CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION

Celebrating the birth of JesusAt the end of the first term we had a Christmas celebration. The school choir and performances of students enriched the program.

A short film with Christmas wishes of pupils and teachers was shown. Everybody was in an excel-lent mood. All the teachers, pupils and their parents later gathered in the hall and had some cakes the par-ents made.

TALENT SHOW

Humanity at work Many pupils demonstrated their tal-ents at the talent show so that the audience could enjoy good singing, learn some Russian, dance with tal-ented dancers, see a Michael Jackson imitator, listen to a trumpet player and verses on Međimurje. The spirit of humanity was present as well, since we collected donations (instead of entrance fees) and gave it to the Pae-diatric ward of County Hospital in Čakovec.

Kristina Kukolić, Katarina Kovačić, Janja Kopačević

Workshop WEEKOur school is diverse and specific for its workshop week held two times a year. At that time both teachers and pupils approach non-educational and educational material in a different way than usual. Namely, traditional les-sons are replaced with modern work-shops providing pupils with more possibilities of individual research, problem-solving and creativity.

There isn’t any testing during that period and the atmosphere is relax-ing. Teachers present the material, but pupils do not make notes, they make posters, presentations or act out what they have learnt.

First Workshop WEEKAfter first eight weeks of this school year pupils could demonstrate their creativity by participating in various workshops, e.g. music workshop, designing maps of the old Meso-potamia, research the Epic on Gil-gamesh, make models of nerve, draw cartoons... Thursday was the last day, and pupils presented their works. We fulfilled that week by organising an excursion to Vukovar – the hero city of Croatia.

Jelena Rajter, Lucija Murković, Maja Deban

From grain to sconeHARVEST FESTIVAL AT SREDNJA ŠKOLA ČAKOVEC

At the beginning of October 2010 we celebrated Harvest festival. There was an exhibition of fruits, bread and bakery products as well as a presentation of pupils’ works. There was lots of singing, presentations on poverty subject and world hunger and a quiz in which representatives

of each class demonstrated their knowledge. In the end, everyone had some bread or buns. The spirit of witty thoughts was in the air and we were all refreshed both physically and spiritually.

(Tihana Flegar, Damira Tomšić, Josipa Zbiljski)

TRIP TO VUKOVAR

Candles of remembrance Both pupils and teachers of Srednja ško-la Čakovec went to Vukovar on Novem-ber 5th 2010. The aim of this trip was to mark the anniversary of the city’s heroic fall. We visited the Vukovar hospital, the Memorial Centre at Ovčara, the Ho-meland Memorial Centre at the Army barracks of the 204th Brigade of the Croatian Army as well as the Memorial Cemetery. We learned about what truly happened in this heroic town and have been deeply moved.

We honoured the city of Vukovar on the day of its fall by lighting candles along streets of Čakovec, participat-ing in that way in the national annual movement of pupils of both primary and secondary schools, named Let it never be forgotten.

Tihana Kralj and Lucija Šajnović

SECOND WORKSHOP WEEK

Volunteering in KuršanecSecond workshop week offered many various workshops. My friends and I joi-ned the volunteering project – we helped primary school Roma kids in Kuršanec in their studying. We all wanted to help them studying, to teach them something new, to demonstrate a new approach to learning and to show them that school is not boring, but is the place that will help them improve their lives and learn about their environment.

Besides entertainment we taught them many new and interesting things. We also made new friends. We knew their parents were not like ours and cannot provide for them, that many children do not receive love at home. Therefore, our wish to show them warmth was even greater. Walking through the village we saw that some children live in very poor conditions.

I believe these children need help and that we have done a good thing. The truth is that we are just a small drop in an ocean, but we made them laugh

and showed them our love. This was a tremendous experience for me and my friends with lots of excitement and new experiences. The process of learning went both ways, we have learned a lot from them. They taught us to appreciate things we have, to feel happy when we help others. They helped us change some of our prejudices we may have had and they showed us that sometimes a smile is the greatest treasure one sometimes has.

Ria Haček, 1. A

Creativity at work – take IISecond workshop week took place from March 21st to March 24th with twenty various workshops: music, drama, jour-nalism and audio-visual workshop, a short cooking course in German (with practical work), photo-group, design, construction of health pyramid works-hop, everyday life in Roman and Greek times, English and German workshops with native speakers, etc.

There was lots of research, discus-sion, field-work, singing, dancing, act-ing, even cooking. Many pupils were extremely interested in the project of volunteering – they helped Roma peo-ple in the village of Kuršanec studying.

Kochen und essenStudents participating in the works-hop of preparing a healthy breakfast and German specialities could find out that German can be differently approached. Besides studying recipes in German students had a chance to prepare and taste these dishes.

Health pyramidProper nutrition was the main idea of the workshop that integrated Biology and Physics. During a three-day works-hop various themes and modes of work intertwined, from watching movies, debating, and menu creating to measu-ring, calculating and finally creating a pyramid of healthy choices.

Student’s opinionJelena RajterWorkshop week is designed to relax, enjoy and demonstrate one’s creativity potential. The good thing is that students choose what workshops they will join, nobody influences their choice. They have a chance to apply their previous knowledge and come to new conclusions and concepts as well as to work in a relaxed atmosphere. Workshops connect students from various classes at the school level, so that students from different classes work together and form various teams achieving a mutual result. The atmosphere is full of laughter and joy, students get to know each other better and work successfully. We learn new things, those that cannot be learned in traditional classes. Teachers also form teams and together create interesting topics and apply new approaches to various themes. The material is presented in a completely different way, it is more interesting and, I would say, more efficient.Workshop weeks improve relationships among students, who come to school joyfully not being afraid of testing.

Lucija MurkovićWorkshop week gives us a chance to learn new things, those that we are more interested in. Teachers offer us different themes that can be, or do not have to be connected with our traditional lessons. We are motivated to develop our creativity and imagination as well as to improve friendship with students of other classes. I believe workshop weeks are the best thing this school has because we improve our relationships with teachers, there is no stress of testing, everybody is more relaxed, there is more fun and we see a brighter side of each subject. We especially like the last day, when we present everything we have done and have learnt in that week. An excellent thing is that from one workshop week to another, workshops vary and every time we can do something new and different from what we saw in the previous workshop week.

Karla ŠtefokI think that this new school is an excellent chance for all pupils who would like to attend a Grammar school or Medical high school. We have many opportunities to demonstrate our talents, especially during workshop weeks.

Filip LesarI like new classrooms, new computers, good teachers and the workshop weeks.

Kristina KukolićI especially like the teachers’ approach to us. They are very understanding, we can talk to them about everything, and they help each one of us change things if necessary.

COUNTY BIOLOGY COMPETITION

There are few of us, but we are there!This year our students joined the Biol-ogy County Competition for the first time and by achieving an extremely good results they have over-shadowed other secondary schools in this region. Altogether there were thirty com-petitors from all secondary schools in Međimurje. Our school was represent-ed by five students and their mentor was Diana Krtanjek, our Biology and Chemistry teacher. The greatest result was achieved by Josipa Zbiljski and Pe-tra Erceg, two students who have been invited to the National Biology Com-petition. David Dolenec came fourth, Valerija Posavec fifth, Emil-Miroslav Mesarić seventh. We are extremely

proud of our students and we congrat-ulate to them for their success.

Jelena Rajter, Maja Deban and Lucija Murković

Red Cross Youth CompetitionAfter the success achieved in Biology, our students also presented themselves suc-cessfully in the Red Cross Youth Com-petition. The competitions was divided into two parts – written (theoretical) and practical. Mia Srnec (team leader), Nina Plaftak (second team leader), Valentina Bogdan, Barbara Juretić, Ivana Špicar and Melani Hlišć were members of the school team. Their mentor was Miljenka Igrec. They came third in the competition.

Tihana Flegar, Damira Tomšić, Josipa Zbiljski

Competitions

The job fairOur educational programmes were presented at the County Job Fair on March 30th 2011 at Graditeljska škola. Our promotion, including posters, brochures and presentation, drew lots of attention of the last grade of primary school pupils, considering where to continue their secondary school education.

Why don’t you become a friend of our school?We hope this letter will draw your attention and interest in our school, your wish to help our endeavours to be as good as po-ssible, to provide high-quality education both for our present and future students. We would like our students to recognise this school as the one that will prepare them to enter the world of responsible adults that will train them well for their future life, not only when it comes to knowledge acquiring, but when it comes to the development of their spiritual and moral qualities. We all want the spirit of Christ to be embedded in our students.

“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” (2 Tim 1:7)

Volim svoju ŠKOLU!

opća gimnazija • klasična gimnazija • medicinska sestra/medicinski

tehničar • fizioterapeut

grammar school - general / classicalnursing school • physical therapy school

I love my school