Sodražica, Slovenia: The Good Deeds Society Essay Contest Winner

On February 5, Alenka Uhr (of Sodobnost) and I traveled to Sodražica, a town nestled in mountains, and made famous for being the birthplace of an influential Slovenian writer and thinker, Ivan Prijatlj.

The school, Oš Ivan Prijatelj Sodražica, had planned an assembly with all the students to honor the winner of the Good Deeds Society essay contest. The participants in the essay contest asked me questions, and then I had a chance to interact with the students, who asked me questions, and responded to mine. Please contact beyondutopia at gmail dot com for information about Good Deeds Society Sister Schools.




The winner of the Good Deeds Society essay contest: Blaž Krajnc



His mentor: Tadeja Topolnik.

I had a chance to interact with students:


The lovely town of Sodražica.

More photos: http://www.flickr.com/beyondutopia

Jesenice, Slovenia: Good Deeds Society / Klub Dobrih Dejanj

Perhap one of the most spectacular drives we took in Slovenia was to Jesenice, where the gorgeous mountains and valleys took my breath away. We were in northwest Slovenia, in the southern reaches of the Alps, a great place for winter sports.

We visited Oš Prežihov Voranc Jesenice and met the winner of the essay contest: Nina Stanojevič,



with her mentor: Mojca Kavčič:

Meeting with the students in the library:


A nice round-table question-and-answer session with the participants:


Meeting the principal (fun fact: he competed in the Winter Olympics in Albertville, France)

More photos -- visit the flickr photostream: http://www.flickr.com/beyondutopia

For information about Good Deeds Society Sister Schools, contact beyondutopia at gmail dot com

Good Deeds on Facebook!

Ideas for e-learning: E-Learning Queen

Visiting Radomljah, Slovenia: Good Deeds Society Essay Contest Winner

On February 4, Alenka and I traveled to Radomljah, Slovenia. It was a lovely morning for a beautiful drive through Slovenia - a bit snowy, but the air was crisp and invigorating. In the morning, we visited the Os Preserje school, which has a very progressive program which emphasized personal responsibility.

We met the Oš Preserje pri Radomljah Good Deeds Society essay contest winner: Lara Jerman, and her mentor: Nataša Cotman.


Here is a photo of the school:


Meeting the principal, Ana Nusa Kern:


For more photos, visit the flickr photostream: http://www.flickr.com/beyondutopia
For Good Deeds Society Sister School information, please contact beyondutopia at gmail dot com,

School Visit in Slovenia: Druga Oš Slovenj Gradec

It was a very snowy morning in Ljubljana, Slovenia, as Alenka Urh (Sodobnost) and I set out to drive through the gorgeous Slovenian countryside to the beautiful and historic town of Slovenj Gradec, which was established sometime in the 13th century. It is a lovely town of about 8,000 inhabitants, near skiing and other alpine activities. The town itself is a beautiful blend of modern and historical architecture.

The school, Druga Oš Slovenj Gradec, had organized a school-wide event to celebrate the winner of the Good Deeds Society essay contest partipants and the winner: Vitan Blagotinšek, whose mentor was Saša Polanc.

The winner, Vitan Blagotinšek, with mentor Saša Polanc. Vitan's essay dealt with themes in the book: dealing with the loss of family members, the relationship between Kithie and her mother, and how bringing together students for good deeds with help develop friendships, assuage isolation, and make students feel more included in their schools and communities.

Meeting students after the assembly


Would your school like to become a sister school? Please email beyondutopia at gmail dot com.

Visit to Skocjan, Slovenia: Oš Frana Metelka

On February 2, I had a great experience in Skocjan, at the Oš Frana Metelka school. I met the principal, teachers, and the winner of the Good Deeds Society essay contest, Ana Lucija Hočevar, with her mentor: Tanja Luštek. The students and the school are very eager to initiate a Good Deeds Society, and would be very interested in partnering with a virtual sister school. For more information, please email beyondutopia@gmail.com .

Skocjan is a gorgeous town in Slovenia located here:
http://www.maplandia.com/slovenia/skocjan/

For more photos, please visit http://www.flickr.com/beyondutopia

Links and News in Slovenia

Here I am with one of the winners of the Good Deeds Society essay contest, this time in Radomljeh, Slovenia. The event was chronicled in the local newspaper, Kamniske. The school in Radomljeh is large - more than 600 students from ages 8 - 14. The school is very progressive, with an emphasis on individual choice, leading to enhanced self-efficacy and self-determination.


A student-driven Good Deeds Society certainly seems to flow well with the idea of choice and self-determination, especially on the path to an enhanced sense of self-esteem.

The principal of the school, Ana Nuša Kern, is very supportive of all student-centered programs that result in a higher sense of responsibility to self, others, community, and world. Principal Kern is supportive as well of a sister school arrangement with schools in other countries.


News

Kamniske http://www.kamniske-novice.si/

Buy Online:

Cangura Online

Misli Online

JuliaDoria Online

Reviews:

Bajta http://www.bajta.si/index.php/Knjiga/Susan-Smith-Nash-Klub-Dobrih-Dejanj-2008.html

Katerina Peric http://katarinaperic.wordpress.com/2008/09/18/klub-dobrih-dejanj/

RTVSLO http://www.rtvslo.si/blog/marija_brkic/mnenje-o-knjigi-susan-nash-klub-in-saso-janjac-sami/14848

Katerina Peric Blog http://katarinaperic.wordpress.com/2008/09/28/bralni-koticek-za-devetosolce/

Cangura http://www.cangura.com/katalog/knjigarna/susan-smith-nash/

Osziri http://www.osziri.si/knjiznica/Lists/Novice%20za%20uence/DispForm.aspx?ID=3

Bukla http://www.bukla.si/index.php?prikaz=zadnjaBukla&id_zbkat=647


Interview with Author:
http://www.forgetmenotbooks.com/KDD/interviju.php

Slovenian Blog:
http://www.forgetmenotbooks.com/KDD/blog/

Libraries:
http://cobiss.izum.si/scripts/cobiss?command=DISPLAY&base=COBIB&RID=238249216

Facebook Posts:
Gimnazija Ravne na Koroškem http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7537277580

Visiting Slovenia and Meeting Essay Contest Winners

Slovenia is an enchanted place. I felt that from the very first visit when I first saw the dragons that protect the bridges in downtown Ljubljana. Later, when in Piran and standing outside a gorgeous cathedral and gazing off into the Adriatic Sea, I realized how fortunate I was to have the chance to visit the country.

This time, I visited five schools in Slovenia, all in towns away from Ljubljana. It was a pleasure to visit them, and to meet the winners of the essay contest on the ideas and themes contained in Good Deeds Society. The winners wrote very moving accounts, and their ideas about what they would if they were president of their school's Good Deeds Society were inspiring. I am hoping to obtain synopses of the essays and to share them with you. If you would like to see the photos, please visit my Flickr site: http://flickr.com/photos/beyondutopia/

Are you interested in visiting the blog of the Slovenian Good Deeds Society? The name in Slovene is Klub Dobrih Dejanj, and here's the website: http://www.forgetmenotbooks.com/KDD/

Alternatively, you can also simply type http://www.klubdobrihdejanc.com

Here's a map of Slovenia. Please take a look at Jesenice and Slovenj Gradec. Those were two of the places we visited. They were both very lovely -- and snowy! Of course, it is February, after all. The other towns I visited were near Novo Mesto, Cerknica, and Domzale (I believe). As you can see, I had a wonderful tour of Slovenia!

Please be sure to check back with the blog. I will describe the first school I visited (in Skocjan), and will provide photos.

In the meantime, please share your thoughts about good deeds.