From November 3–7, 2025, Evangeliki Model High School of Smyrna welcomed teams from three accredited European schools as part of the Erasmus+ KA121 program. Specifically, our school hosted eight students and one accompanying teacher from IES Alcántara (Alcantarilla, Spain), eight students and two accompanying teachers from IES El Carmen (Murcia, Spain), and eight students and two accompanying teachers from Sint-Gummaruscollege (Lier, Belgium).
The teams from the three partner schools arrived in Greece on Sunday, November 2, and the students were hosted by the families of our school’s students who participate in the program. Throughout the week, joint educational activities were carried out, aligned with the objectives set by the four participating schools during their accreditation application. Our school’s goals include fostering creativity, environmental education, and democratic education, which were combined with the partner schools’ goals: mental health, innovation in education, development of students’ technological skills, safe internet use, Project-Based Learning (PBL), school mediation, use of foreign languages, internationalization of school communities, and improvement of students’ academic performance.
Αφίσα Erasmus+Poster of the Hosting Week at Evangeliki Model High School of Smyrna
On Monday, November 3, activities focused on integrating visitors into the host school’s culture. The day began with a welcome reception and school tour, followed by ice-breaking games, a Greek breakfast prepared by the host families, attendance at a Greek language class for foreigners, and participation in lessons from the Greek curriculum.
Ice-breaking games Attending classes
On Tuesday, November 4, the day was dedicated to Ancient Greek civilization. Participants visited and toured the Acropolis Museum, the archaeological site of the Acropolis, and the Ancient Agora. At the end of the visit, students formed teams and solved a crossword puzzle about life in Ancient Greece. The winners—those who completed it first and correctly—received traditional Greek treats as prizes.
The entire Erasmus+ group at the Parthenon Crossword winners
On Wednesday, November 5, the theme was new technologies. Students worked in groups under the guidance of our teachers to build electronic systems using Arduino, and then designed and presented an Arduino application beneficial to the environment.
Group work with Arduino
On Thursday, November 6, the group took part in a hands-on environmental activity. They gathered in the morning at Flisvos Beach, where they carried out a beach clean-up. Afterwards, participants enjoyed a walk at the Flisvos Marina, taking in the sun and the sea.
After the beach clean-up
On Friday, November 7, the final day of activities, participants worked in groups on school mediation-based workshops and then performed dramatized scenarios involving historical conflicts. The event concluded with presentations of traditional dances and songs from the participating countries, and a farewell meal prepared by the host families.
Mediating historical conflicts Greek traditional dance
Farewell meal
On Saturday, November 8, and Sunday, November 9, the Spanish and Belgian teams gradually departed for their home countries, taking with them knowledge, experiences, memories, and strong emotions. We said goodbye with tears in our eyes, promising to meet again in the coming months at their schools.
At the same time as the student hosting week, our school also welcomed two teachers—one in Computer Science and one in Spanish Language and Literature—from IES Alcántara (Alcantarilla, Spain) for a job-shadowing placement under the Erasmus+ KA121 program. The Spanish teachers attended lessons, school activities, educational field trips, and sessions of our Robotics and Film Education clubs, and discussed with our staff about our school’s operation. Upon departure, they warmly thanked us for the hospitality and expressed their wish—shared by us—to continue our collaboration.
Teachers’ farewell dinner
The Erasmus+ Contact Person of Evangeliki Model High School,
Dr. Eirini Arnaouti