The visit of pupils from Neuss is the continuation of the long-standing co-operation initiated exactly nine years ago on the initiative of the director of the Junior High School "Neuss-Holzheim" Wolfgang Spangenberger, during which pupils pay mutual visits and exchange experiences with the aim of developing communication in foreign languages, working on joint projects, and attending German and English language lessons through demonstration classes, classes of physical and health culture and art classes.
Co-operation between the two schools first started in the field of sports activities, to be extended later on to many other fields as well. This year the pupils have gathered around the three envisaged programmes: sports, foreign languages and an art workshop. Within the sports programme pupils took part in school sports games. During a German language lesson, the pupils held a joint lesson on the subject of a "Guide though Croatia". Within the art workshop, they create artistic works on the subject of the Glagolitic script applying on that occasion the imprint technique. The guests from Neuss who sojourn in Rijeka, yesterday visited the island of Krk, exploring natural and cultural beauties of Baška and Vrbnik, while tomorrow they intend to visit the sights of Pula, the Lim channel and Rovinj.
On behalf of the City of Rijeka, the pupils were received by Branka Renko-Silov, head of the City Department of Education, and Veljko Karabaić, head of the City Department of Sports and Technical Culture. The reception was also attended by the school directors Wolfgang Spangenberger and Jadranka Sokal.
The head of the City Department Renko-Silov pointed out that the friendship between the two cities had started with cooperation among the youngest children to continue every year in May and September when pupils from Rijeka and Neuss pay mutual visits. As their visit to Rijeka is this year characterised by high temperatures and sunny weather, the head Renko-Silov wished the young guests a good time and that the visit to our city remains an unforgettable memory.
The head of the City Department Karabaić presented them Rijeka as a city recognisable for its exceptional sports results and big investments in the construction of sports facilities over the last couple of years. He also emphasised the recognisability of Rijeka as a good organiser of large sports manifestations, of which one is just in course, namely the World U-18 and U-23 Boules Championship. Therefore, Karabaić took the occasion to invite all of them to visit the Boules Centre Podvežica. Also each pupil from Neuss received as a gift a championship official T-shirt and a charm.
Director Spangenberger pointed out that this year's reception in the City of Rijeka Lounge, as always, is a special event and he thanked once again the heads of the City Departments and in particular the director Sokal for excellently devised and organised programme. School head Sokal, also talked about co-operation, emphasising that preparations for the visit of pupils from Neuss last during the whole school year, always with the aim of getting to know better the cultural, historical and natural heritage of our region, expressing her hope that the same would continue in the future.
(M.K.)