From 7th to 11th July 2018 the second Transnational project meeting of the project Eurostonomia, Erasmus+ took place in Targoviste, Rumania. Two teachers and two students from St. Stanislav’s took part: Martin Čokl, Anton Križnar, Aleks Kaapre Rehtijärvi and Alenka Battelino.

This is the first time that students participate in project meetings so that their voice will be also heard throughout the project. This time they were working on composing guidelines for all future Erasmus+ students. They presented their findings at the plenary meeting held on the last day of the meeting. According to the coordinator of the project Mrs Susan Coontz (Wellington School, Scotland) they accomplished their work with excellence and contributed greatly to the success of the meeting.

We enjoyed the hospitality of the partner school Colegiul National Constantin Cantacuzino. All the partners participated in reviewing the activities realized in the first year of the project and intensively planning the activities for the second year. The feedback of national agencies were discussed. The stargazing activity was unfortunately cancelled due to bad weather conditions. We visited the Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Science and Technology from Valahia University of Targoviste and Museum of Human Evolution and Technology in Paleolithic, Stelea Monastery,”The Royal Court” Museum, Townhall and Old City Center.

It was another wonderful experience working in the inspiring environment of good friends. We all appreciated generous hospitality and thorough organization of the managing team at Colegiul National Constantin Cantacuzino. We all look forward to our next teaching learning activity which will take place in Scotland between 16th and 23rd September 2018. /Alenka Battelino, project coordinator/

The President of the Republic of Slovenia Borut Pahor, issued an order for the conferral of a State Decoration of the Republic of Slovenia on 8^th June 2018 to SILA-IWCL International Women’s Club Ljubljana and Magazine Gasilec. Ana Šubic, a student of the Diocesan Classical Gymnasium and the 2018 national winner of the international translation contest Juvenes translatores was invited by the Office of the President of the Republic to read the orders and translate a couple of thank you speeches.

Ana enjoyed every minute of it, especially the relaxed attitude of the organising team and the solemnity of the event.  “On stage I felt quite nervous before translating, eventually I calmed down. The protocol is really strict there.”, she added. The school community congratulates Ana for her excellent translation work in the presidential palace and wishes her all the best in facing further translation challenges! /Lily Schweiger Kotar/

With the above words, Ana Šubic, a third year student of the Diocesan Classical Gymnasium and a national winner of the 2017-2018 translation contest Juvenes Translatores, concluded her speech delivered on 10th April 2018 in front of a vast audience of contestants, parents, teachers, translators and other EU officials on the occasion of the award ceremony in the Charlemegne building in Brussels. Among 28 winners from EU member states, only three were invited to give a speech, Ana among them. It was delivered partly in English, partly in Slovene and Ana enjoyed every minute of it, as she put it.

Her speech emphasised the exceptionally favourable living conditions that the young Europeans enjoy today. “Let’s consider numerous education possibilities and our skills. This is a winning combination that not every young person can achieve. We did not earn it, it was bestowed upon us and it is our duty to deal with it responsibly, thus showing the world the opportunities have not been in vain. We, the joung Europeans, shall make an all-out-effort, study well and work for the benefit of mankind. Maybe we will translate a wonderful novel, be the first to talk to a doubtful person, help people who are lost in every sense of the word, we may invent something new. We shall love and lead an active life with a sparkle in our eyes to make this world a better place. By doing so, we will try to justify the opportunities and skills bestowed upon us.” You can listen to the rest of her meaningful speech at 38th minute using the following link: https://business.facebook.com/translatores/?ref=py_c

Ana attended the award ceremony in Brussels with her mother and her mentor Irena Bolta, teacher of German at the Diocesan Classical Gymnasium. /Lily Schweiger Kotar/

Timotej Cvirn, Amadej Pavšič, Benjamin Poljanc and Vid Kregar joined the international contest The World of 7 Billion, which is a project of the population education program that focuses on human population issues.  Among 3000 high school videos theirs received an honorable mention. Since 1975, the program has developed curricula to complement students’ social science instruction about human population trends and their impacts on natural resources, environment and human well-being.

Student competitors have been asked to create a video about human population growth that highlights one of the global challenges and the above mentioned students have chosen the topic of feeding 10 billion highlighting the subtheme of food waste. Taking on this challenge and finding solutions require understanding, but above all cooperation and creativity. Timotej, who is the heart and soul of the project, believes the population issue is in fact a burning one, explaining: “It’s important to start solving the problems now, if we start solving them when we hit 10 billion, it might be too late.” The production is entirely nonverbal, which enables even non-English speakers to get the message. “Brainstorm to get a good story. You can film the video with a smartphone, but you need a good message.” Indeed, well done guys!

Please click https://www.worldof7billion.org/video_winners/food-waste/ to watch the video and find extra information on its background. /Lily Schweiger Kotar/

16th International Architecture Exhibition, one of the greatest architecture exhibitions in the world, starts on May 26th 2018 with two  DCG alumni actively taking part in it. These are Tadej Bolta and Klara Bohinc, both working for Arrea Architecture, one of the most prominent architectural bureaus in Slovenia under the leadership of Maruša Zorec. In the 16-year long history of the biennale Arrea is the first Slovene bureau to be invited to partake.

The leading theme of the Biennale 2018 is freespace  – a word which describes a generosity of spirit and a sense of humanity at the core of architecture’s agenda. Architecture opens up space in new ways, offering it to people, who may discover the essence of their existence through its use. The Biennale is divided in two sections. In the first one different countries participate with various installations, presentations and pavilions – all based on the biennale’s common theme. In the second section the invited architects or architectural bureaus from all over the world take part. This year 71 of them were invited by the curators of exhibition Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara, both from Ireland. The exhibition will remain open until November 25th 2018.

For more deatailed information please see: https://www.arrea.si/biennale

We congratulate the young architects for the outstanding opportunity and feel very proud of them both! /Lily Schweiger Kotar/

The 25th annual jubilee concert with nine choirs, string orchestra of St. Stanislav’s Institution and and the hosting orchestra of Frederic Chopin Conservatory in Krakow, Poland included more than 500 musicians who fired the full house in Cankarjev Dom with enthusiasm on 13th May 2018. The majestic music event, rounded off by Anton Bruckner’s Te Deum, celebrated the 25th Anniversary of Diocesan Classical Gymnasium and Jeglič Student Home and 10th Anniversary of Alojzij Šuštar Primary School.

This year individual choirs joined into four meaningful groups depending on songs performed, which ranged in various style. The concert opened with a medley of Slovene folk songs, entitled Alba/Dawn, a novelty by Damijan Močnik, dedicated to the long-serving director of St. Stanislav’s Institution Roman Globokar. Two more mixtures of folk songs Joyous Heart and Vigred/Springtime were presented by both Primary School choirs; the latter being accompanied by an improvisation on folk instruments. Both first year choirs of the Diocesan Classical Gymnasium continued with a mix of evergreen Slovene pop songs, a novelty compiled by Tine Bec, conductor of the First-Year Boys’ Choir. The audience attention of the first part went to The Beatles Best of Songs in the interpretation of the (Re)Mixed Choir of the DCG and St. Stanislav Student Choir. Impeccable choreography (by Mojca Sečkar) of more than 150 singers underpinned by singers’ 1960’s outfits brought to life the Beatles’ greatest hits of all times. It was an explosion of Beatlemania in its broadest sense of the word, which fuelled big cheers. The grand finale united almost 600 performers from nine choirs, both orchestras and four accompanying voices in the interpretation of Bruckner’s Te Deum. The following singers features as soloists: Marta Močnik Pirc, soprano; Sabina Gruden, alto; Martin Sušnik, tenor and Marcos Fink, bass. All five sections of this majestic work put new life into the words We praise you, God – the life of sincere praise for numerous gifts gratefully received in the last 25 years in St. Stanisalv’s Institution. The piece drew on full resources of the choirs and orchestras, concluding in a joyous fugue of In Te, Domine, speravi/In you, Lord, have I trusted. That was the second time this evening that the audience gave a standing ovation.

Apart from music, there were two meaningful speeches given on the solemn occasion. The first one by Anton Česen, M.A.,  director of St. Stanislav’s Institution, who explained the guiding lines of the jubilee motto Youth Woven from Sparks of Sun. It combines fruitfully the search for opportunity growth,various challenges and personal endeavours of the young. He concluded by words of thanks to the conductors and the singers for their commitment to the cause. The honourable speaker was Tomaž Faganel, M.A., Slovene musicologist, who pointed at the role of music throughout the 25 years since the reestablishment of St. Stanislav’s Institution. “Music is a way of life, liberated from everyday routine, invariably originating from curious silence. All this is presented to the young in St. Stanislav’s Institution by charismatic leaders – conductors, who create “little songs” that the audience and performers gratefully take home. They represent a significant part of our dreams and encourage curiosity.”

Indeed, the listeners took home many new songs from tonight’s concert that featured music which was a feast for the soul and the senses. You can listen to it at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpPkL1rRgK8

/Lily Schweiger Kotar/

St Stanislav’s Institution in joint cooperation with The Institute for Education Research and Development organised an International Symposium entitled Critical Thinking in the Digital Age took place from 10th – 12th May 2018 in St. Stanislav’s Institution. The event was one of the many to celebrate the 25th anniversary of The Diocesan Classical Gymnasium and The Jeglič Student Home and 10th anniversary of The Alojzij Šuštar Primary School. The topic of the symposium combined two major focuses the school community had recognised as crucial elements that decidedly shaped the mindset of the young today, namely critical thinking and the influence of digital media upon students’ perception of life. The programme placed special emphasis on school environment in the digital age and the challenges it offers. For more detailed information, please see www.stanislav.si/simpozij2018.   /Lily Schweiger Kotar/

Cordially invited to the traditional, jubilee concert, which will take place on Sunday, 13th May 2018 at 6.00 p.m. in Gallus Hall in Cankarjev dom (Ljubljana). The choir pyramid of St. Stanislav’s Institution, which is well known in Slovenia and abroad, will perform a variety of songs and compositions ranging from Slovene folk songs to ever green pop songs in new adaptations by T. Bec and D. Močnik. The magnificent Anton Bruckner’s Te Deum performed by 350 singers and the string orchestra, will round up the solemn concert.

Tickets are available in St. Stanislav’s Institution (call ++386 31 708 313), or on the concert day, an hour before the beginning of the concert in the first foyer in Cankarjev dom. Welcome!

The Turkish writer participated in the panel discussion on her book Exile on 18th April 2018. It has been recently translated also in Slovene, amongst 27 other languages. Having been a guest at the international PEN meeting in Bled, Slovenia, she gladly shared her views and motives for writing with some 60 third years.

As a writer, İlhan has been active since her youth. She won several international awards, of which the EU Prize for Literature in 2011 and Prix Du Livre Lorientales 2017 are the most prominent. Exile, the new book of short stories, has been written as the author puts it “with the hope that all those exiled from their homes, countries, bodies, souls may return to their homes within.”

The students eagerly listened to her powerful message. Çiler İlhan is a woman of vision – especially for the young. She urged them to speak up, not to be silenced and discouraged by the thought that nothing can be done. “On the contrary,” she said. “You have the duty and strength to start changing the injustices of the world step by step, starting with people around you and slowly reaching out into the big world.” With her energy and commitment to serve the underprivileged of today’s world, especially women, she touched the audience’ hearts and showed a path into a better and more just world. /Lily Schweiger Kotar/

This Erasmus+ Project took place from 10th – 16th April 2018, uniting 37 young astronomy enthusiasts from Bulgaria, Germany, Macedonia, France, Portugal, Scotland, Romania and Slovenia. Together with their teachers, they participated in some amazing workshops, star gazing, discussions and other astronomy related challenges. You can see the programme and read the students’ blog at http://schule.mallinckrodt-gymnasium.de/erasmus+/eurostronomia/index.html. /Alenka Battelino, project coordinator/