IB Convention 2016

IB convention 2016 was held in Taurage on January 15th-16th. IB convention is an educational project created by International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme students of Kaunas Jesuit Gymnasium. It strives to bring together first year IBDP students from across Lithuania in order to promote communication, cooperation and amity among schools.

This year's IB convention focused on the importance of service through students‘ active participation in a variety of service activities. The convention also devoted plenty of time to allow students to share their daily challenges, explore the academic side of IB and indulge in creative work.   
After warm opening words from the principle of Tauragė Versmė gymnasium, coordinator of IB convention Justina Čižniauskaitė introduced the participants with the agenda of convention.
Firstly, students played fun and relaxing ice-breaking games which were designed by TVG students. Afterwards it was time for more serious activity – visits to Tauragė kindergarden and day care centre. There IBDP students could demonstrate their personal attributes developped from IB learner‘s profile: empathy, tolerance, care and honesty.
Second part of the day started with IB compass game. The goal of this game was to help each student know where they are in IB and if they are going in the right direction. The rules are very simple – everyone had to stand in a straight line and close their eyes. Justina was reading statements and if a person agrees with it, he must go one step forward, if not – stay still. After the game students had a little reflection session in groups and shared their feelings and experience in IBDP.
Later everyone was invited to listen to a speech delivered by Saulius Bagdonas, founder of „Aktyvi Tauragė".
The evening was far from boring as well. It was time for CAS simulation, where participants were put into groups and they had to come up with projects that included two or three CAS components, to briefly design them and present. 
Next stop – brain battles. After long, interesting and tense game cam free time where students spent time talking, sharing impressions of the convention and just building friendships among each other.
The next day of the event was as exciting as the first one. Immediately after delicious breakfast, students were invited to participate in Orientational Game. During it not only did they get a chance to know Tauragė better, but they also did fun and amusing tasks.
Before the end of the convention, its coordinator Justina did a presentation on universities all around the world, their requirements and possibilities. Moreover, the advantages and disadvantages of gap year were discussed as well.
Team of Šiauliai Didždvaris Gymnasium (IB1: Vytautė Milvydaitė, Klaudija Švambarytė, Eglė Jurgaitytė, Vytenis Šliogeris, Natas Kanišauskas; IB2: Aneta Urbonaitė, Mantas Kleinas, Lukas Vaitkus, Emilija Kazlauskaitė) also had an opportunity to participate in this convention. Not only did they bring unforgettable memories and experience, but they also found a lot of new friends.

Malteser Soup Campaign 2015

  On 12^th of December, a Maltese Soup Campaign was held in Šiauliai shopping mall “Saulės Miestas”. The aim of this was to help poor, old and sickly people of Lithuania.

At 11 o’clock there was a great opening ceremony near the Christmas tree, where the Mayor of Šiauliai spoke about this campaign and encouraged people to join in. Later talented artists entertained visitors by performing all day long.

Students from our gymnasium participated in it as volunteers, as did other people. They asked the mall visitors to donate money and a large sum was collected! Very generous donators received a Christmas tree decoration with Maltese Soup logo as a gift.

All people were invited to eat soup that was made by different restaurants to support the campaign. It was given out in tent built near the entrance of the mall. Many people enjoyed it warm in chilly weather!

Aid for Kenya village project

OPENING EVENT

 On 16^th of November during the International Tolerance Day the opening of charity event for Kenya’s Matisi kids was held in the Assembly Hall of Didždvaris Gymnasium. During it, volunteer from Croatia, Aldo Franičević introduced his experience gained from working as a teacher in Kenya, told stories of local children, their living habits and conditions of their home and school. Moreover the exhibition of Aldo‘s pictures was opened and displayed in the school‘s lobby. Not only were the pictures impressive but they also showed severe condition of every day lives of Kenya‘s children.
This event was an encouragement for whole Didždvaris community to unite and to donate for the sake of honorable and generous cause.

INTERNATIONAL FRIEND’S DAY

 On the 30th of November Didždvaris Gymnasium celebrated  International Friend’s Day.

During the long breaks, students were selling various kinds of home-made delicacies: pies, cupcakes, cookies. One of the most active parts of participants were students of IB1. For the sake of good mood some of the students were singing or playing different kind of music instruments.

Obviously, the money earned was donated to the charity for Kenya’s Matisi kids.

It was very pleasant to see that Didždvaris community actively participated in this event. It showed that not only are we thinking locally but we also want to make a global change.  

CHESS TOURNAMENT

 On the 7th of December chess tournament, which was also a closing ceremony of charity  for Kenya’s kids, was held in the library of Didždvaris Gymnasium.

This tournament was special because it was honored by the presence of Viktorija Čmilytė, former student of Didždvaris Gymnasium, member of the parliament of Lithuania and also Lithuanian chess grandmaster.

During the event she competed with 23 students. After two hours of tensed game three best players, who managed to stay in the game the longest time, were revealed: Justinas Benikasas (TB2), Povilas Mikalauskas (TB1), Gabrielė Fokaitė (IIb).

In the end, students gave the guest some presents, which will hopefully remind Viktorija of Didždvaris and her time spent here. 

                                                                                         

Lake march

  On 21^st  of November, 2015 there was a march to Kurtuvėnai Region Park.

On  Saturday morning students not only from our gymnasium, but also from other schools left Šiauliai to explore stunning lakes in the area. At the beginning of the day participants were introduced to brief local history and then the march began.

The entire walk lasted 8 hours, visiting several lakes out of 30 existing and learning some interesting facts - the origin of their names, for instance. Students also climbed up the mounds, that formed during ice age while ice was moving away from the territory of Lithuania. It was a great challenge to reach the top of those little hills – as trees and brushwoods were in the way.

The nature is amazing, landscape is beautiful and it was a great joy to take a meal break near the biggest tree in the area.

Participants were blessed with brilliant weather. Although, after the rain few days ago dumpness remained in the woods. A couple of students from DG experienced sliding downhill while trying to get down.

As the march ended, the whole group took a picture to see who survived this long march! Everyone was tired, but nonetheless, students had smiles on their faces – they were glad how they had spent their day.