Welcome to the eighth issue of the Macedonia Schools Project Newsletter. In this issue, we hear from three teachers and a principal representing five schools in Macedonia. It is heart-warming to read their reports documenting the meaningful impact the Macedonia Schools Project (MSP) is having on schools in Macedonia. We publish these reports because they are the reward that makes our volunteer work with MSP worthwhile.

Contents:
1. Impact Report from the primary school, Brakja Miladinovci,
by Jasmina Kukuneshoska, a Teacher in Struga

2. Kole Kaninski School,
by Marija Stojmenovska, Milevsky, a Teacher in Bitola

3. Zivko Cingo School
by Marija Miceska, a Teacher in Velgoshti, Ohrid

4. Vancho Prke School
by Kokan Radev, a Principal in Stip

5. Donations & Contact Information

IMPACT REPORT FOR THE THIRD DONATION, IN 2024, OF THE MACEDONIA SCHOOL PROJECT, FOR THE PRIMARY SCHOOL “BRAKJA MILADINOVCI” STRUGA

By Jasmina Kukuneshoska, a Macedonian Teacher in Struga

Thanks to the third donation of the amazing organization Macedonia Schools Project (MSP), around 1,100 students from three nationalities in our school, Macedonian, Albanian and Turkish, had the privilege to study in improved educational conditions in some of the classrooms. Two new interactive boards and two printers filled with the appropriate toners and papers for usage were mounted in two blocks of the school. One block of the school is used for the lower primary classes, where the head teachers mainly stay in one classroom and only English and Science teachers switch. The other smart board went in the upper classes from the 6th to the 9th grades, where most of the teachers circulate in different classrooms. This allows increased usage of the donated equipment for the majority of the teachers in the school rotating in two shifts to feel the benefits of the newest technology for more creativity during the lessons. It is a good thing that not only one teacher or one classroom is equipped, but as we work in two shifts, the teachers just switch and they can use the classroom all day long, first and then second shift, so more students can feel the benefits of the digitalization in that specific block of the school building. This experience is very interesting and it brings a fresh air of novelty and enthusiasm for all the subjects included.

As with the majority of the schools in our country, our school is facing problems with materials for the lessons and the educational process as well. Many teachers but not enough paper, toners, printers, so we as teachers very often spend our own finances for printing tests, reports and educational materials for work. The MSP grant offered us a little help, where two printers are well kept and will be carefully maintained so that we can use them longer throughout the years. The worksheets in colors especially for the younger learners are a real help as they learn colors, numbers, character descriptions and vivid stories in colors. Another benefit of these printers is that the teachers are supposed to print out the electronic lessons once a month and leave them in the school as a proof of what was taught that month. Previously every teacher printed their own electronic records on their own, and with this project’s help we brought a decision at a school meeting that the teachers can do this in the school for free.

We hope that this report reflects the important impact that this project had in the educational process in our school. All the aspects in the school were put into consideration: the students’ improved learning skills, the increased motivation of the teachers using new technologies in the classes, and also the parents were happy to hear that their children have better conditions for learning in the school building. In the name of all the staff, the school liaison, and the director of the school, once more we would like to express our deepest gratitude for the second and very important grant to our school.

We as a school always strive to become better and want to improve, because we are one of the biggest and the most successful schools not only in the region but in the country as well. The results of our students on the state competitions in various subjects are proof of what we do. We will apply for grants like this to improve ourselves and the results will speak about us.

KOLE KANINSKI SCHOOL IN BITOLA

by MARIJA STOJMENOVSKA MILEVSKY, TEACHER

 We are a government public primary school, "Kole Kaninski", in Bitola, Macedonia. The school has a central school located in Bitola and three branch schools in the suburb Bukovski livadi and the villages Bukovo and Poeshevo.

Central School in Bitola

There are around 800 students in our school (aged 5-15). The students in the central school and in the village Bukovo are 1st to 9th grade students, and the students in the suburb Bukovski livadi and the village Poeshevo are 1st to 5th grade students. After 5th grade, the students in Bukovski livadi and Poeshevo continue their education in the central school. We provide general education for our students in natural science, languages, math, sports, arts, innovations, etc. The students from 1st to 5th grade work with one teacher who teaches all the subjects except English, sports and natural science. The students from 6th to 9th grade work with different teachers for all the different subjects. The number of the subjects taught depends on the grade. We also provide other activities that are part of the educational process.

Our central school was established in 1964 and has around 80 teachers. Our school is one of the largest schools in the area, and it is located in a part of the town where there is a population that is not very high in social or financial status. The school doesn’t have enough finances and can’t afford to improve the bad conditions in some of the classrooms. The school has been involved in many national and international funding projects, which is how we have been able to supply the necessary equipment for most of the classrooms.

The Macedonia Schools Project (MSP) grant we received in 2024 was a pilot project worth $1,000. With the help of MSP, we provided tables and chairs for the children in daycare at our school.

This improved the conditions in the classroom where fifty children, from 1st to 3rd grade, distributed in two shifts, spend their time before their lessons start and after they end. The working conditions of students and teachers in the daycare center have been improved by this project. We had a wonderful partnership with the Macedonia Schools Project, and we hope that we will continue this collaboration in the future. This year we are planning to apply for a grant again, which would enable better conditions for teaching and learning in our school.

ZIVKO CINGO SCHOOL IN VELGOSHTI, OHRID

By MARIJA MICESKA, TEACHER

 The Primary School “Zivko Cingo” in Velgoshti, Ohrid, is a one of the smaller schools in Ohrid, with 230 students from the first to ninth grade and 40 employees, including teachers, administration, and janitors.

We have had close cooperation with the Macedonia SchoolsProject for a few years now, after being halted for some period. In these few years, unable to obtain other funds to supply equipment necessary to perform a modern educational process, with the financial assistance given by the Macedonia Schools Project, we managed to provide many items that facilitate the teaching and learning process.

First, we supplied smaller items, like geography and history maps, equipment for PE, physics, chemistry and math lessons. Recently, we supplied 4 TV sets and a copying machine. The 4 TV sets are very important and daily used during our lessons, presenting exercises, videos and all kind of educational presentations.

Optical bench for Physics

With the last project, we provided one lap top and 4 desk top computers that come in the place of the already obsolete equipment, owned by the school. Then, a projector, an optical bench for physics lesson, 4 bigger and 2 smaller white magnetic boards.

We are very happy and extremely grateful to Macedonia Schools Project for all the assistance and support given to our school. Without your support, we would not be able to supply all the facilitation items that we have so far. Even more, we are grateful to be given further opportunities to continue the cooperation with the Project and replace the old computer equipment in our IT laboratory and some other necessities with forthcoming funds.

VANCHO PRKE SCHOOL IN STIP

By KOKAN RADEV, PRINCIPAL

 The employees of the Primary School "Vancho Prke" - Shtip express their gratitude for the many years of successful cooperation for the grants that the Macedonia Schools Project selflessly gave to our school:
• Three Smart Interactive Panels;
• Laptop
• Soccer balls and other sports equipment, historical maps geometric aids, mechanical clock, fat scale;
• Three Inverter air conditioners;
• Two standard Televisions;

The donation of props that were intended for students' physical education helped improve their physical and mental health, as well as to facilitate the implementation of the learning program.

We can now boast of warm and pleasant classrooms in our school in a rural area, in the village of Lakavica, heated and cooled by air efficient ductless systems, which has contributed to the students being in a better environment, and be dedicated to learning and achieving good results.

By receiving an interactive panel and smart televisions, students and teachers have better motivation and interesting ways of teaching, unlimited information resources, active teaching and active learning, exchange of ideas and views, work in groups, connecting their knowledge with the real world, etc. Teachers can set quizzes, notes on interactive panels and feedback on educational platforms (Microsoft Teams, Google Drive, Dropbox, ChatGPT, etc.), presentations, consultations, processing of electronic materials, etc.

During the Covid19 period these interactive panels were a catalyst for improvement, helping the teachers with presentation of material to the students viewing from home.

All the school supplies that we received as a donation from you were used by 1,213 students who enjoyed using them and gained new skills and knowledge.

We hope that our cooperation will continue to improve teaching and the conditions in which it takes place. Our school was built in 1962. It is spacious, well-lit, but in the winter, it is heated with a heating system that uses oil as a heating source and is a major environmental polluter. We want our school to be an eco-school. We have the opportunity to reorient ourselves to use the electricity we get from the photovoltaic panels on the roof of the school. In order to realize this idea, we plan to purchase electric ductless systems. And with that, we will help reduce pollution through gas emissions and cleaner air.

Your grants are of great importance to us, and we express our gratitude and sincere feelings to you, from the students and teachers at thePrimary School "Vancho Prke" - Shtip, together with their principal.

DONATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS

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