aleksandarzrnic

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Project ‘‘The way forward’‘

Approximate number of hours: 2 days

Type of activity: action and service

Hello!

Project ‘’The way forward’’ is the project of cooperation between our city/municipal authorities and the Slovenian and EU authorities. It had the aim to enable the exchange of experiences and knowledge. It included several areas, such as: education systems, government, informatics and artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, management, industry and how businesses are started. A group of good and exemplary students were chosen to represent the school and participate in this project.

Learning outcomes:

1) I have undertaken new challenges

2) I have worked in collaboration with other students

3) I have increased my awareness of my strengths and areas for growth

4) I have shown perseverance and commitment on my activities

5) I have developed new skills and improving my already existing ones

Reflection

Every activity that involves international cooperation is of great importance and results in mutual benefit. I have learned a lot regarding all the areas listed above. I must, however, point out that I was most amazed by the presentations and knowledge regarding artificial intelligence technologies and how the business processes are started and managed. It was a great and very useful experience.

[aleksandarzrnic]

Celebration of the day of Republic of Srpska

Approximate number of hours: 17 hours

Type of activity: service

Greetings!

On 9th of January our country celebrates its national day. It is the

day when the parliament pronounced the existence of Republic of Srpska. I was very proud to be invited to take part in such event. There were preparations a few days before in order for the event to be as magnificent as possible.

Learning outcomes:

1) I have identified my own strengths and developed areas for personal growth

2) I have undertaken new challenges and developed new skills in the process

3) I have shown commitment and perseverance

4) I have worked collaboratively with others

Reflection

I am a fan of history and I am interesting in events that resulted in present events. I also believe that we have to respect our own history, with all due respect to others, in order to grow and develop. The moment I was at the ceremony itself, was a priceless experience and an extraordinary feeling of proud went through my whole body.

[aleksandarzrnic]

Cutting Badnjak tree

Approximate number of hours: 3 hours

Type of activity: action

In the early morning, together with a few friends, I have left my home to find the Badnjak tree for my family. It is a tradition of my people which is passed from generation to generation and inherited from our grandfathers. We met at 3:30am and went into the woods nearby city. We had to go on higher latitudes and to recognize the three.

Reflection:

I hope to learn to work in cooperation with my comrades, since in the woods, while it is still a complete darkness, we are a team and we have to stick together. I have strengthened my knowledge of this custom and I hope that it will bring joy and luck to my family throughout the year. I also believe that I have grown as a person and improved my ways of coping with difficulties and stressful situations.

Learning outcomes:

1) I have developed new skills

2) I have identified my own strengths and areas for growth

3) I have shown commitment and perseverance

[aleksandarzrnic]

CAS week

Approximate number of hours: 20 hours

Type of activity: creativity and service

Hello,

as it was already given a clue in previous post - the CAS week has been held in our school. Besides making cards, on the time of the event itself I was assigned to help preparing and organizing the work of Just dance classroom and some time I was at the book sail part.

Learning outcomes:

1) I identified my own strengths and developed areas for personal growth

2) I will undertake new challenges

3) I am showing commitment and perseverance

4) I have recognized the importance of working collaboratively

Reflection

As I have already indicated in previous blog post, the CAS week was awesome and has met the expectations. All the activities we have planned went very good and everyone from the school liked it. If it is to judge by all the pictures that we collected after the event we can say that a lot of smiles were brought to everyone. On top of all, decent funds were collected which were successfully handed into charities.

[aleksandarzrnic]

CAS week preparations

Approximate number of hours: 8 hours

Type of activity: creativity

Hi!

IB students from our school planned to organize CAS week which is all about connecting people on the eve of Christmas holidays. Our intention was to bring smile on everybody’s face, show our creations and skills, and on top of all, the money that will be collected from selling our creations will be donated for charity. While planning, we are already all giving efforts in different areas. Besides other assignments, I decided to participate in making Holiday cards.

Learning outcomes:

1) I have identified my own strengths and developed areas for personal growth

2) I have recognized and considered the ethics of my choices and actions

3) I have undertaken new challenges

4) I have shown commitment

Reflection

Making holiday cards brought up my childhood memories, since I always liked making them. I also think it was a great opportunity to express my creativity since I don’t have art classes anymore. Besides, whole process of planning and organizing the event was very interesting and brought the charm of holidays.

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Youth summer camp

Name of activity: Youth summer camp of Slovene language in Ljubljana

Approximate number of hours: 14 days

Type of activity: creativity and action

Hello everyone!

These 2 weeks have been amazing! The summer camp is organized by the Center for Slovene language as foreign or second language together with the Ministry of education. It is a camp that includes literally everything: learning the language, learning about culture, all kind of group activities, sport, sightseeing, art, absolutely everything. The camp is so well planed that in the period of 14 days you do so much that after it ends you can’t believe how many memories you made. The key is that students from all parts of the world are joined together in order to learn and have fun. One of the most important parts of it is that I made so many friends and learned about their cultures. They come from: Italy, Germany, Austria, Sweden, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Balkans and believe it or not USA and Canada.

Learning outcomes:

1) I have undertaken new challenges and developed new skills

2) I have developed areas for personal growth

3) I have shown commitment and perseverance

4) I have worked collaboratively with others

Reflection

I believe that such experiences are the ones that stay for the whole life. I enjoyed this time so much and I feel that my personality got another colour in the palette. I really feel that I have grown in so many ways. All the knowledge and friendships - priceless! It is very hard to translate it into words.

[aleksandarzrnic]

SMUN

Name of activity: ​Students’ Model United Nations

Approximate number of hours: 30 hours (excluding the preparation days)

Type of activity: creativity and service

Greetings!

The faculty of political science in our town has organized the sixth annual student’s MUN supported by the government of Switzerland. The exciting thing is that they actually invited our high-school MUN team to take part and try to keep up with the college students! We represented various countries and

discuss global issues. This time I was assigned the Kingdom of Belgium and I

represented it in the Security Council. Another interesting information to mention is that this years Security Council chairs were Beatriz Ruiz de Cortazar Senra and Albert Vall Garcia, students from abroad with experience from multiple world known MUN conferences.

Learning outcomes:

1) Undertaken new challenges

2) Worked in collaboration with other students

3) Increased my awareness of my strengths and areas for growth

4) Showed perseverance and commitment on my activities

5) Developed new skills and improving my already existing ones 

6) Showed interest in examining and seeking solutions for issues of global importance

Reflection

Another amazing experience! I have learned a lot regarding the issues that were chosen for this year’s discussion. I have to emphasize how great and professional our delegation was - we showed that we were more than capable to follow our college colleagues. I am so happy that chairs on our committee were the exchange students from abroad mentioned above. They both showed extensive knowledge regarding MUN procedures, debating skills and diplomacy. It was really an honour to learn from them. I also had an opportunity to get more insight into the European Union policies within it and towards our region, since it was organized the European Tea with the ambassador of Austria and Friedrich Eberstiftung organization. This was especially useful since it is important for young generations to be informed and I am grateful for having such opportunity. On the other hand, I really have to say that a lot of great memories were made during the event. The social activities were very interesting and we made very strong connection withing our delegation as well as with other participants.

[aleksandarzrnic]

Gym

Approximate number of hours: 10 hours per week (long-term activity)

Type of activity: action

So,

During the second semester of second year in high school I had to reduce all my activities in order to be able to achieve and complete all school and outside school obligations. However, at some point I just felt that I needed something and it was - more physical activity. So I decided to start going to gym and it was a right call.

Learning outcomes:

1) Undertaking new challenges

2) Identifying my own strengths and develop areas for personal growth.

3) Showing commitment to and perseverance in CAS experiences.

4) Demonstrating that challenges have been undertaken

5) Developing new skills and improving already existing ones

Reflection

As I have already mentioned above, the decision to start going to gym was an excellent call. I feel so much better and I became more productive during the day. I really enjoy exercising and it’s honestly an escape from reality and all the stress. It is 2 hours a day I can relax and waste all the extra energy I get during the day.

[aleksandarzrnic]

Slovenian language lessons

Approximate number of hours: 2 hours per week (long-term activity)

Type of activity: creativity and action

I’ve already been a member of Minority Center of Republic of Srpska for 9 years. Since I have Slovenian roots and was born there I wanted to preserve and upgrade my Slovenian language knowledge. Every Saturday there are classes organized by Slovenian Ministry of Education, Science and Sport of Republic of Slovenia and the teacher is from Ljubljana. I’m taking part in those classes.

Learning outcomes:

1) Undertaking new challenges

2) Working in collaboration with other students

3) Increasing my awareness of my strengths and areas for growth

4) Showing perseverance and commitment on my activities

5) Developing new skills and improving my already existing ones

Reflection:

Through interesting and interactive classes we learn Slovene language as well as culture. It is important to say that our association together with authorities from Slovenia organizes a lot of meetings with teachers, literati, artists and even camps and student exchanges where we host our friends from Slovenia and then be their guests. It involves a great variety of activities which all lead towards gaining knowledge and building connections and friendships. I am so happy to have opportunity to be part of all this and to build my personality by connecting varieties.

[aleksandarzrnic]

European Researcher’s Night 2019

Name of activity: Volunteering at Researcher’s night 2019

Approximate number of hours: 30 hours

Type of activity: creativity and service

Hello!

Once more I have taken part in this splendid event. I had so many great experiences from last year, so when applications for this year came, I signed immediately. I wished to be in chemists team again and I was lucky to get into it. This year, together with Mikk came Victor, another chemist. We were having three days preparations and we learned a lot of new experiments, which we presented to the public during the event. A lot of positive energy, knowledge and experiences were the marks of the event.

Learning outcomes:

I identified my own strengths and developed areas for growth.

I demonstrated that challenges have been undertaken, developed new skills in the process.

I showed commitment and perseverance in CAS experiences.

I demonstrated the skills and recognized the benefits of working collaboratively

Reflection:

This year was more interesting than last one, but it was also much more demanding. I was an experienced volunteer and thus had to undertake more pressure and responsibility. I felt very well doing what I prepared for. Most of all I was very happy to see the faces of the youngest, who were amazed by the science. A great pleasure to be part of such event.

[aleksandarzrnic]

BaLMUN 2019

Name of activity: Banja Luka Model United Nations Conference 2019

Approximate number of hours: 50 (not including the time for preparations regarding topics nor for the organization of the event itself)

Type of activity: Creativity and service

Hi,

I took part in MUN conference in my school. Together with several colleagues from my school and under guidance of our professors I was in the organization team. Due to my engagement and experience from last 2 years I took part both as a chairman and a member of organization. We discussed and got deep through current issues of today. It was an amazing experience both in social and research sense. I hope I will have similar opportunities in years to come.

Learning outcomes:

1) Undertaking new challenges

2) Working in collaboration with other students

3) Increasing my awareness of my strengths and areas for growth

4) Showing perseverance and commitment on my activities

5) Developing new skills and improving my already existing ones

[aleksandarzrnic]

Driving lessons

Duration: exactly 63 hours (calculated by the laws and not including any preparation time or the testing itself, which lasted 1.15 hours)

Type of activity: action and service

This year I turned 18. This means I can legally drive a car. Since my childhood I was always interested in cars, any kind of driving (driving trecycle, bicycle, little scooter... ) and then later on in the physics of kinetics and movement. I am also really excited to learn to drive so I can help my parents with everyday obligations and any other jobs. My father has also expressed the need for help when traveling on longer distances. I decided to learn for B and C1 category which means I could also drive a van or truck between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes. I think every skill has its value and one day it will pay off. C1 category will give me an opportunity to work for extra money if needed.

I am proud to say that I have passed driving test at first attempt.

Learning outcomes:

1) Undertaking new challenges

2) Increasing awareness of my strengths and areas for growth

3) Showing perseverance and commitment on my activities

4) Developing new skills and improving my already existing ones

Reflection:

I have learned a new skill which I find very useful and necessary. I have learned to be patient and responsible for myself and other participants in traffic. It will help my family to organize and also it opens more options for extra work.

[aleksandarzrnic]

Zmijanje embroidery

Approximate number of hours: 8 hours

Type of activity: Creativity

Learning outcomes:

1) I have developed new skills

2) I have identified my own strengths

3) I have shown commitment and perseverance

4) I have undertaken a new challenge

Hi everyone! I'm very happy to share my new experience. Our professor showed a great devotion and understanding towards their students. That is why she arranged meetings and lessons with the older lady to share her knowledge with younger generations, us. That is why during our regular Tuesday CAS classes we had an extraordinary guest with skill of local traditional embroidery. She thought us how to make practically art with thread and canvas.

Reflection

Since the early age I have always loved to make things, to screw and unscrew, to cut and assemble and so on. I really enjoyed this activity since it gave me a break from all the obligations and everyday tasks. I really got interested in this kind of embroidery that I have made several pieces for my family members and two extra for the exhibition in the school hall. However, I would like to say that at the beginning I struggled to adopt the skill fully and to develop faster technique since I found it a bit difficult to maneuver with the thread and needle due to my finger size. This activity helped me express myself in artistic way. It has also thought me to relax, focus and most importantly to be patient. I'm very happy that I had the opportunity to learn such piece of art and tradition.

[aleksandarzrnic]

Workshop of movement

Activity description: On Tuesday together with my classmates we will take part in an activity constructed by the IB history teacher. The activity will include my classmates and me dancing, moving and letting “sculptors” design positions for their fellow peers.

Type of activity: Creativity

Duration: Approximately 1 hour.

The activity is a new thing for me and it has consequences for both me and my classmates. We will all get a better opportunity to get to know each other even more. We will learn to trust each other and help each other in accomplishing moves or positions. We will also get more physically active. I will learn more about my peers, the meaning of trust and about new exercises. The activity will remind us all that physical activity is a key to good physical and mental health. What’s more, it will teach us to build strong and trustful relations between each other.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Developing new skills

2. Work collaboratively with others

3. Identify my own strengths and develop areas for growth

4. Showing commitment and perseverance

[aleksandarzrnic]

MUN simulations

Activity title: BaLMUN simulations

Approximate number of hours: 2 hours per week (long term activity)

Type of activity: creativity

Learning outcomes:

1) Undertaking new challenges

2) Working in collaboration with other students

3) Increasing my awareness of my strengths and areas for growth

4) Showing perseverance and commitment on my activities

5) Developing new skills and improving my already existing ones

Hi there,

Since, my first grade, I have been participating in BaLMUN organization and simulations. It is one of the many MUNs across the world, in which students can learn about diplomacy, politics, United Nations and improve their debating skills as well. These simulations are held prior to the actual simulation (that happens every year in April) in order for our delegates to be as prepared as possible for it. However, it is important to say that we do not practice the topics that are chosen for the BaLMUN event, but we practice on other world issues and for all the committees. This allows us to acquire wide view regarding many issues, be informed about the situations and capable of debating about them. We represent various countries and discuss global issues. Due to my engagement and experience from past years, during 2019 and 2020 I will be the part of organization team and chair as well. So besides my participation as a delegate, I will also be the chairman and lead some simulations.

Reflection:

When I was recommended to join our school MUN club bu my respected professor and the director of BaLMUN Žana Stević I was insecure about my English knowledge and whether I will be able to express my country’s views regarding the topic. However, when I joined I started learning very fast about the diplomacy and soon, after a few challenging and at that time stressful simulations, I found out that I am very good at it and draw attention on myself. Since this kind of activity seeks for exploration, every time I learn more about countries I get and a region where it is placed, I learn more about the topics and ongoing problems, improve my performance and debating skills, expand my respect and appreciation for different opinions and learn to bring agreements and resolutions as a product of cooperation. It is also important to mention the role model task that, together with other experienced colleagues, I have for the younger generations and participants that are joining us.

[aleksandarzrnic]

Science Festival

Approximate number of hours: 8

Type of Activity: Creativity, Service

Date: 6.11.2018.

Learning outcomes:

1. Planed and initiated activities

2. Working in collaboration

3. Developing new skills

4. Increasing awareness of my own strengths and areas for growth

5. Taking part in organization of life of my home town

Together with a few classmates and our physics professor I took part in the Science Festival. It took place on the 6th of November in Banja Luka. In cooperation with students from math and IT curriculum we prepared our programme and a stand that represented our school. It is an event similar to the Researcher's night but on a bit smaller scale and it is organized by our ministery in order to popularize science among all generations especially among children from kindergarten and primary school. Experiments went great and we were very satisfied at the end of the day.

👉 Reflection:

Taking into account that we had very little time to prepare, due to the organization problems, I think that we did the best possible job. Also the primary task is completed. We had a great time examining and preparing Non-Newtonian fluid. So as visible, I enjoyed it and a look forward to doing it next year too. 😀

[aleksandarzrnic]

50 Years of IB DP

Name of activity: Celebration of 50th anniversary of IB programme

Type of Activity: creativity

Approximate number of hours: 3 hours

Learning outcomes

Undertaking challenge

Working in collaboration with fellows

Showing interest in participating in the life of my school

Developing new Skills and improving already existing ones

Increasing awareness of my own strengths and areas for growth

Confronting fear from stage and a lot of eyes

Showing commitment to and tenacity in CAS experiences

Hi!

This Friday, October 25th 2018, my classmates and I made a performance that we prepared in order to celebrate IB's 50th birthday. We came up with an excellent idea that we all split into 3 groups of subjects - natural sciences, social sciences and languages. Everyone of us represented a certain subject. I was BIOLOGY 😎 Further on, we had to hold a brief speech in order to present that subject, its good sides and to introduce them (and IB programme) to younger generations. After the speeches, we prepared interesting "battles" between subjects.

👉Reflection

The whole performance was both interesting for us and for audience. For me it was one more opportunity to practice my performing skills. My confidence has jumped on a higher level for sure. But the positive energy, unity and all the fun and laugh we had is the most important for me. I hope I'll have more activities like this. 😊