An extraordinary meeting took place on December 6 at the branch of Kindergarten No. 3 on Dolne Młyny Street. It was one of the elements of the ceremonial conclusion of the “Transborder Little Researchers” project, in which preschoolers and teachers from Municipal Public Kindergarten No. 3 in Bolesławiec, as well as children and teachers from the Czech Kindergarten in Doksy, participated.
The third and final meeting of the Polish and Czech preschoolers took place under the slogan “Little Researchers Discover Christmas Traditions.” From early morning, a cheerful atmosphere prevailed in the kindergarten. The preschoolers arrived wearing red clothes and Santa hats.
Some children also wore reindeer antlers on their heads. After breakfast, the first guests arrived at the kindergarten. It was a group of 24 children from Czechia accompanied by their caregivers. The oldest group of preschoolers, together with their Czech friends, took part in the game “Where Is Santa?”.
During the game, the children completed various tasks together and solved riddles. Then, following the clue found in the last envelope, all the preschoolers gathered in the room for the older children and eagerly listened for the sound of Santa’s bell. After a while, Santa appeared in the doorway, dressed somewhat differently than usual. To the surprise of the Polish children, he was accompanied by a devil.
As it later turned out, he was the Czech Santa, accompanied by Czort. To the children’s amazement, a second Santa appeared in the doorway from the terrace, this time speaking Polish. The Polish and Czech preschoolers took part in games with the Santas together. They sang songs, learned Czech and Polish words, and received gifts.
Next, the Polish and Czech six-year-olds took part in art workshops, during which they made Christmas tree decorations together. The meeting concluded with decorating the Christmas tree together and a Christmas Eve dinner, during which the guests from Czechia could try traditional Polish Christmas Eve dishes: beetroot soup, pierogi with cabbage and mushrooms, and fish. The table also featured sweet cakes baked by the mothers of the Polish preschoolers.
The ceremony marking the conclusion of the project was also attended by invited guests: Mayor Piotr Roman, Deputy Mayor Kornel Filipowicz, Head of the Social Affairs Department Beata Sulska, Vice-Chairwoman of the City Council Janina Piestrak-Babijczuk, Councillor Stanisław Zmaczyński, as well as directors of municipal kindergartens and representatives of the Parents’ Council: Marlena Orankiewicz, Gabriela Berun and Wiesława Matejczyk.
The “Transborder Little Researchers” project was co-financed by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund and by state budget funds via the Nysa Euroregion. A total of 257 children took part in the project, including 145 children from MPP No. 3 in Bolesławiec and 112 preschoolers from Doksy.
For the children from Bolesławiec and Czechia, these were certainly beautiful experiences and a wonderful adventure.
The aim of the project was to promote cooperation and direct contacts through the exchange of experience in working with preschool children; to learn how preschool institutions operate; to popularize knowledge about the traditions, customs and cultural heritage; and to discover interesting places and monuments in both regions. Through activities connected with the project, the children learned tolerance, developed an open and inquisitive attitude toward the world, and strengthened their sense of self-worth. By participating in the project, the preschoolers became curious European citizens, open to people of different cultures, traditions and customs.
The management of Municipal Public Kindergarten No. 3 warmly thanks everyone involved in the project: the children and educators, as well as the parents and other people who contributed in any way to its implementation.
(information: MPP No. 3 branch/ii)