LONDON

✈️ Greetings from London!

Our lower secondary students have set off on an exciting journey to the United Kingdom! 🏰

We’ve arrived in London by plane and are exploring iconic landmarks such as Buckingham Palace, Greenwich and the Prime Meridian, the Cutty Sark, the Tower of London, and many more.
There’s even something magical for Harry Potter fans – a visit to the Harry Potter Studio, where the world of Hogwarts comes to life! 🧙‍♂️🪄

Each day is filled with unforgettable experiences, new discoveries, and shared moments we’ll cherish for a long time. 🧳📸

We Hosted Pupils from Poland

Our Primary and secondary school had the honor of welcoming pupils from our partner school in Poland. A warm welcome from our head teacher and a presentation about the school opened the doors of BESST to the Polish pupils, giving them the opportunity to experience what it’s like to be one of our pupils for a few days.

The first day focused on cooperation and teamwork. Teambuilding activities were completed with an interactive walk through Kamenný Mlyn, where children completed group tasks while exploring the beauty of nature. The program continued with a guided tour of Trnava’s historic city center, and the day concluded with a dinner.

Wednesday was dedicated to the theme of Water. A day of collaborative experiments started a themed program called Water – the Source of Life. These activities encouraged creativity as well as international cooperation.

Thursday was all about excursions. We visited the Gabčíkovo Waterworks, the Ecocenter in Čunovo, and finalised the day with a tour of the remarkable Danubiana Art Gallery on the banks of the Danube.

Three days filled with unforgettable experiences and new friendships ended with an emotional farewell in Bratislava.
At the heart of this mobility project was international collaboration and shared activities that enabled pupils to explore the theme of Water from various perspectives.

One of the outcomes was a joint project titled Water News – a multimedia Polish-Slovak news report focused on the world of water.
We believe this inspiring collaboration, made possible by the support of the Visegrad Fund, will continue to grow in the future.

A big thank you goes to everyone involved – not only the pupils, but also the teachers who actively participated in creating and implementing this mobility experience.

Peer Learning: The Green School Teaches About Seasonality and Local Food

Our first-grade classes experienced a unique and very tasty lesson! Older students from the Green School prepared an interactive class for their younger schoolmates on the topic of “Food from the Perspective of Seasonal and Local Availability.”

The entire lesson was delivered through peer learning – playfully, experientially, and with lots of smiles. 😊

The lesson reflection showed that the first-graders took away not only new knowledge but also a lot of joy and motivation to think more deeply about what they eat. ❤️

A big thank you to our talented students from the Green School for this inspiring lesson and a beautiful example of how education can look different – with care for nature, health, and local support.

OUR YEAR 7 PUPILS CAN PROVIDE FIRST AID

Our year 7 pupils completed a first aid course. During the course, they got not only acquainted with the basic theory of providing first aid in various critical situations, but they also had the opportunity to try these tasks in practice. We also thank the lecturer for sharing her own experience from many years of work in the rescue service in Slovakia and abroad.

A Huge Success for Our Students in the First Lego League Competition

Students from our LEGO robotics club once again showcased their great skills. In the regional round of the First Lego League, hosted right here at our school, they won first place and advanced to the national finals.

At the national finals, competing against the best teams from all over Slovakia, they achieved another outstanding success — winning 1st place in the Innovation Project category!

This year's theme was ocean exploration. Teams were challenged to identify a problem that scientists face while studying the oceans and design an innovative solution.

Our students connected via Skype-a-Scientist with marine biologist Sarah McAnulty, who introduced them to a real-world issue: cuttlefish kept in research tanks often contaminate their water when stressed, complicating the research process.

Our team responded by designing a model of an automated aquarium, equipped with sensors that monitor water quality and adjust it intelligently — helping researchers save time and improving conditions for the studied animals.

We are incredibly proud of their creativity, perseverance, and ability to tackle the real-world challenges of today's world.

DOORS TO THE WORLD - WIDE OPEN

International projects open up a new dimension of education. They offer the opportunity to discover not only a new country and culture, but also ourselves. The opportunity to step out of one's comfort zone is a life experience that broadens the horizons of all participants.

On Monday, our Year 7 pupils went on such an adventurous mobility trip. Their journey led them to the town of Ślesina in Poland.

After a warm welcome by the head teacher and classmates from the host school, the program continued with teambuilding activities, workshops, and engaging interactive sessions. As the saying goes, sport brings people together — and our pupils got to experience this first-hand in a friendly basketball match.

An afternoon barbecue in nature opened the door to multilingual conversations, encouraging Slovak-Polish communication among the children. We ended the day full of experiences with a walk through the cultural town and a visit to a beautiful basilica, accompanied by our new friends.

We are grateful for a well-spent day, heartfelt friendships, and genuine hospitality.

This meeting was made possible thanks to the project and grant from the International Visegrad Fund – Water: The Essence of Life. All activities are funded through the Visegrad Funds.

We have been granted accreditation for the Erasmus+ programme

Accreditation makes it easier to obtain funding for international mobility over the next three years.

This recognition is not only a confirmation of our work, but also a step forward in our vision to become the School of the Future. Through mobility activities, we can significantly enhance the quality of teaching and the overall educational process.

The accreditation will enable our teachers to travel abroad and gain new experiences and inspiration on how to implement educational innovations into their teaching. Pupils will have the opportunity to expand their knowledge at partner schools abroad, discover new countries and cultures, and learn more about themselves.

Stepping out of one's comfort zone is a life-changing experience that broadens the horizons of everyone involved in the programme.

Erasmus+ also opens the door for our school to engage in international cooperation with foreign schools and various educational institutions.

Small Gestures with a Big Heart

During our religion classes, we talked with the students about how Jesus can inspire us to share love. We believe that even the smallest gestures can have great meaning.

That's why we decided to personally thank and bring joy to the school staff who, although they don't teach, are an essential part of the school’s everyday functioning.

Our first graders prepared original thank-you notes along with a small sweet treat and handed each one over personally.
The surprise, smiles, and sometimes even tears on our colleagues' faces were the most beautiful feedback we could receive.
The pride and slight nervousness that the children bravely overcame added a unique charm to these short and sweet encounters.

With these small acts, we show that gratitude, joy, and kindness still have their place in our world — and they make it a better one. ❤️

DVOJBODKA: WHERE THE LOVE FOR READING IS BORN AND LITERACY GROWS

For three years, our reading room, Dvojbodka, has been a place where books open doors to new worlds for children, where imagination flourishes, and where reading brings joy. We believe that developing literacy is the foundation of education, and that is why we strive not only to encourage children to read but also to help them build a genuine and lasting relationship with books.

How else could we celebrate this special day than with stories from various books? Our students immersed themselves in solving tasks that tested their attention and reading skills, and each class received a beautiful new book. We believe that reading nurtures the mind, sparks imagination, and opens doors to knowledge.

Dvojbodka is proof that a love for books can be cultivated and supported. May it continue to thrive and bring children the joy of reading.

Happy birthday Dvojbodka.

FIRST GRADERS BECAME OFFICIAL PEN WRITERS

FIRST GRADERS BECAME OFFICIAL PEN WRITERS

Our first graders experienced a truly special day – the Pen Ceremony! They traded in their pencils for their very first pens, officially becoming real writers.

The event featured a memorable guest – Peroslava Atramentová, who revealed the secrets of pen writing. She taught the children how to hold a pen properly, write neatly and carefully, and most importantly – with love.

Our little writers are ready – their letters are already soaring on the wings of school adventures.

We can't wait to see every word they write!

Children supported the shelter

We brought joy to the dogs and staff of the animal shelter in Trnava. It happened thanks to the earnings from the charitable Christmas market held in the school children's club. The children enthusiastically created beautiful crafts and Christmas decorations. Together with their teachers, they personally delivered the collected funds, petted a few dogs, and learned more about how the shelter operates.

Even a Small Change Can Have a Big Impact

Today, we explored the carbon footprint of food with our students. We started the day with a delicious and healthy breakfast, but this time, we also considered its environmental impact. The students weighed ingredients, examined packaging, and recorded data in tables.

Throughout the day, the topic of carbon footprint was integrated into various subjects—English, Slovak, math, and history. We discussed how our eating habits affect the environment and what we can do differently.

We are proud to be part of the Green School program, where we focus on food sustainability. We care about sustainability, which is why we incorporate it into our lessons in diverse ways.

OPEN DAY

Yesterday, you had a unique opportunity to take a closer look at life at our school. We hope you enjoyed the authentic atmosphere, met our students and teachers, explored our facilities, and gathered all the important information.

Thank you for visiting us and for your interest in our school. If you have any further questions or missed the event, feel free to contact us. We look forward to seeing you again!

Field trips

Field trips are not a given at every school, which makes us even more delighted that we can once again bring hands-on learning directly into real-world environments this school year. In January, allY1 and Y2 classes visited the Faculty of Education at Trnava University in Trnava, where they explored the mysteries of filtration, melting, and dissolving substances in school laboratories. The excitement was immense – for a moment, everyone felt like a real scientist!

Musical Oliver

Students of the Y6 and Y7 attended the theatrical performance of Oliver!

This musical, presented by Nová scéna in Bratislava, is very popular. The children had the opportunity to see a professional theatrical performance with excellent production and great acting performances. The story of the orphan Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens, who finds happiness despite adversity, remains very inspiring even after nearly 200 years.

A Ski Course Full of Experiences

This week, students from the 7th, 8th, and 9th grades are fully enjoying unforgettable moments at the Salzstiegl ski resort, where they are improving their skiing skills.

Divided into groups based on their skill level, they spend nearly five hours a day skiing. Although the week started with foggy weather, by Wednesday, they were greeted by warm sunshine.

But it’s not just about skiing! In their free time, the children engage in various activities that help them build friendships—whether through a fun quiz, table tennis, board games, or bouldering. This trip is not only a sports challenge for them but also a fantastic experience filled with joy and shared moments.

First lego league

We’re Heading to the FIRST LEGO League National Finals!

On Saturday, February 8, 2025, our school hosted the regional round of the FIRST LEGO League robotics building and programming competition. Nearly 200 children from Trnava and the surrounding areas participated.

FIRST LEGO League is an international program that encourages children's and youth's interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through fun and hands-on activities. Each FLL season focuses on a current theme that reflects real-world challenges.

SZŠ BESST was represented by two teams in the Challenge category under the leadership of our Lego Engineering teacher, Mgr. Ľuboš Gregor.

The younger students from 4th grade, part of the team IT-PRO-BESST Oceania, participated in the tournament for the first time, showing great enthusiasm, effort, and courage. They received the "Rising Star Award", which is given to teams expected to achieve great things in the future. Despite competing against older and more experienced participants, they performed exceptionally well.

The older students from IT-PRO-BESST Sepia secured 1st place overall, earning a spot in the national finals. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for them!

The second place overall was taken by the team Robot Sapiens from Ludanice.

A huge thank you to all of the volunteers who helped us organize such a successful tournament. We look forward to future editions!

PRESCHOOLERS GET TO KNOW SCHOOL

This week, we had special guests at our school – our preschoolers! They visited the first-grade class to see what school is really like. They eagerly participated in all activities and curiously discovered new things.

Such collaborations are very important to us because they can help children transition smoothly from kindergarten to elementary school. We are happy to be part of their educational journey and look forward to welcoming them back again.

GREETINGS FROM THE SKI SLOPES

Our Year 5 and Year 6 pupils are currently enjoying a ski trip in the sunny Austrian resort Salzstiegl! Each day is full of new adventures and experiences. The children are constantly improving their skiing technique and their confidence grows. They are disciplined and work excellently with the instructors. They will remember these unforgettable moments for a long time.

We are delighted to be here, improving our skiing skills and strengthening school friendships. We are sending you greetings from the slopes!

CHRISTMAS MARKET

MAGICAL ADVENT AT BESST

This Advent season at our BESST school was filled with the magic of enchanting Christmas markets. Our children brought us joy with their heartwarming performances, whether in their classrooms or outside in the atrium, brightening every heart.

Three days full of joy and Christmas spirit brought us unforgettable moments. The magical atmosphere was enhanced by enchanting decorations, a glowing fire, delicious food, and fragrant punch that warmed us all.

Check out the photos and immerse yourself in our magical Christmas world.