Edukafest

EDUKAFEST is behind us – and once again, we were proud to be part of it as one of the schools already implementing the new national curriculum.

At our school, we welcomed teachers and education professionals from various schools. They had the opportunity to observe lessons directly in classrooms, attend open classes, and engage in discussions on topics related to changes in education.

The programme also included workshops and a panel discussion:

How to Read and Understand

From Teaching to Active Learning: How Space Influences the Development of Student Competencies

Q&A on the New Curriculum

We believe participants left with concrete ideas and a clearer understanding of how the new curriculum can work in practice.

We are glad to be part of the ongoing changes in education in Slovakia.

DVOJBODKA Reading Room is 4 years old

Developing reading literacy is one of our long-term priorities, and Dvojbodka is a place where this happens naturally. It is not just a room in the school, but a space where children build a relationship with books – without pressure, with trust and joy.

It celebrated its 4th birthday in the best possible way – surrounded by books, stories, and meaningful experiences.

For Year 3 and Year 4 students, the celebration included a talk with mentor, coach, teacher, and children’s book author David Králik. He introduced his books and took students on an engaging journey through Costa Rica – a country whose nature, people, and culture inspired one of his stories.

Younger students from Year 1 and Year 2 set off on an adventure with the book The Great Adventure of the Smallest Garden in the World, guided by a little seed meeting different plants along the way.

Students from the second stage took part in an interactive game, with the final clue hidden right in the reading room – among the books, where it all makes the most sense.

Dvojbodka has never been just about a space. It is about helping children discover that books can be a source of joy, not obligation – and that they can find their own path to reading, at their own pace.

And when that happens, it is the best birthday gift it could receive.

Carnival in our school club

Carnival in our school club was full of colours, joy, and laughter.

The gym turned into a magical world filled with princesses, superheroes, and many other creative costumes.

The children took part in a costume parade and proudly showed their creativity.

There were also dance games, a lively disco, and lots of fun.

Everyone took home wonderful memories, and we’re already looking forward to the next carnival. 🎭✨

BESST Open Day

Thank you to all parents, children, and visitors who came to explore our school. We hope you took away useful information about our educational program and experienced the school’s unique atmosphere.

During the Open Day, you had the opportunity to attend classes, meet teachers and school leadership, learn about our progressive teaching methods and projects, and experience the school environment firsthand.

We look forward to welcoming future BESST stars!

Our First Graders have become official pen writers

Our first graders experienced a special day – the Pen Ceremony! They put aside their pencils and picked up their very first pens, becoming true writers. They learned how to hold a pen correctly, write neatly and carefully, and most importantly – with love.

Our young writers are ready – their letters are already taking flight on the wings of school adventures. We look forward to every word they write.

Peer learning

Pupils of Year 7 tried out the role of teachers and prepared a peer-learning activity for pupils of Year 2 👩‍🔬. For a while, the younger pupils became little scientists and got a glimpse into the school laboratory.

The highlight was the practical part – making fizzy bath bombs together 🛁. Pupils of Year 2 took home not only a great experience but also a fragrant souvenir they made themselves.

We would like to thank our pupils of Year 7 for their excellent preparation and their willingness to share their knowledge.

SZŠ BESST Students’ Ski Course

A week full of snow, sunshine and great experiences!

Our SZŠ BESST students spent five unforgettable days at a ski course in the beautiful surroundings of Hotel Chopok. Each day was filled with skiing, improving their technique, and enjoying time on the slopes in the fresh mountain air.

The fun continued off the slopes as well – with water games in the pool, evening movie nights, and many shared moments that strengthened friendships and team spirit among the students.

A big thank you goes to the teachers and instructors for their patience, support, and excellent organization of the course. We believe all participants returned home not only with improved skiing skills, but also with many wonderful memories.

📸 Take a look at a small photo preview from this amazing week 👉

Trnava Chess Ranking

Our chess players once again had the opportunity to test their skills, earn their first points in the 1st round of the Trnava Chess Ranking, and develop their strategic thinking. The tournament takes place in a friendly yet competitive atmosphere and supports the growth of talent as well as fair play among the players.”

WE HAVE OUR OWN SCHOOL ICE RINK

We feel at home on the ice – during lessons of PE and in the after-school club. Skates are in motion, children enjoy the fresh air, and now and then a great pirouette comes together.

Tree of Wishes

Once again this year, a large number of beautiful gifts appeared under our Tree of Wishes, showing the big hearts of our students and their families.

Together with our students, we have already joyfully delivered the collected gifts to Centrum Koburgovo, Centrum včasnej intervencie Trnava, Azylový dom Tamara, and DSS Šintava, where they will surely bring smiles, joy, and the comforting feeling that someone cares.

Through this tradition, we continuously guide our students toward gratitude and a deeper understanding that even a small act of kindness can have a big impact on another person’s life. We believe these values are just as important as academic knowledge.

Thank you to everyone who took part and helped fulfill the true meaning of this beautiful pre-Christmas initiative.

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.

Project Day at the Elementary School

This year, we dedicated November 17th to exploring the values of freedom, democracy, and civic responsibility. As part of our thematic learning day — “November 17th – Day of the Struggle for Freedom and Democracy” — regular lessons were replaced with debates, creative workshops, meetings with inspiring guests, and collective reflections on freedom and democracy.

The aim is to strengthen critical thinking and help students understand that freedom is not something to be taken for granted. We believe that a day spent this way will be enriching and inspiring for all our students.

A RARE VISIT YESTERDAY

St. Nicholas knocked on the doors of all our classes. We made sure that we were prepared for him, the angel and the devil. They listened to poems and songs; the children presented him with handmade gifts. Even the distrustful devil had to admit that they only met good children. So, everyone got away with something from Santa's bag.

Until next year, dear St. Nicholas.

ENVIRONMENT DAY

Our eighth-graders experienced a day full of practical and creative learning about sustainability.

At Baterkáreň, they explored why things don’t need to be thrown away right away, what kind of “second-hand stories” objects can have, and even suggested their own improvements for a reuse center.

Back at school, they continued with topics of critical thinking and entrepreneurship — identifying hoaxes and greenwashing, analyzing influencers and advertisements, creating slow-fashion campaigns, and designing mini-startups focused on sustainability.

Key message: sustainability is not only about recycling, but about how we think and make decisions.

Thank you to our eighth-graders for their creativity and energy — once again, they showed that the younger generation is ready to make the world a better place.

YEAR 1 PUPILS IMMATRICULATION

Yesterday, our Y1 pupils officially joined our big school family!

In front of their parents, teachers, and the principal, they proudly took their first graders’ oath and received their diplomas with big smiles. They were brave, excited, and full of energy!

We wish them many joyful days of discovery, new friendships, and wonderful experiences throughout their first school years.

May every school day begin with a smile and end with the feeling that they’ve learned something new.

Silver Certificate, Golden Motivation

Silver Certificate, Golden Motivation

Our school was proud to take part in the Truly Healthy Conference.
The director of the Truly Healthy School program, Evka Blaho, presented us with a Silver Certificate, which we earned thanks to the overall quality of our food program at Besst. Most importantly, this achievement was made possible by the enthusiasm and activities of our talented students — and we are truly proud of their motivation!

The conference was filled with inspiration, shared experiences, and positive energy. Under the guidance of the Truly Healthy School initiative, experts, educators, and dozens of schools came together to show that school canteens can be places where children not only learn to eat healthily, but also cooperate and think about food in new and meaningful ways.

In addition to the Silver Certificate, we are bringing home encouragement, new insights about food, emotions, and confidence, as well as inspiration for future projects aimed at preventing bullying in the context of school dining and promoting healthy eating habits.

Educational Trip to Prague

Our Y1 pupils took part in an educational trip to Prague, where a rich program full of learning and fun awaited them.

They visited the Prague Planetarium, where they immersed themselves in the mysteries of the universe, as well as the National Technical Museum, which offers a fascinating collection of exhibits from the fields of transport, astronomy, and architecture. A major highlight was the visit to Chocotopia, where the pupils made their own chocolate and learned about the entire production process – from cocoa bean to finished bar.

The program was further enriched by a visit to the Prague Zoo and a boat cruise on the Vltava River, during which the children enjoyed beautiful views of the historic city center. There was also a walk across Charles Bridge and a stop at the Astronomical Clock, both of which enhanced the unique atmosphere of the Old Town.

Throughout the entire trip, our pupils were repeatedly praised for their exceptionally polite and respectful behavior. They left a very positive impression at every activity we took part in, which made us all very proud.

On the way back, we stopped for a tour of Zruč nad Sázavou Castle, which pleasantly concluded the whole trip.

The excursion brought plenty of knowledge, joy, and shared moments that our pupils will remember for a long time.

Summer Mission for Innovation in Education

How Our Teachers Discovered New Methods in Ireland, Spain, and Malta Thanks to Erasmus+

Some of our teachers didn’t rest even during the summer holidays. In an effort to make teaching more effective and strengthen their methodology, they took part in professional development courses abroad. They visited Ireland, Malta, and Spain, bringing back valuable experience while also improving their English communication skills.

The training programs focused on the CLIL method, which connects science subjects with the English language, as well as on technological innovations in education and a Spanish language and methodology course — all aimed at fostering multilingualism among students.

Cultural activities were also part of the experience, enriching their perspective on education in an international context. Thanks to the Erasmus+ grant, we are moving forward — with new ideas, motivation, and a renewed passion for innovation.

Visit from Colegio Montessori Salamanca

During the first week of September, our school welcomed teachers from Colegio Montessori Salamanca (Spain) as part of their Erasmus+ project. The purpose of the visit was to exchange experiences and gain inspiration for innovative teaching methods.

The presentation of our school was led by Ms. Peťka Sýkorová and Mr. Chris Ehrola, with Ms. Fernanda Alvarado helping to bridge the language barrier.

Our Spanish colleagues came to learn about our school’s innovative approach to education, shared their own experiences, and even taught a music class in Spanish together with Ms. Barborka, which the students truly enjoyed.

They took part in job shadowing, during which they observed practical examples of active learning methods. Ms. Deniska Ščerbáková demonstrated how technology and digital applications can be effectively integrated into lessons.

The visitors also joined a Lego Engineering workshop connected to STEAM education, led by Mr. Ľubo Gregor, where they saw how students work with technology directly during classes.

Our Executive Director and Future Classroom Lab Ambassador for Slovakia, Ms. Evka Polláková, introduced the visitors to the principles of the Future Classroom Lab (FCL) in our FCL BESST space. She explained how this environment fosters collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking, and how FCL concepts can easily be implemented in other schools as well.

The visit brought valuable insights and further strengthened international cooperation in education.

European Day of Languages

On Friday, September 26, our school celebrated the European Day of Languages with a range of fun and educational activities across art, music, and English classes. Students enjoyed presentations and videos about Europe’s linguistic diversity and tested their knowledge through engaging Kahoot quizzes.

Younger pupils played Pictionary and completed colouring pages and crosswords, while older students took part in an exciting Language Challenge, completing tasks and guessing languages in a class competition.

The day encouraged curiosity, creativity, and teamwork, while highlighting the importance of learning and appreciating different languages and cultures across Europe.