Letter of Thanks to Ms Harkin

Dear Ms. Harkin, Thank you for driving from Sligo and coming in and spending time with the boys of our 6th classes. The boys have learned more about the European Union, how it was formed and why, and about the EU budget and the work of an MEP. We would like to thank you also for listening to the questions that all the pupils have asked you and trying your best to answer them. The most important things that we have learned are: what is the EU budget spent on, what new European Laws are passed and why. We also learned that a very important thing the EU has done is to have made Europe more peaceful since the 2nd World War. Once again thank you for coming and we wish you every success in getting re-elected to the European Parliament next year. Yours sincerely on behalf of all pupils, Jakub Maziuk

Parliamentary Monuments and Citizenship

Our eTwinning Project has received the European Quality Label and pupils will be presented with our award on December 5th.

The European Union

Parliamentary Monuments and Citizenship Vol. 4

Structures of the European Union

There are three main institutions involved in European Leglisation:

The European parliament, which represents EU citizens, and whose members are directly elected The European Council, which represents the governments of the individual member countries The European Commission which represents the interests of the EU as a whole. The Irish Commissioner is Maire Geoghegan-Quinn from Galway.

European Quality Label The meeting with Marian Harkin formed the final part of our e-Twinning Project, Parliamentary Monuments and Citizenship. This international project aimed to make pupils aware of the role of the political institutions of their countries and to develop the citizenship skills of the pupils involved. The words of President Higgins, Be endlessly curious, while on a visit to St. Michaels inspired school pupils to embark on this project. Since that visit our pupils have visited City Hall and engaged in a question and answer session with Mayor Terry Flaherty in the Council Chamber. They have visited Dil ireann where they were received and briefed by past pupils of St. Michaels, Derek Nolan and Brian Walsh.

The European Parliament Building

Eliashs Account
When Ms Harkin came in, pupils from three other countries: Portugal, Germany and Greece, also listened to her speak. While she was talking, a man took pictures of us. Then, pupils from each of the three countries asked her two questions about the E.U. Her phone rang three times! Once was from a radio and she went outside for an interview.

Marian Harkin MEP Visits St. Michaels

On Monday 11th November, Marian Harkin, MEP, visited St Michaels School, Mervue, Galway. She spoke to the pupils of sixth classes about her work as an MEP, and about the functions of the European Parliament.

European Union Information

There are 28 countries in the European Union The EU flag consists of 12 gold stars in a circle on a blue background symbolising unity, harmony and solidarity of EU peoples There are 766 members of the EU Parliament which sits in Brussels Ode to Joy is the anthem of the EU United in Diversity is the motto of the EU

Presentation of Flowers Marian signing books for our pupils

Then she came back to talk more about the E.U. She also spoke about her family. She has two boys. One of them is a fan of Manchester United and the other is a fan of Liverpool. Her sister is a big fan of Manchester United too! After all that, Jakub came and gave her flowers to show how respectful we were. Then, when all that ended, I asked her for her autograph. She said, Of course! So I was the first to get her autograph and she used my pen!! Then everybody else came up for her autograph. Then all that ended and she went to Dublin because the next day she was going to Brussels, Belgium.

Pupils from schools in Bielefeld-Germany, Thessaloniki-Greece, and Tomar-Portugal were also watching and listening to Ms Harkin by means of a video link. Ms Harkin was delighted to know pupils from other schools were also involved After her briefing she fielded questions about the European Union from the pupils of all schools. This was a great meeting and the whole school community was very impressed by the fact that Ms Harkin drove from Sligo to Galway, to engage with our pupils.

Ideal European Citizen