In the framework of Comenius 1.3(you can see details at the school's webpage), pupils of the 5th grade, both  E1 and E2 classes, have started mailing either via internet or via post with pupils of  Haigerloch in Germany.I don't think it would be  nice or safe  to read through all the pupil's letters but just to have an idea I'll give you an extract:

"......

My name is ......... I´m from Haigerloch. I´m 10 years

old. My hair is dark blond my eyes are green. My friends are

A......, M..... T......, M.......... In winter I like skiing and

playing detective. In summer

I like playing tennis and football. In 1 week there is the

Thursday of Carnival. We are disguised. We play funny

games.

........"

Next you can see some information their english teacher sent us concerning the last theme of the exchange which was "Carnival time" and some characterisitc photos of this period in their area:

"  Carnival in our area (Schwäbisch-alemannische Fasnet)

On Thursday before ‘Carnival Monday’ school starts with ‘Dominos’ (men dressed up in red or black masks) setting free all the students of the Primary School, Middle School and Grammar School - even the kindergarden pupils. They throw Brezeln, oranges and sweets but only if the students can shout the Carnival rhymes. They are all in local dialect. We teach them  the days before together with some Carnival dances. Before the arrival of the Dominos there is only dancing, singing and playing in the classrooms.

At 10 a. m. school is over and those pupils who got the allowance by their parents, walk in a long queue behind the Dominos and all sort of dressed up people. The walk down town ends at the market place in a pub. Meantime they go on throwing Brezeln, oranges and sweets.

This day in the afternoon there is a children-parade and the presentation and the award for the best costumes.

Friday, Saturday, Sunday there are all sorts of parades, discos and pub events.

On Monday all 4 years there starts a spectacle. It’s called ‘Bräuteln’. It means a sort of Wedding. All men in town who built a house, married, got a baby or founded an enterprise in the last 4 years will be invited to come and ride on two sticks a round the market-fountain and throwing out sweets or what ever (My husband threw out sausages). If they don’t well behave they will be thrown into the cold fountain water. There are some more procedures or rules that must be paid attention to. It’s an old tradition with the same age as the guild in Haigerloch (100 years old). This year was the anniversary.

In the afternoon of this Monday there is a parade and afterwards dancing and singing in the City Hall.

On Tuesday evening they burn the Fasching with a big howling. "