PASCAL Private Kindergarten & Primary School Lemesos Welcoming Fellow European Blue School Partners from Mallorca

On 22 May, our school was delighted to welcome a delegation from IES Calvià (Mallorca) as part of the Network of European Blue Schools and their Erasmus+ programme. The group, consisting of two teachers and 14 students aged 12–14, visited us to share their innovative environmental work and collaborate with our Year 6 students on ocean literacy activities.

Our visitors delivered an engaging presentation on their extracurricular citizen science project, developed in partnership with the Oceanographic Institute and the University of the Balearic Islands. Their research explores the impact of climate change across the Balearic archipelago, focusing on key environmental issues such as:

• Sea level oscillations
• The relationship between beach profiles and erosion risk
• The ecological importance of Posidonia oceanica
• The increasing role of the islands as nesting sites for Caretta caretta (loggerhead sea turtles)

Following the presentation, Year 6 students took part in a hands-on workshop led by the visiting students, encouraging collaboration, discussion, and a deeper understanding of the environmental challenges facing Mediterranean ecosystems.

Our students proudly showcased their own European Blue School project, “Seas of Change: Sustainability from Sea Grass and Sea Shells.” Year 5 students shared their experience of beach clean-ups at Kourion Beach, where they collected Posidonia sea grass and transformed it into mini compost bottles, promoting sustainable practices and marine conservation. They also introduced their Beach Toy Library initiative, encouraging reuse and reducing waste along the coastline.

Year 4 students then presented the second phase of the project: the Mussel Shell Cement Experiment, where they explored sustainable alternatives to traditional cement by investigating the reuse of mussel shells in construction materials.

This visit was a valuable opportunity for international collaboration, cultural exchange, and environmental learning. It was inspiring to see students from different Mediterranean islands working together, sharing ideas, and addressing the shared environmental challenges affecting our seas and coastlines.

We extend our sincere thanks to IES Calvià for their visit and for inspiring our students with their outstanding work.