Â© Barbara Strowald / Otto-Hahn-Gymnasium

© Barbara Strowald / Otto-Hahn-Gymnasium

Cincinnati 

Cincinnati is in the state 

Ohio and is nicknamed 

The Queen City.Cincinnati 

has two good sports 

teams: 

The Cincinnati Bengals 

and The Reds. The 

Bengals play American 

football and The Reds 

baseball. 

Cincinnati‘s Suspension 

Bridge is important 

because it was the model 

for Brooklyn Bridge. 



7. International Project Week 

Cincinnati/Ohio USA 

23.-30. September 2006 

The Friendship Project 

A Week to Change the 

World 

Arpad Gymnasium 

Tatabanya, Hungary 

Otto-Hahn-Gymnasium 

Geesthacht, Germany 

dr. Aletta Jacobscollege 

Hoogezand, Netherlands 

School 34 

Smolensk, Russia 

Nativity School 

Cincinnati, USA 


Sunday – September 24 

11:00 Mass at Nativity Church 

You are invited to join 

us for the Sunday 

Service. Attendance is, 

of course, optional. If 

you attend, we will ask 

you a few words during 

the service, e. g., „We 

are glad to be here in 

Cincinnati...“ 

12:30 Tour of Cincinnati 

The Bus will depart 

from Nativity‘s parking 

lot. 

14:30 Option 1: Join the Reds 

game in progress 

Option 2: Return to host 

family 

16:30 The Friendship Project 

picnic for all the host 

families 


Monday – September 25 

(All visitíng students are 

asked to wear the Friendship 

T-Shirt to school.) 

07:50 Arrive at School 

08:00 Meet your delegates in 

the cafeteria 

08:20 Words of Welcome 

from Nativity 

Practice for the 

Opening Ceremony 

10:00 Opening Ceremony 

(One teacher from each 

nation will be asked to 

speak.) 

After the Opening 

Ceremony assist your 

students in finding their 

Project Group. 

(Please circulate through the 

groups to make sure that 

your students understand 

the directions.) 




More pictures 




More pictures 




More pictures 



10:00 Opening Ceremony 

The first great 

experience: 

On Monday, the 

principal of Nativity, 

Robert Herring, greeted 

the people of the five 

nations. Everybody was 

asked to sing their 

national anthem. It was 

especially wonderful 

that the children of the 

2nd and 3rd grades 

were sitting on the floor 

and sang a lot of lovely 

songs, like „Hello To All 

the Children of the 

World“. They were 

holding small flags in 

their hands, which was 

a great gesture. 




Rede des Schulleiters 

des 

Otto-Hahn-Gymnasiums 

Jens-Peter Pankow 

zur Überreichung der 

Friedensglocke. 

Ladies and gentlemen, 

Dear colleagues, 

Dear students, dear Bob! 

To start with on behalf of the German delegates I would like to say thank you for the invitation to this International Projects 

Week in Cincinnati. 

We have gladly come here and we enjoy taking part in an event named “The friendship-project - A week to change the 

world”. This motto is the perfect choice, because it shows what people all over the world urgently need now: 

They all need friendship, peace and humanity. Who would dare to contradict? And so this International Week is an 

important step on the long and difficult way to becoming a conscious citizen of the world. 

“To become a citizen of the world” - I know, people could argue that such a goal sounds unrealistic and fictitious. Let me 

say, I do not expect that millions of people will get new passports next year declaring they are citizens of planet earth. I 

know that idea is absolutely foolish, it’s a poor joke! 

But I think it’s not foolish to become sensitive to all questions of global responsibility. The actual question is how to 

achieve it? 

We know, most incidents do not happen by chance they are made by men. That applies to your own neighbourhood as 

well as to international politics. 

It’s a commonplace, a good neighbourhood starts with the knowledge about each other. Having no knowledge of your 

neighbour’s way of thinking and the patterns of his behaviour he will remain an alien to you, and that goes vice versa. 

The conclusion is simple: You must discover him and he must discover you! I know it takes a fair bit of courage, but it’s 

worth the trouble. 

Transferred to global dimensions this example shows, having no knowledge of other people’s cultures means, that they 

will remain strangers, or, to put it in simple words: They will not be understood. 

The consequence of this ignorance is dull provincialism, the hotbed of xenophobia. I think, everyone knows what this 

means. 

That’s why we are proud to be a part of a circle of international school partners who are strongly convinced that people all 

over the world do need friendship, tolerance, peace, active charity and freedom. These are basics that prepare people for 

a world’s citizenship. And that’s what we all are working at. Please let me stress: An International Projects Week is a well 

tried method for learning about each other in a pleasant atmosphere. 

So the German delegates would like to say thank you for this international meeting, thank you for your hospitality, thank 

you for your generosity! 

I think this International Week is indeed a wonderful and outstanding event and it is worth to be given a lasting symbol: 

Therefore we should have quick look at history. 


230 years ago, in 1776, when the Declaration of Independence was proclaimed in Philadelphia a bell was rung for paying 

tribute to this event that pointed to the future. No doubt, they called that bell “Liberty-Bell”. 

The sound of that bell became a unique one because it got a mighty crack in the early decades of the 19th century. But it 

didn’t fall apart. You still can have a look at it in Liberty Bell Centre in Philadelphia. 

It is claimed, “Liberty Bell” was rung for the last time on the occasion of George Washington’s birthday in 1846. 



Rede des Schulleiters 

des 

Otto-Hahn-Gymnasiums 

Jens-Peter Pankow 

zur Überreichung der 

Friedensglocke. 

Afterwards the bell had to fall silent – due to the serious damage! But nevertheless the Liberty-Bell has become an 

international symbol of freedom and independence. 

That’s why after World War II, in 1949, the Commander of the American Sector of Berlin General Lucius D. Clay started 

collecting a lot of money to buy a reproduction of Liberty-Bell. It should be a special gift to the City of Berlin. What was his 

intention? 

You know, at that time West-Berlin was blocked by the Soviets and the people of Berlin were afraid that they could be 

occupied by the Soviet troops and lose their freedom. 

The reproduction of Liberty-Bell should be that symbol demonstrating the iron will of all Americans to preserve the 

freedom of Berlin. It was meant to encourage the Berlin people to resist in that dangerous and difficult situation. 

Corresponding to the original bell the reproduction was named Bell of Freedom. And after casting it – before the bell was 

brought to Europe - the American government started a big campaign displaying that bell all over the States. 

The bell was on tour and it became famous. Thousands of Americans had a look at it and they confirmed their solidarity 

with the Citizens of West-Berlin. It was very impressive not only in the States! 

Then the bell came to Berlin and in 1950 it was installed in the belfry of the city hall. Since then in regular intervals that 

bell has rung the unique sound of freedom all over the town. Even nowadays you can hear it. Every Sunday Noon the 

radio broadcasts the sounds of the Berlin Bell of Freedom in memory of very unsafe times. One can say that over the last 

50 years in Germany that bell became an important symbol of freedom, democracy and prosperity. 

Well, obviously a good intention needs a suitable symbol! 

Organizing an International Projects Week is such a good intention, especially a week called “The friendship project – A 

week to change the world”. So we had the idea that a small child of the Berlin Bell of Freedom must return to the States. It 

has to find it’s home at Nativity School in Cincinnati. This descendant is called “The Friendship Bell”. It’s sound will help to 

remind all people listening of the value of friendship. 

Let me finish: This Friendship Bell would like to be our symbolic gift showing our gratitude and our great respect for your 

effort in international partnership. 

Thank you very much! 



11:30 Be available for interviews 

with the press 

and/or students from Northern 

Kentucky University, 

Xavier University and 

University of Cincinnati 

12:00 Lunch 

13:00 Group Photo – Everyone goes 

to the courtyard 

Project Session 2 for students 

Observe projects and/or free 

time for visiting teachers. 

You are welcome to sit in on 

any classes at Nativity 

Room 101 is the International 

Café. 


groups to make sure 

that your students understand 

the directions.) 

15:00 End of School Day 

15:15 Reception in Room 101 for 

Visiting Teachers 

This is an opportunity to meet 

the Nativity staff. 


Tuesday – September 26 

08:15 – 10:30 

Project Session 3 


groups to make sure 

that your students understand 

the directions and be 

available for interviews with 

students). 

Observe projects and/or 

classes at Nativity 

10:30 – 12:00 

Classroom visits 

On weekdays, guests were 

invited to several grades to get 

to know how they learn. 

The children could ask 

questions in connection with 

Russia, the Netherlands, 

Hungary and Germany. For 

example the German students 

taught some typical German 

games and songs. 

The Music Project 

The Quilt Project 

Wooden Mosaic Sculpture 

The Tech Team 

The Mural Project 

Russia Grade 4 

in Room 206 

Germany Grade 5 

in Room 208 

Hungary Grade 6 

in Room 204 

Netherlands Grade 7 

in Room 202 

12:00 Lunch 

13:20 Project Session 4 



The Music Project 

The Music Project takes place 

in the music room. Teachers 

and students are singing 

together. Some student play 

instruments and some sing. 

„We found a common 

language in an African round. 

It was new to everyone“, 

said Mr. Beiting, leader of the 

music project. 

Our favorite song is „Love in 

Any Language“. 


The Quilt Project 

The quilt project takes place in 

the library. Teachers and 

student make pictures with 

colored fabric by using sewing 

machines. 

„The squares are a log cabin 

design to integrate everyone‘s 

home, using different 

materials. In the center is the 

dove of peace and the outer 

strips show the earth and sky,“ 

said Laura Kirles, leader of the 

project. 


Wooden Mosaic Sculpture 

The Mosaic team ist working 

with wood to make a large 

dove with an olive branch in its 

mouth. There are 3 teams, one 

is working on the body, 

another is working on the 

wings and the final one is 

working on the olive branch. 

Mr. Stevenson is the leader of 

the goup and he also helped to 

make the totem pole in the 

front of the school. 

„We cut pieces of wood and 

put symbols and words on the 

wood and then we will make 

the dove“, said Jenna Bange. 

„I‘m making the olive branch“, 

said Jack Doyle. „It is pointed 

black and is cut to fit in the 

mouth of the dove.“ 

„We are using different woods 

and making the body of the 

dove from it“ added Mr. 

Andrew McLaughlin. 


The Tech Team 

This week the tech team is 

working on three projects: the 

newsletter, the movie, and the 

website. The site is a link off of 

the Nativity website at 

http://www.nativity-cincinnati.org 

Our goal is to document all the 

projects. Mrs. Peter is leading 

the project with help from Mrs. 

Daugherty. 

„We are making a short multi 

media project to show on 

Thursday night. It includes 

pictures of the events of the 

week“, said Mrs. Daughery. 


The Mural Project 

Teachers and students are 

painting on a wall near the 

railroad tracks. 

They started thinking about the 

pictures by writing „I‘m 

From..Poems“. 

The Theme of the painting is 

„things about our country“. 

First they used chalk then they 

painted it with paint. They only 

use pictures to communicate 

no words. Mrs. Burger is the 

leader of this project. 


Wednesday – September 27 

08:15 - 10:15 


10:30 – 11:30 



in Room 204 


in Room 202 


in Room 201 


in Room 206 

11:30 Lunch 

12:30 Field Day 

Enjoy the fun as the 

students compete on 

internationl teams in a 

variety of events. 

14:30 Presentation of the 

Ribbons 


 

 


Wednesday – September 27 

15:30 Depart the school for 

the public transit bus to 

downtown. 

16:20 Arrive dontown; walk 

through the park to 

restaurant. 

17:30 Dinner at the 

Boathouse 

19:00 Walk the Purple People 

Bridge 

21:00 Return home 


Thursday – September 28 

08:15 – 10:00 


10:00 – 12:00 



in Room 201 


in Room 202 


in Room 206 


in Room 208 

12:00 Lunch 

12:30 – 14:30 

Russia, Hungary, 

Netherlands, Germany 

practice their cultural 

shows in the gym. 

14:30 All nations report to the 

gym. 

Championship Round 

of Connect 4 in the 

gym. 


Thursday – September 28 


19:00 Cultural Schow and 

Project Unveiling 

Gym 

Somogyi Ugros 

Hungarian Folk Dance 

Arpad Gymnasium 

Hungary 

 

Smolensk Pie 

School 34 

Russia 

 

The Dutch in 11 Legs 

Dr. Aletta Jacobs College 

Netherlands 

 

Mickey Mouse Meets 

Diddle Mouse 


Germany 

 


Friday – September 29 

(All visiting students are asked to 

wear the Friendship T- 

Shirt to school.) 

08:40 Arrival at school 

08:55 Depart school for the 

Bus Stop – Public 

Transportation to the 

Freedom Center 

10:00 Tours of the Freedom 

Center 

The Underground 

Railroad 

Lunch at Tower 

Place 

Visit to the top of the 

Carew Tower 

 

 

 


Friday – September 29 

(All visiting students are asked to 

wear the Friendship T- 

Shirt to school.) 

13:15 Return to Nativity 

Upon return to 

Nativity all students 

report to the cafeteria 

to fill out our survey. 

15:00 Closing Ceremony for 

the Friendship 

Project 

 

(One teacher from each 

nation will be asked to 

speak.) 

19:00 – 22:00 

Students at the 

Sports Plus 

21:00 Farewell for the 

Teachers at Molly 

Malone‘s 


Saturday – September 30 

Delegations depart for home 


The End 

The students, 

the teachers 

 

 

and the principal of the

Â© Barbara Strowald / Otto-Hahn-Gymnasium

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