All over the world everybody has been paying tribute to Nelson Mandela since Thursday evening when he died. Here is a link to a South African website dedicated to this great man.

http://madiba.mg.co.za/

On the first page, you'll find links to many articles published since Mandela's death, but if you click on "life and times" you'll find an interesting chronology of the main events in Mandela's life. Then click on "M&G and Madiba", and you'll be able to read ancient articles from the Mail&Gardian. The next tab, "tributes", will take you to a page on which you will be able to leave your own tribute, finally the last tab, Multimedia, will offer you a choice of videos.

The title of this post and "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." are two wise and accurate quotes by Mandela.

2014 will be a great year ! 

Do you know why? 

Because in May the first European Week will take place in your school. Everyone can take part in this event and it doesn't even have to be in English. Throughout this school year I will keep you informed about the different events that will be organised.

To start with there is a PHOTO CONTEST. You've been to Belgium, England, Germany, Italy or any other European country lately and you've made funny, amazing, beautiful or moving pictures of the daily life there, well, then, you are ready to take part in this contest. To know more about it, read this information:

This is a unique opportunity to prove you are creative, open-minded and European-minded. Go to the school library now and ask any question this flyer has not answered.

Advent has started. Traditionally children get a special calendar in which they find a new surprise every day until, at last, it's Christmas and then they'll find their Christmas presents under the Christmas tree. A journalist, Rebecca Davies, has imagined a new kind of Advent Calendar. In the Chilren's Book Blog, hosted by the Independent, a British newspaper, she will publish an article about a new book every day. She'll talk mainly about children's books telling stories about winter or Christmas. But reading children's books is a good idea to improve your English if you are not ready yet to read Shakespeare's or Dicken's works !

So here is the Children's Book Blog : http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2013/12/03/the-children%e2%80%99s-book-blog-christmas-countdown-shiver-by-maggie-stiefvater/

Go there and have a look at the latest posts by Rebecca Davies, at the bottom of the article.