Howdy! We are Hanna-Reetta, Milja, Patrik, Jared and Emebet from Riihenmäki Comprehensive School, Mäntsälä, Finland.
We are ordinary youngsters, except maybe in one respect: WE´VE GOT THE COW!!!
“What!? Got the Cow!? You must be mad!”, says someone. And right he is. We a r e mad, at least a little bit, but in a good sense.
Creative madness is the main theme in our school. It means, that we can be our own good selves - whatever goodness there might be in us.
In our school it´s possible to do things in different ways and there´s no need to be afraid of failures. We think failing is also a way to learning.
One might be good at maths or not; one might speak six languages or none; one might be a computer genius or write with a plume pencil - that isn´t the point.
The point is to find the personal potential in oneself and share it with others. We think that´s the way to improve our school and schooldays.
And now we have come right to the very essence of creative madness. Everyone who shows his/her personal kindness and individual potential in a way that makes our schoolday brighter, can become the Cow-award winner.
The Cow-award is not an Oscar - it is much better than an Oscar. One doesn´t have to play a role to become a Cow-winner, no. On the contrary: just be plain, just show your human kindness and get the prize.
The Cow-award is delivered every week to a pupil or to a group of pupils. Also the staff is honoured with the Cows, but only twice a month.
The Cow ceremony takes place through Edulink, our TV- and communication system, so the whole school sees what is happening.
The best thing that occurs is some time after receiving your Cow. You begin to think the Cow is more and more valuable. You see how your Cow gets wings and begins to fly.
The purpose, indeed, is that the Cow gets wings. It means a change of attitude, self-confidence, new ideas and respect for others´ attitudes and thoughts. It means also a good sense of humour, as well as laughter and joy.
So, the Cow is our vehicle towards tolerance and co-operation. We want to produce the milk of human kindness. Please join us in our effort!
Cowboys´n´girls
In Riihenmäki Comprehensive School we have also started a cowboy and a cow-girl project. The aim is to raise the eagerness in learning and sustain the good atmosphere called creative madness. (See above)
We have got the idea from Hjulsta Änglar, The Stockholm Angels, when we got familiar with them on the Discovering Diversity internet pages. Thank you, Angels, and greetings from Finland!
The cowboys and cowgirls are a selected group of 8th graders, who begin their activities in the beginning of the 9th class.
We have a lot of eager pupils, who want to make their best for our school community. But of course we want to see further. Let´s hope one day we´ll see the world as one in all its´ different colours. Moo!
