School holiday started and we invited pupils of Elementary School Grm Novo mesto to visit us. Pupils of Novo mesto hosted us in April when we were on the excursion in Dolenjska and Bela krajina, and we now returned the hospitality.
There came nine pupils and teacher Marjeta Ferkolj Smolič. On Friday, 26 June, they first went to their hosts and then for an excursion near Banja Luka. They visited old mills at Krupa na Vrbasu and monastery. The evening and Saturday morning they spent with their peers and on Saturday afternoon they all came to the celebration of Slovenian Day in Slatina.
Event in Slatina has already become traditional, and this year was observed by a number of guests. Pupils of Novo mesto observed versatile programme. Pupils of supply teaching lessons of Slovenian danced in the children folklore group. They have been coached by Mirko Arambašić and every year they learn new dances. Everybody strongly applauded to them. Slovenian pupils assisted on the stand, where there was a prize contest for visitors. They had to locate different towns, mountains and lakes on the map of Slovenia. Each correct answer won a small prize while all participants also took part in the evening drawing for grand prizes. There were two more puzzles of Slovenia prepared for pupils and several teams competed in fast arranging of the map of Slovenia. The afternoon in Slatina passed by quickly. In the evening, pupils of Slovenia and of Banja Luka socialised at bowling. On Sunday, the guests of Novo mesto said good-bye to us and the wish of us all is to keep in touch.
Barbara Hanuš
