The Language Advisory Service (Servei d'Assessorament Lingüístic, SAL) of the Consell de Formentera is pleased to report that today to 11 October, registration is open for the latest round of Catalan classes for adults. During this first module of the 2022-2023 school year, eleven learning groups will be organised at the A2, B1, B2 and C1 levels to help students prepare for the next round of official Catalan exams, scheduled January 2023.

Raquel Guasch, councillor of language policy, described the aim of SAL as "ensuring our Catalan courses reach as many people as possible. That's why we tailor levels and schedules to the wide demand". Thus, this year classes will be an hour and a half long. As in 2021, learning will take place in the Catalan classrooms of the Espai Cultural de Sant Ferran during two weekly morning or afternoon/evening sessions.

Space is limited and students can only sign up for one group. On conclusion of registration and before the start of classes on 17 and 18 October, students will receive an email confirming successful enrolment in their desired group. Classes are free of charge.

28 September to 11 October
Registration for the courses starts Wednesday 28 September and ends Tuesday 11 October. Aspiring Catalan-language learners can register online through the Virtual Citizen Information Office (Oficina Virtual d'Atenció a la Ciutadania, OVAC) or in person at the Citizen Information Office (Oficina d'Atenció a la Ciutadania, OAC) at Carrer Ramon Llull, 6, Sant Francesc.

During module one, students may be placed in one of four beginners' groups (A2), two B1 groups, three B2 groups and two C1 groups. Information on days and times can be consulted at the time of registration.

Information
Level A2
- Mondays and Wednesdays, 9.15am to 10.45am
- Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9.15am to 10.45am
- Mondays and Wednesdays, 5.15pm to 6.45pm
- Tuesday and Thursday, 7.30pm to 9.00pm
Level B1
- Mondays and Wednesdays, 10.45am to 12.15pm
- Mondays and Wednesdays, 6.45pm to 8.15pm
Level B2
- Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9.15am to 10.45am
- Mondays and Wednesdays, 7.30pm to 9.00pm
- Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6.00pm to 7.30pm
Level C1
- Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10.45am to 12.15pm
- Mondays and Wednesdays, 6.00pm to 7.30pm

Registration: 28 September to 11 October
OAC (Carrer de Ramon Llull, 6, Sant Francesc)
OVAC

Free courses
Start: 17 and 18 October 2022
Location: Catalan classrooms, Espai Cultural de Sant Ferran (former Sant Ferran primary school)
End of courses will be determined based on scheduling of the official exams organised by the Balearic Directorate General of Language Policy.

28 September 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

The Formentera Offices of Culture and Education and Language Advisory Service are pleased to announce the island's wide-ranging autumn-winter offer of courses and workshops mixing leisure and education for adults.

Two perennial classics –Teresa Matilla's creation and painting workshop (l'Aula d'Art) and Aaron Keydar's woodcarving atelier– are back. Students in "the Art Classroom" (afternoons November to March, exact times TBA) will explore various painting techniques, creativity, personal growth and emotion. Aaron Keydar has offered his woodcarving workshop since 2014, and the latest round will take shape Tuesday and Friday afternoons from November to March.

This year also marks a return for photographer José Antonio Arribas's course in digital photography. The beginners' course will last twelve hours and run 21 to 30 November. Learning will be both theory-based and hands-on, with students learning a variety of photographic techniques both in and out of the classroom. The course is for people who want to get the most out of their reflex camera or work in depth with a range of photographic disciplines.

Classes are at the new Espai Cultural de Sant Ferran and islanders under 25, retirees and people with an accredited disability of 33% or more enjoy a 30% discount on course fees.

For its part, the Language Advisory Service offers free Catalan courses for adults. Signups start 28 September and run until 11 October.

Early registration
Aspiring students can sign up early at the Citizen Information Office (Oficina d'Atenció a la Ciudadania, OAC) and, online, through the Virtual Citizen Information Office (OVAC) starting 28 September.

26 September 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

The Formentera Office of Education is pleased to announce that the 2022-2023 school year began today in local escoletes (nurseries). In total, 34 zero- to three-year-olds began classes at the Sant Ferran location and another 84 at Sa Miranda. The Consell is pleased to announce a waiting list of zero as the school year got under way. Twenty-three professionals work in the nurseries, among them educators, support personnel and administrative staff. Also noteworthy is the work of the kitchen and cleaning staff.

Free tuition
Susana Labrador, councillor of education and culture, pointed out that this year, as a special measure, the annual €70 tuition fee would be waived for all students. Schooling from 8.30am to 12.30pm will also be free for year-three students. Fees for the early-bird school, canteen and break time will remain in place.

As Councillor Labrador explained, "we are working to help all families by amending the ordinance to reduce part of the fee for 8.30am-to-12.30pm classroom learning and for years one and two of early-childhood education". Application of the measure is pending the modification of the associated ordinance. Discounts and exemptions provided for in the escoletes ordinance will be maintained and, as with large families, single-parent families will now benefit from a 30% reduction.

Councillor Labrador underscored "the tremendous budgetary effort that offering this service requires", and asserted, "We have been committed to it from the beginning. This is a priority for families". Likewise, Formentera will continue to request greater financial support from the Balearic and central governments so that free education is extended to all levels of the first period of infant education.

Hours and services
The escoletes are open from 7.30am to 4.00pm. This schedule includes early-bird service, normal classroom learning, canteen and break time.

Maintenance work
During the first half of September, upkeep and upgrades were performed by subcontractors and the Consell de Formentera works brigade, part of the Formentera Office of Island Services.

Escoleta Sa Miranda:
At Sa Miranda, crews replaced grass in the main courtyard, cleaned, removed mould, repaired and painted interiors, carpentry and doors, and more. They also put in a bicycle parking area and new shelving, and cleaned and performed repairs in outdoor areas.

Escoleta Sant Ferran:
Awnings were installed in the outdoor patios and water fountains were put into in the courtyards. The team of educators prepared classrooms and other areas of the school for arriving students "in one of life's most important educational stages, the cornerstone of their future," said Labrador, who praised "the great work done by escoleta teams" and wished both workers and students "a pleasant year".

15 September 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

The Formentera Offices of Island Services and Education are pleased to report on upgrades and retrofits completed at local early-learning centres and primary schools this summer. Crews eliminated architectural barriers, reinstalled water fountains removed during the pandemic and oversaw various maintenance and improvement operations. Interventions were determined based on requests collected from administrative teams, parents' associations and student councils.

Work included the following
CEIP Mestre Lluís Andreu:
Architectural barriers were eliminated at the main access point to the Tramuntana building and the pavement was standardised. Building on refurbishments that were started last year, fans were installed in several classrooms. The works brigade of the Formentera Office of Island Services painted classroom interiors, cleaned, weeded, collected pruning debris and cleaned inner and outer courtyards. Doorknobs, windows and sink taps were also repaired. Two weeks from now, crews will mount a wooden pergola alongside the sport pitches and set it up in another part of the courtyard. The brigade will also lay black asphalt fabric to reduce heat absorption and perform upgrades next to the basketball court.

CEIP Sant Ferran de ses Roques:
In the school that opened last year, water taps were installed in playgrounds and corridors to facilitate watering and cleaning, classroom interiors were cleaned and painted, a 11x11-metre sandbox was installed around the new swing in the dirt courtyard of the primary school, which was also weeded and cleaned. A drip irrigation system was installed alongside trees planted nearby. Shade screens were put up outdoors and, in the weeks ahead, blinds will go up in the offices and in the rest of the windows facing the façade. A propane gas system was installed for the school's new canteen service. Underground rubbish and recycling containers previously located at the school entrance were moved as well.

At the two schools, bike racks requested this September and new shade structures will be installed in the coming weeks.

CEIP El Pilar de la Mola:
In La Mola, the brigade polished and varnished the wooden shack and outdoor picnic tables and painted classrooms and outdoor areas. Crews performed upkeep on the fence and repairs on an outdoor bell and in the portable classroom.

In addition to work performed by the technical services brigade, the Consell de Formentera spent roughly €32,000 contracting outside firms to oversee specific operations. Maintenance and improvement work will continue at schools during the school year.

9 September 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera