Dear readers! 

Although our school is located almost in the centre of the capital city, there are so many green spaces close to us. Morskie Oko is just a few steps from the building in Zbierska. You just need to cross a busy street to reach it.  

Many teachers take advantage of this proximity to green spaces and organize outdoor lessons for students. This spring, I’ve already taken my students several times to my favourite park in Warsaw: the Royal Łazienki Park, which is only a fifteen-minute walk away from the school. Once, by chance, I even managed to spot the Swedish royal family visiting the Palace on the Isle with my eighth-grade students!  

We can also see elements of nature in our school. Plants adorn the Monnet corridors, and beautiful fish swim in aquariums in two areas of the school. I’m pleased that the small flowerbed in front of the building created as a class project has lately also been in bloom. 

Contact with nature is very important to all of us. I consider myself a city person, but I can’t imagine not being able to go for a walk, and smell the flowers or the pleasant grass after rain. Six years ago, in March 2020, the pandemic forced us to stay indoors. There were no vaccines, fear was omnipresent, and cars were driving along the streets with messages to stay home. It was then that I discovered the tiny Malicki Park near my apartment building. During breaks between online classes, I would go out for a short walk and watch nature awaken for spring. I watched with bated breath as duck families were born and coots dived underwater. The tiny park was my only opportunity to connect with nature. I think it allowed me to relax and take a break from the computer, even for a moment.  

Nature certainly has therapeutic powers. It brings us relief from work, calms us down, and soothes us. During a walk in the park or forest, we can recharge our batteries, reflect, and enjoy the beauty of nature. I observe that today’s students love being in contact with nature. Although they are sometimes thought to be absorbed only by the internet, mobile phones, and virtual life, their greatest joy seems to come from jogging in the park, spotting a squirrel in the grass, or planting flowers and fresh herbs in the school garden. 

I am delighted that before the summer holidays our readers will be able to see a glimpse of our school community’s fascination with nature. This issue features a number of articles, stories, and poems written by our students and teachers. Most of the texts cover broad topics of nature and ecology, perfect for the upcoming summer months. May the 18th issue of the Gazeta Monneta, I’m feeling green, accompany you during your vacations. 

Have a wonderful, green summer! 

Aleksander Jarnicki 

Editor-in-Chief of the Gazeta Monneta