The school is strongly geared towards protecting and improving the environment, and has an Eco Committee (Eko-odbor). Its members, headed by the school's Director Žanja Draganić and including representatives from some of the senior classes, are committed to promoting awareness and practical activities relating to environmental protection. In 2012, when the school took part in a 'Green Action Day' ('Zelena čistka - jedan dan za čisti okoliš', three budding young journalists, Dominika Salamunić, Carla Vranković and Veronika Primi interviewed JELKOM director Toni Damjanić, grilling him with some pressing pertinent questions. The whole project was an excellent example of education on many levels.
The school is a member of the international network of Eco-Schools. In March 2014 Jelsa's Elementary School was awarded first prize in a competition entitled 'Together we help our clean blue sea' (Zajedno za naše čisto, plavo more'). Its prize-winning entry was a montage of coloured plastic bottle tops woven into 'A Plastic Sea Tale' ('Plastična morska priča'), a truly impressive piece of artwork which brightens up the wall surrounding the rubbish bins in the northeast corner of Jelsa's car park.
Also in the spring of 2014, a group of young photographers from the school took part in workshops related to a national eco-photography competition. The results were stunning, and these are a few examples.
Antonia Mijalić, 'The Old Man and the Sea':
Iva Pehar, 'The Pakleni Islands':
Vini Božiković, 'Heavenly Sunset':
Dominika Salamunić, 'A Game of Clouds':
Antonia Mijalić, 'View towards Vis':
Iva Pehar, 'A tiny bit of sun'
Vini Božiković, 'Sunset over Vis':
Dominika Salamunić, 'View into the distance':
Iva Pehar, 'View into the distance':
Vini Božiković, 'Sunset in a wave':
Iva Pehar, 'Across a wave to the sunset':
Antonia Mijalić, 'Horizon':
Dalmatia is, of course, phenomenally photogenic, but it still takes a good eye to capture its moments of glory. These young photographers clearly have the talent, and we at Eco Hvar wish them many happy years recording all the wonders of nature around them.
© Vivian Grisogono 2014
