Lawton Idiomas Blog

In March, under the Lifelong Learning Programme Leonardo da Vinci Partnerships, Lawton School welcomed their partners in the European project ICT Bridges from BFI in Austria BFI – www.bfi-stmk.at , CCBN Romania – www.cciabn.ro and the Sunflower Centre, University of Ostrava in the Czech Republic- www.vsb.cz , as well as users of resources for people with disabilities in those countries.

During their stay in Gijón they paid a visit to Intgraf, a model company in the employability of people with disabilities, accompanied by the directors of Lawton School, Maureen and Edwin Lawton, and Daphne Fernandez-Corugedo Steneberg, technical support in European projects.

Intgraf is a social enterprise awarded for its quality and professional excellence, which employs a total of 22 mentally handicapped people. They manufacture packaging and boxes as well as any other product capable of being made and handled in cardboard, paper, cardboard, polypropylene, etc..
They specialize in promotional gifts. They have machinery for pad printing, textile screen printing and transfer to customize all kinds of items: shirts, caps, polos, sweatshirts, pens, lighters, key chains, etc.

The President Mariano Sanchez and the Head of the Workshop Susana López, informed the visitors about the management and good practices in the day to day running of the business. The visitors were impressed by the quality of the products manufactured in the special employment center.

Nowadays St Valentine’s Day is celebrated with the exchange of cards, romantic meals for two, and even flowers for some lucky ladies! But February 14th hasn’t always been heralded in the same way. Read on to find out more about Valentine’s Day traditions throughout the ages…

- In Wales wooden love spoons were carved and given as gifts on February 14th. Hearts, keys and keyholes were favourite decorations on the spoons. The decoration meant, “You unlock my heart!”

- In the Middle Ages, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who their valentine would be. They would wear these names on their sleeves for one week. To wear your heart on your sleeve now means that it is easy for other people to know how you are feeling.

- In some countries, a young woman may receive a gift of clothing from a young man. If she keeps the gift, it means she will marry him.

- Some people used to believe that if a woman saw a robin flying overhead on Valentine’s Day, it meant she would marry a sailor. If she saw a sparrow, she would marry a poor man and be very happy. If she saw a goldfinch, she would marry a millionaire.

And just for fun…..here are some Valentine’s Day games for you to try:

- Think of five or six names of boys or girls you might marry, As you twist the stem of an apple, recite the names until the stem comes off. You will marry the person whose name you were saying when the stem fell off.

- Pick a dandelion that has gone to seed. Take a deep breath and blow the seeds into the wind. Count the seeds that remain on the stem. That is the number of children you will have.

- If you cut an apple in half and count how many seeds are inside, you will find out how many children you will have.

Do you have any other Valentine’s Day traditions, games or customs to share?