Back to Office...

Dear All,

After a three-day holiday I am back to the office again; the office in my dear city_Istanbul. Even though the stormy weather of Cyprus and Kyrenia did not allow us to walk around a lot, we found some time to sit and have coffee before the Kyrenia Castle. With our dear mums, we tried to understand the difficulties and also advantages of living on an island. We tasted the wonderful kebabs of Niazi's. Meanwhile we set cheerful hours to reading.
With our return to Istanbul last night, we said "helloo" to the organisation of our Convention again. Today we felt the signs of fruitful collaborations of the coming days.

I am participating in a Morning Program on "TV 8" on 7th January. The name of the program is; "Step Step my Child" and the program producer is Ms. Nur Onur.
I wish you a happy weekend. Loves,

Hayal KÖKSAL

Term ended...

Dear Dosts,

Schools finished the Fall Term yesterday. For 2 weeks all the students and teachers will rest. Meanwhile, I believe students will set aside some time not only for resting, e-mailing or electronic games but also for their families and reading. I suggest the same thing to our dear teachers. A long spring term is looking forward to them. For an adventegous reading I suggest "ME: A Continuous Learner (Sürekli Öğrenen Ben)" to them. You can obtain it through http://www.pandora.com.tr/ . It was written by me and the income will go to an NGO.

After a long and heavy term, we are also going to Cyprus for a three-day holiday. After coming back, we will be very busy with lots of things. Anyhow! We all know that: This is life, isn't it?

Have a good term holiday.

Hayal KÖKSAL

Projects and Activities

Dear all,

Our Innovative Teachers and Peer-coaches are going on their hard work, the ICT Seagulls Circles are also working hard. Meanwhile, we are also busy with the İmece trainings of Istanbul 2010 European Cultural Capital City Project:

"An ICT Puzzle: From Past to the Future Istanbul (Bigg-İst)

Tomorrow at 11.00 o'clock, we will be together at a seminar at the Levent Vocational Girls' High School. They are our new members. If you would like to participate in the seminar, please keep in touch with me and register.

In our new office, some new studies are going to start. In our new office, the Association of Continuous Improvement (Su Ge Der) is also meeting. Within the borders of it, we founded new special interest groups (SIGs). They are as follows:
* For the teacher candidates and other adults; "Village Institutions Philosophy",
* In order to teach and review the peace, harmony, collaboration and quality philosophy; "Happiness and Peace Workshop",
* For the teachers and principals;"Innovative Teaching, peer-coaching, leadership & New Curricula".
If you would like to join us; please be a member of this new NGO which is focusing on; innovation, education, development and change management.
To learn more about the prerequisites, please call us: +90 212 341 26 01
With love and peace...

Hayal KÖKSAL

Developments

Dear All,

With the start of 2008, I am going to apply some improvements into my life and my business. First of all, I would like to share some recent news at the organization of the "11th Intarnational Convention on Students' İmece (Quality Control) Circles". Each day brings some improvements. We do not want to be late at sending the broshures of the Convention which will be held on 3-5 December, 2008 in Istanbul. We are aware of the fact that being late might rduce the participation rate of the international circles. However, our all efforts aim at reducing the registartion fees of the students and teachers. We are grateful to those who are supporting us from different organizations on behalf of my country.
We have decided to change the name of QOMER due to our concern to our mother tongue, Turkish. As you all know the letter "Q" , which stands for "Quality" in our title, does not exist in Turkish. Combining the "Quality" with the "Peace" ; we have changed the name of our Organization as; "Quality & Peace Education Center". As you all know, we also included this theme within our ICT Seagulls Project as "Giving importance to mother tongue". Please share your comments upon our name.

During the following term, I am going to give 2 courses at 2 different universities. "Innovative Teaching" at the Educational Faculty of Boğaziçi University and "Quality in Education" at the Arts and Sciences Faculty of Istanbul Yeditepe University. We will travel towards new horizons with my future students.
You see the Turkish participants of 10th Convention which took place at City Montessori School, Lucknow, India. We had presented an Indian-Turkish Flag Plaque to the foudner principal Dr.Vineeta kamran during the Award Ceremony of the event. We will feel honour for organizing a similar event here in ıstanbul for the participating countries.
With love and peace...
Hayal KÖKSAL

In a New Year; With New Hopes...

Deal All,
We go on our quality journey in a new year; to find the better and the happier. I write this blog for the first time from our new home-office which is located at Sarıyer_far from the noise of the traffic and the polluted and fused air of Istanbul. Here, it will be easier to focus on my new books and projects.
When I look out from my window I can see the christmas-tree like trees on the hills, and the accumulated snow clouds in the sky. I would like to repeat my answer to those who are used to asking; "Why are you going to a house which is so far from the central part of Istanbul?". "May the feelings be closer to each other, but I will work here more fruitfully and peacefully." I will focus on my research and projects from then on. I neglected them all. Another purpose of mine is recovering my health and keeping fit. I will set aside time and energy for sport and for more family members, including my sick mum and me-personally. My focal project points will be; "11th International Convention on Students' Quality Control Circles which will take place in December 2008 in Istanbul, ICT Seagulls Projects, and 2010 İstanbul European Cultural Capital City Project; Bigg-İst. I can hear your voice asking; "Are these projects only few? :). What can I do? This is my style...
The door of my home-office is open to all friends and colleagues. You can come here breathing the fresh air of Bosphorus, and watching the beauties of the nature. We are always ready to share our experiences and projects with you. Furthermore; having a contact office at a central part of Istanbul is in our agenda, but for spring months. At the moment, I should take care of my mum and for my family, including me. All my contact channels are open-even to the late hours of the day. Please do not hesistate to call me.
If you would like to purchase my recent book, please visit the Bookstore of the Boğaziçi University or the web page of the Pandora Publishing House: http://www.pandora.com.tr/ I you want to buy more than 50 copies for your students and parents, price reduction is possible. Then, call me.

My new address is as follows:
Zekeriyaköy Civarı,
Sinpaş Boğaziçi Malikâneleri
Safir 4, D.:17
Sarıyer, İstanbul
Tel : 0 212 341 26 01
Fax: 0 212 341 26 02
With a great love to all of us...

Hayal KÖKSAL