Meri-Pori Upper Secondary
Meri-Pori Upper Secondary school is a working place for about 200 students and 15 teachers. The school was established in the rural area of Pori in 1971. The school was first located in an elementary school building and as it grew, the building of a new school became necessary. In 1983 the school moved to its present location, a service centre for the population of Pihlava about 15 kilometers from the city centre. The centre now contains, in addition to the upper secondary, comprehensive school upper level, swimming hall and local library.
The prevailing features of our school are supporting the students’ own activity, co-operation between teachers and students and taking care of the school’s internal atmosphere. It has required continuous development of the work community and readiness for renewal.
Contact info
Address
Meri-Porin lukio
Rieskalantie
28800 Pori Finland
Phone
+358 2 621 5380
Fax
+358 2 621 5381
E-mail
meri-pori.lukio(at)pori.cedunet.fi
The Curriculum
The main academic objective of an upper secondary school in Finland is to give students means for taking part in studies at universities and polytechnics. A normal Upper secondary school has the following special features:
- Classless curriculum. The study unit is a course. Students have to study at least 75 courses in order to graduate. One course contains 23 lessons. The length of a lesson is 75 minutes.
- Periods. The school year is divided into 5 periods. Each period has its own study schedule.
- Test week. Each period ends with a 7-day test week. All the academic subjects are tested during the test week. A normal test day starts with a test in the morning and ends with a lesson which prepares students for the next day’s test.
- Matriculation Examination. A nationwide examination organised by the Finnish Matriculation Examination Board each spring and autumn. To pass the examination a student has to pass a test at least in four subjects. Mother tongue is compulsory for all candidates. The other test subjects are Swedish, English, mathematics, and the so called realia subjects ranging from religion to health care.
- White cap. Students who graduate and pass the matriculation examination wear a white cap to signify their achievement. The student is allowed to put the white cap on in the school’s graduation celebration.
Environmental studies
The general aim of our environmental courses is to develop, the students’ knowledge and skills for environmental work through the students’ own activity and experiences. The teaching emphasizes the study of Meri-Pori’s nature, its changes and the influence on man’s own activity on nature and man himself.
Environmental science courses
- Survival course: The art of surviving in Finnish forest with minimum equipment.
- Biology: Lichen analysis
- Physics: The equipment used in studying the state of the environment.
- Environmental Ethics: The ethical point of view.
- Analysis courses: Elk liver study, Moss Ball study, Pine Needle study and Water Analysis.
- Environmental Camp School: Students of different countries meet in Pori to study environmental matters.
- Nature Photography and Video filming: Taking photos, developing and printing pictures.
- Environmental Medicine: The influence of environment on man’s health.
- Environmental legislation: Everyman’s rights and restrictions.
Drama studies
The drama studies also contain 10 courses. The courses range from video filming to theatre performances containing puppet theatre, mimics and different kinds of traditional and modern drama activities. Music is an essential part in every performance.
The main objective is to give students a chance to get used to being in front of audiences and to communicate their message freely.’
International contacts and co-operation
- Baltic Sea Project (BSP) since 1993
- An International Camp School in Pori at the end of May.
- In charge of the international The Pine Needle Project since 1995
- The expeditions to the Kola Peninsula in order to collect pine needles(1992, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2007), visits in the School number 5 in Monchegorsk
- In charge of the international Chemical Water Analysis since 2004
- In charge of the international Moss Ball studies since 2004
- Trips to our friendship schools and to international camp schools
- Participants in international environmental events