Information on First City Gymnasia, Cherkasy, Ukraine
Our slogan reads: ALWAYS FIRST
In 2020 Cherkasy First City Gymnasia marked its 140th anniversary. This educational establishment has grown from an all-male gymnasia, known by the names of: First Labour School; First Exemplary Secondary School; Secondary School #1; to a co-educational school.
Over the years it has offered courses for 12 languages: Ukrainian, Russian, English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Polish, Turkish, Chinese, Japanese, and Modern Hebrew. The gymnasia was officially acknowledged as the Education and Science Leader of Ukraine in 2011. It is a member of the Ukrainian Schools of the Future Association and the Ukrainian Association of Teachers of Spanish. It is a magnet school for the Institute of Pedagogy of Ukrainian National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences.
A number of international language centres work at the gymnasia: Cambridge English Exam Preparation Centre; Regional Cambridge ESOL Centre “Olympus”; Centro de Examen DELE Instituto Cervantes; Partner vom GOETHE-INSTITUT in der Ukraine im Rahmen des Projekts “Prufungen in der Schule”. The FCG student enrolment is 726 pupils, ages 6 through 17. The teaching staff numbers 62 members. Among them there are: 4 Honoured Teachers of Ukraine; 4 National Winners of Ukrainian-American programs: Teaching Excellence Award and Partners in Education; Change Agents – 2; 52 specialists of the highest qualification category.
Outstanding graduates of the school are the writers M. Drai- Khmara, O. Lebedenko, O. Korolevych, the graphic artist V. Zamyrailo, the historian B. Krupnytsky, the academician, scientist O. Barannikov, the former Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Ukraine to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland V. Khandogiy.
Cherkasy First City Gymnasia is a modern general educational school, new in form and content with a polylingual and multicultural surrounding which provides for its students a high-quality education, strong in developing a broad worldview and character.
Its School Parliament, Euroclub, Interact, Children’s Diplomacy Centre, English Club, UNESCO Club, language societies add practical experience. The gymnasia is not only a unique educational establishment but also an effective scientific centre. Its School Parliament, Euroclub, Interact, Children’s Diplomacy Centre, English Club, UNESCO Club, language societies add practical experience. The gymnasia is not only a unique educational establishment but also an effective scientific centre. It functions as a polylingual gymnasia with its scientific methodological program, which is focused on polylingual and multicultural personality development and international cooperation.
The pedagogical staff, under the leadership of Principal Serhiy Saienko, aims at civic education with the polylingual and multicultural formation of its students—raising dedicated citizens of Ukraine through the interactions of cultures, focusing on peace, tolerance, international cooperation, and partnership. In 2010 the Gymnasia was awarded a silver medal and the Diploma of the 2nd All-Ukrainian exhibition “Innovative Technologies in Ukraine – 2010”.
In 2011 the Gymnasia became the winner of the All-Ukrainian contest-defense: “The Best Model of the Education Establishment: School of the Future”. In the 2010-2014 academic years, 54 students became prize-winners of the IV round of All-Ukrainian Student Olympiads. In the Ukrainian- American program “Future Leaders”, 82 students became national winners and got scholarships covering their studying in American high schools for an academic year. Three gymnasia graduates got 200 points in English at the External Independent Assessment (ZNO).
In 2012 the Gymnasia won the Second All-Ukrainian best website contest “Website Is The Face of Success”, held in the frames of XV International jubilee educational establishments exhibition “Modern Education in Ukraine – 2012”, the Laureate of Ukrainian Production Quality Contest “100 Best Commodities of Ukraine” in the nomination “Educational Services”.
In February 2013 at the International Exhibition “Modern Education in Ukraine – 2013” in Kyiv the First Ukrainian Web Rating «SWR» among educational establishments, 1st place was presented to the gymnasia.
The Gymnasia was awarded a gold medal and the Diploma of the V International Exhibition “Modern Educational Establishments – 2014”.
In 2014 at the 4th All-Ukrainian Contest on the Best School Website the school is acknowledged as one of the winners. At the 9th Regional Pedagogical Exhibition “Education of Cherkasy Region” the gymnasia is decorated with the memorable award “The Image of Cherkasy Region Education – 2014”. In 2015 the Gymnasia was awarded the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine Diploma for 2nd place in the 5th All-Ukrainian Best Website Contest among general educational institutions.
In 2015 the gymnasia got the Institute of Pedagogy Certificate (NAPS of Ukraine) certifying the Semen Goncharenko Award in the nomination “Methods of Teaching”. In November 2015 the gymnasia was awarded the Honorary Diploma of the National Academy of the Pedagogical Sciences of Ukraine.
In 2016 the Gymnasia received the Certificate of the VII International Exhibition “Modern Educational Institutions – 2016” awarding the gymnasia with a silver medal. In 2016 the gymnasia got the 3rd place in the 2nd All-Ukrainian Contest-Rating of Work with Gifted Children “School is a Source of Talents”; two teachers of English became winners of the All-Ukrainian project “Teachers of English – Agents of Change”, and the gymnasia became the winner of All-Ukrainian project “GoCamps”. In 2015-2016 4 gymnasia students became the winners of the All-Ukrainian Student Olympiad and the graduate Oleksandr Shvets got 1st place in English at the All-Ukrainian Contest-Defence of Research Works by students-members of Mala Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.
In 2017 First City Gymnasia was awarded with gold medals on the VIII International Exhibition “Modern Educational Institutions-2017”. The gymnasia got 2nd place in the 3d All-Ukrainian Contest-Rating of Work with Gifted Children “School is a Source of Talents” and became the winner of the All-Ukrainian project “GoCamps”. 6 students became winners of the IVth Round of All-Ukrainian Student Olympiads and the tenth former Maria Samokhvalova got 2nd place in French at the 3rd Round of All-Ukrainian Contest-Defence of Research Works by students-members of the Mala Academy of Sciences of Ukraine In 2018 the gymnasia was awarded a gold medal and a Diploma of the IX International Exhibition “Modern Educational Institutions – 2018”. The gymnasia became the laureate in the 4th All-Ukrainian Contest-Rating of Work with Gifted Children “School is a Source of Talents” and became the winner of the All-Ukrainian project “GoCamps”. 7 students became winners of the IVth Round of All-Ukrainian Student Olympiads and the eleventh former Maria Samokhvalova got the 1st place in French at the 3rd Round of the All-Ukrainian Contest-Defence of Research Works by students-members of the Mala Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.
In 2020 First City Gymnasia marked its 140th anniversary. The celebration of the event was postponed due to the COVID-2019 pandemics. In spring 2020 the gymnasia was awarded a gold medal and a Diploma of the X International Exhibition “Modern Educational Institutions – 2020”.
In 2021 the gymnasia was awarded a gold medal and a Diploma of the XII International Exhibition “Modern Educational Institutions – 2021”. On 26th September 2021, FCG celebrated the 25th anniversary of being a member of the UNESCO Associated Schools Network (ASPnet) which currently has around 11,000 members in over 180 countries of the world. Oleksandr Zaporozhets, an 11th form student, received a bronze medal in the 55th International Mendeleiev Olympiad and a silver medal in the 53rd International Chemistry Olympiad which took place in Japan. Our gymnasia got to the TOP-200 best schools in Ukraine and took the 90th place according to the ZNO results, and 14th place of the results in English. Three international volunteers (from Poland, the USA and China) are teaching at our gymnasia.
Updated at 19.02.2024
