THE PROJECT "CONNECTING CLASSROOMS" HAS ENTERED ITS ACTIVE PHASE. *

So the day in the Gymnasia’s life, preparations to which began as early as January 2012, came. It was then that we started to take part in the British Council in Ukraine’s program "Connecting Classrooms" and began preparations for the celebration of the 200th birth anniversary of Charles Dickens, the famous classic of English literature. A detailed plan for holding various activities dedicated to this memorable date at the Gymnasia, was drawn up. The activities agreed Vic Jackopson, a well-known in Ukraine philanthropist and benefactor (Hope Now International Charitable Christian Fund), agreed to open these activities. He twice visited the Gymnasia with lectures and multimedia presentations on the life and work of the famous writer, and also applied to the administrations of secondary schools in the UK with the initiative to stage a play based on Charles Dickens’ works and the opportunity to perform it in English at Cherkasy First City Gymnasia.

The program of the British Council

"Connecting Classrooms"

An important visit to the Gymnasia.

So the day in the Gymnasia’s life, preparations to which began as early as January 2012, came. It was then that we started to take part in the British Council in Ukraine’s program "Connecting Classrooms" and began preparations for the celebration of the 200th birth anniversary of Charles Dickens, the famous classic of English literature. A detailed plan for holding various activities dedicated to this memorable date at the Gymnasia, was drawn up. Vic Jackopson, a well-known in Ukraine philanthropist and benefactor (Hope Now International Charitable Christian Fund), agreed to open these activities. He twice visited the Gymnasia with lectures and multimedia presentations on the life and work of the famous writer, and also applied to the administrations of secondary schools in the UK with the initiative to stage a play based on Charles Dickens’ works and the opportunity to perform it in English at Cherkasy First City Gymnasia. This initiative found a response from teachers and pupils of Chilton Сantelo School, Yeovil, the County of Somerset (Principal Dr. J. Price). Julian Pomroy, a Drama teacher wrote the script of the play and performed it with 11 students who responded and willingly worked at the rehearsals. Melanie Smith, a Drama teacher, helped with the preparation of the performance. It took a lot of time, work and supply of strength to prepare the performance, as well as to organize the trip to Ukraine. The British company was hosted by the FCG teachers and pupils.

The performance started at the stage of Cherkasy Regional Academic Ukrainian Music and Drama Theatre named after Taras Shevchenko at 1 p.m. on October 24, 2012. Not only pupils of Forms 7-11 and English teachers from the FCG, but also pupils and teachers of Cherkasy Humanitarian and Law Lyceum, Gymnasia No. 31 and freshmen of the Department of Romance and Germanic Philology of Cherkasy National University named after Bohdan Khmelnitsky were present in the auditorium. The event was started by V. Jackopson, playing the part of Charles Dickens, whose acting excited the curiosity of all the present. The British teenagers had prepared an excellent performance and professionally played the parts of Charles Dickens’ father and mother, Charles Dickens, D. Copperfield, Mr. Creakle, Fagin and others. An excellent song was performed to pupil Louis Mustin’s violin accompaniment. The British schoolchildren, their teachers and Vic Jackopson received an ovation, a lot of flowers and cheerful responses. The success of the performance was absolute.

Thus, the successful work of the future partner schools in the British Council in Ukraine’s program of the "Connecting Classrooms" is going on.

N. V. Ananyeva,

PhD, Vice-principal of Cherkasy First City Gymnasia

Serhiy Sayenko

Principal of Cherkasy First City Gymnasia