Phil Graf is at Our Gymnasia Again

At the end of May − the beginning of June, 2009 Phil Graf, a former teacher of History from Montgomery High School, Santa Rosa, California, USA an official sister – school of our gymnasia, came on a visit to Cherkasy. It was his 6th visit, which took place in 11 years after his last visit to our gymnasia in 1998. A long – standing close friendship exists between the families of Phil Graf and Nataliya Vasylivna Rebenko, a teacher of English of our gymnasia. So, it’s no wonder that N.V.Rebenko hosted our American guest this time too. Phil Graf visited Kyiv with its magnificent places of interest, the famous park “Sophiyivka” in the town of Uman, historical places of Chyhyryn, the picturesque Ukrainian village of Balakliya. He also spent a few days at our gymnasia, but the most memorable for him appeared our Last Bell Ceremony during which everybody present felt that special unique spirit of the gymnasia as one extended family of teachers, pupils and their parents. There Phil Graf was awarded the Status of the Honorary Teacher of the gymnasia. During this solemn ceremony Phil Graf promised to continue working for the benefit of broadening sister – school relationship between the American and Ukrainian schools and promote the revival of school exchanges.