The theatrical performance of the fragment from Shakespeare’s “King Lear” and the presentation of the students (5-12 year olds) called “English in my life” were part of the Official Ceremony of the Closing of the Year of English in Ukraine. In 2016 the world celebrated 400th anniversary of the death of the great English poet William Shakespeare, and it is not surprising that we decided to stage an extract from his masterpiece. The actors were: Yelizaveta Odokiienko (11A), Tetiana Hnatenko (11B), Semen Bohatko (11A), Anna Ohol (11B), Kyryl Myronenko (6B), Sofiiia Liapkalo (5B), Vladyslav Kambur (11B) and Nikita Sushko (11B). The performance was directed by Estella Volodymyrivna Kirsanova, a teacher of English.
The students of 5-12 years old Anastasiia Harnaha (5 years old, Saturday School “Rainbow”), Polina Sytnyk (2A), Veronika Stohniienko (3B), Polina Kvasova (5B), Svitlana Samotuha (6B), Kyryl Myronenko (6B), Arsenii Rabenko (7A), Kseniia Avdeienko (6B) and Yelizaveta Ozeran (7A) shared with the audience what they think of English, how they use it and what role this foreign language plays in their lives. At the end the students sang a wonderful Christmas carol. The performance was directed by Yuliia Valentynivna Pais, a teacher of English.
By the way, on 15 December the students were invited to Cherkasy Regional Institute of Postgraduate Education of Teachers and their performance at the Closing Ceremony of the Year of English in Ukraine - 2016 won a storm of applause.
Traditionally our 5th formers celebrate Christmas in English. And this year isn’t an exception, although the date of the performance was shifted due to the quarantine in the city.
The celebration took place on 27 December. The 5th formers (class teachers – Y.O.Kovalenko, L.M.Basysta) and their English teachers (E.V.Kirsanova, N.A.Ovcharova, L.M.Basysta) demonstrated a wonderful preparation and their parents decorated the Assembly Hall in an excellent way.
The Christmas plays were greatly admired by parents and grandparents, teachers and many other guests. There were visitors from abroad there: a Peace Corps volunteer Judith Enders and a student from the USA Steven Lein. The celebration was interesting, bright and happy. It was the true Christmas!
In such way Christmas has been celebrated in our gymnasia for many years.
On 23 December Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine has provided Cherkasy region with 739 computers which were presented by Chinese Peoples Republic according to the agreement.
Our gymnasia found out about this gift at the end of summer. 15 new computers were promised to every school that conducted Summer English GoCamps. And that’s what happened – we received precisely this number of computers. They will be installed in Classroom #13 and beginning from 11 January students of Gymnasia will start using new PCs. A modern operating system, many electronic versions of textbooks and other useful programs have already been installed in all the computers.
Recently there’s been conducted a qualifying contest of drawings on a topic “With Belgium in Heart” in our city. The goal was to make a drawing of Belgian facts of life or history of the country on a standard A4 paper size, as well as to collect and present short information material.
Almost 20 students of our Gymnasia presented their works. On 12 December the Senior Jury from the local Rotary Club – and that was the project of this voluntary organization – designated three best works. These are the works of Daryna Okhrimenko (6B), Rimma Sirenok (7B) and Yevheniia Kononets (5B).
Their works will be sent to Kharkiv where another jury will select the best of the best works.
The winners will gain the right to visit Belgium in summer and take part in the project “Star Summer – 2017”.
Every single work will be sent to an exhibition which will be held in the Embassy of Belgium in Kyiv.
On this special 400th anniversary year of Shakespeare’s death we decided to celebrate the life and legacy of this magnificent poet by organizing such activities as the Shakespeare Sonnet Recital Competition, the exhibition of his works in the school library, dramatizing a piece from his comedy “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” with the 11th graders and making a video.
On December 2, 2016, Shakespeare Sonnet Recital Competition took place at the gymnasia. The students of the 11th forms Viktoria Kuziominska, Tetiana Hnatenko, Yelizaveta Odokienko, Anna Ogol, Semen Bohatko, Pavlo Paliychuk and the 10th forms Kseniia Ozeran, Kateryna Panchenko, Alina Lykova, Polina Striletska, Karina Chepurna took part in the competition. Sonnet № 130 was the most popular among the students. Karina Chepurna, a student of the 10-B form, who recited sonnet №130 and Yelizaveta Odokienko, a student of the 11-A form, who recited sonnet №66, won first place. All participants of the competition will get school certificates. Obviously, the students were happy to recite the famous bard’s sonnets and all those present enjoyed listening to his world-known poetry.
On this day the exhibition of Shakespeare’s works was organized in the school library. The books of the world famous and renowned English author were exhibited on a special display. The theme of the exhibition was The World of the Great Shakespeare. The bard’s most famous citations and the students’ illustrations to his works were also used. The exhibition on the occasion of the 400th anniversary of the poet’s death was prepared by the school librarian Galyna Krotovych. The teachers, students and their parents will have a possibility to get acquainted with the exhibition from December 2 to December 16.
The dramatization of a piece from his comedy “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” with the 11th graders will take place on December 14, so, the video will be sent on December 15.
We are grateful to the British Council, Ukraine for the ideas to celebrate Shakespeare in schools and get involved in an unprecedented global programme commemorating the brilliant bard.
On December 1, 2016, Shakespeare Sonnets Recital Competition took place at the gymnasia. The students of the 11th forms Viktoria Kuziominska, Tetiana Hnatenko, Yelizaveta Odokienko, Anna Ogol, Semen Bohatko, Pavlo Paliychuk and the 10th forms Kseniia Ozeran, Kateryna Panchenko, Alina Lykova, Polina Striletska, Karina Chepurna took part in the competition. Sonnet № 130 was the most popular among the students. Karina Chepurna, a student of the 10-B form, who recited sonnet №130 and Yelizaveta Odokienko, a student of the 11-A form, who recited sonnet №66, won first place. All participants of the competition will get school certificates. Obviously, the students were happy to recite the famous bard’s sonnets and all those present enjoyed listening to his world-known poetry.
On November 25 the Opening of VIII Regional Conference “Model UN: Scandi-2016” took place at Scandinavian Gymnasium. The theme of the conference was “Transformation of our World: Reaching Global Goals of Sustainable Development until 2013”.
Among the guests there was Juha Virtanen, the Ambassador of Finland, Peter Liden, the Defenсe Attaché from the Embassy of Sweden, Yuriy Pyvovarov, the Ambassador-at-large from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Zurab Topuria, Cultural Attaché from the Embassy of Georgia, Vadym Nozdria, the Deputy of Kyiv City Council, Oksana Fedorenko, the Representative of the Deputy of Kyiv City Council Ihor Balenko, Georhii Momtselidze, the Principal of Tbilisi School.
Model UN is an international role-play game that imitates the activity of one of the most important organizations of the modern world. The participants of the Model play the role of international diplomats and politicians, and thus get an idea how the UN works “from inside” and have an opportunity to be in the shoes of the world leaders. During the conference the students learn how to present their own point of view, prove it, refute other delegates’ statements.
Our team consisted of the students from 11-A form: Arten Tyhonenko, Viktor Shandra, Valeriia Reva, Valeriia Oliinyk, and from 10-B form: Daniil Ostashov, Karina Prylepska. The Vice-Principal of our Gymnasia Halyna Leonidivna Korniienko was together with our students. The most unforgettable thing was the Ball, where our students learnt thirteen kinds of ballroom dance. The ball finished at about 9 p.m. Everybody was tired, but very excited. The FCG team represented our First City Gymnasia worthily and got unforgettable experience in leading debates, giving public speeches and made many new friends.
On 18 November the 7th exhibition “I am a Collector” was conducted in our Gymnasia. Visitors had an opportunity to see unbelievable beauty of ancient post cards, dolls, toy dinosaurs and cars, creative presentation of erasers and personal awards. Coins and stamps were traditional exhibit items that could be found at all the exhibitions. This time some teachers took part in the exhibition. N. I. Ovcharova surprised everyone with her collection of pencils brought from different parts of the world, and L. V. Shaposhnikova shared her hobby to collect stones from her travels. This year there was a record number of participants – 58. All the participants will be awarded with certificates and their collectable things will be remembered by the whole family of the First City Gymnasia.
Our Gymnasia has made another step toward participation in an international project “KLASNA SHKOLA”.
The project “Klasna Shkola” is being implemented by Polish non-governmental organization “Klasna Shkola” in cooperation with All-Ukrainian Association of Teachers of History and Social Disciplines “New Age” and co-financed by the Fund “Education for Democracy” as part of RITA – Developments in the Regions Programme by Polish-American Freedom Foundation with support from Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.
On 11 November the teacher of English Yulia Serhiivna Brovchenko took part in a seminar which was conducted in the city of Dnipro. We’ve become one step closer to the participation in this interesting project.
By the way, School #28 has already achieved high results in the above mentioned project.
A teacher of Spanish Valentyna Ivanivna Bereslavska spent one week in Salamanca, Spain, where she attended the courses for Spanish teachers.
The course participants were offered classes on didactics and implementation of modern information technology at the lessons of Spanish. The teachers from Poland, Slovakia and Ukraine attended lectures on Spanish history, culture and art. They visited the Bullfighting Museum, Modern Art Museum, toured an ancient cathedral of the XV century and attended dancing classes in Crown of Castile where the city Salamanca is situated.
At the end of the courses the teachers received certificates of attendance.
On 28 October a group of our students Yelizaveta Odokiienko (11A), Pavlo Paliichuk (11B) and Iliia Lahutin (10A) took part in All-Ukrainian Conference “Ukraine – Eastern Countries of the 21st Century in the Dialogue of Languages, Cultures, Pedagogical Systems: Values of an Individual”. The event was held on the premises of our partner school – Kyiv Gymnasia of Oriental Languages. Our delegation presented their own PowerPoint Presentation and had an opportunity to participate in a workshop: “Dialogue and Cooperation of Ukrainian and Eastern Values – Basic Principles of a Tolerant Individual of the 21st Century”. The students of our Gymnasia took an active part in a special training called “Success Grants Wings”.
CHERKASY STUDENTS The University of Iowa is offering a special scholarship for undergraduate students from a designated Iowa Sister State. The award is designed for incoming international first-year students with outstanding high school records who are residents of and currently reside in one of Iowa's sister states, including Cherkasy Oblast. The Iowa Sister State Scholarship will be awarded after a holistic review of the application and submission of the Iowa SSS Application . (https://uiowa.academicworks.com/opportunities…) A maximum of 10 scholarships will be made available each year to residents of each of Iowa's sister states. The value of the award is $16, 000 ($4, 000 per year). Recipients will be expected to serve a minimum of one semester as an ambassador for their state/province during their time at Iowa and connect with Iowa Sister States and their events. It is the University of Iowa’s desire to keep Cherkasy Oblast fully informed of such new opportunities. Please direct questions about the special award to principal.
From 26 October to 1 November there will be a “Young Law Experts Tournament”. Two FCG students Yelizaveta Orel and Vladyslava Pronina will take part in it. Cherkasy regional team will also include two students from PHYMLY.
Such tournaments are the equivalent to All-Ukrainian Olympiads, but on a fee paid basis.
The group leader of Cherkasy regional team is the History teacher V. A. Sylenko.
If anyone has a desire to participate in the similar contests, please contact the administration of our Gymnasia.
On October 22 Interact returned home. From October 16 till 21 six members of our Interact Club visited Polish city Karpacz where the first international conference “Interact in the Service of Peace” was held. During the conference members of Interact clubs from Poland, Ukraine, Germany and Israel were discussing the issues of strengthening peace on Earth, and our representatives did have something to share – all the participants of the international event were interested to learn about what was happening in the Crimea and in the eastern Ukraine.
The organizers of the conference prepared an eventful sightseeing and educational program. The participants had an audience with the mayor of Jelenia Gora, visited to several local castles, a Miniature Park, the local Crystal Glass Factory, the famous castle Ksiaz, Uranium Mine, etc.
The main achievement of the conference was the fellowship of young leaders. The profound knowledge of the English language of our participants was a great surprise for aeverybody.
Starting from tomorrow Interact will put into practice the new ideas brought from the conference, communicate with new friends on-line and get ready for the second international conference which will be held next year.
The day before the celebration an ambassador of Spain in Ukraine held a welcome reception. Once it was a day of Hispanic race and spirit. Nowadays on the 12 October they celebrate it as a birth day of a community of nations speaking the Spanish language which takes the second place in the world in amount of native speakers. Every year the celebration of Hispanidad starts on the central square of Madrid where one can see a commemoration parade of National Guard of Spain.
The welcome reception was held in the capital hotel “Intercontinental”. The principal of our Gymnasia was invited to the reception and took part in it. During the reception he met with the representatives of Spanish Embassy and had short conversations with them.
A debate tournament “Cherkasy-2016” was hold at the premises of school #17. Two English-speaking teams from our Gymnasia, “DREAM TEAM” and “GARDEN”, took part in the competition among the 22 registered teams. The teammates were Anna Ogol, Yelizaveta Odokienko, Tetiana Hnatenko, Pavlo Paliichuk, Ilia Lahutin andValeriia Reva. The teams played in the format “Affirmation and Objection”, discussing the topic “History cannot be trusted, because it’s written by winners”. Our speakers demonstrated a wonderful and dynamic game, gained useful experience, deepened their knowledge of history. “DREAM TEAM” took the first place and “GARDEN” took the third place. The teams were really converging. Among the members there were winners of city and regional Olympiads, three finalists of FLEX Program and Rotary Youth Exchange Program.
Fact file: Debates is an educational training approach which was popularized in the Universities of Oxford and Harvard and later was spread among the universities of more than 140 countries of the world. Debates foster skills of public speaking, analytical thinking, help young people to understand the opponents, overcome stage fright and take bearings during information manipulation.
75 years have passed since one of the most tragic events, the Holocaust, happened in Ukraine – the mass slaughter of Jews on 29-30 September 1941 in Babyn Yar, Kyiv. On 28 September a memorial lesson dedicated to that tragedy was conducted in the Gymnasia. Pupils of 9-A and 10-A forms recited poems about the Holocaust and those tragic events in Babyn Yar. A video-interview with the last witness of that awful tragedy Mykhaylo Sidko brought a tear to everybody’s eye. The purpose of the lesson was to bestow honours to the victims of the crimes committed by the Nazis during the occupation of the capital of Ukraine – civilians of many nationalities, prisoners of war, participants of Ukraine liberation movement. At the end of the event Katerina Olehivna Sukhenko challenged the pupils of Gymnasia to be tolerant, merciful and join all the forces to prevent a repeat of crimes against humanity.
From September 26th Peace Corps volunteer Judith Enders has started her work in our Gymnasia. She has spent the first week learning methods of teaching English in Gymnasia, and starting from October she will conduct her first lessons.
The administration has set up a teaching schedule for the volunteer for the whole academic year. For the most part she will teach English-language subjects for the students of 8-11th forms.
Judith will spend one academic year in First City Gymnasia.
In the photo: Judith is observing the lesson conducted by V. M. Potiomkin.
Hi! It happened so that I spent the previous academic year in the USA in the 5th grade of Dummer Elementary School, Illinois. My school was very big and beautiful. My Principal Mrs. Ford was very nice to everybody in the school. My teacher was Mrs. Hoag. She was pleasant and likable and felt happy for every student’s achievement. If a student in her class got A (the highest grade in the American school), Mrs. Hoag could dance her happy dance! I always enjoyed those happy dances.
In my class there were 21 students. We didn’t have to wear any uniform but on certain days we needed to dress up like Micky Mouse ot Minney Mouse, children’s favourite cartoon characters, wear something orange, green and much more fun stuff. We even had a day when we came to school in pajamas! At school children were very nice to me and each other. Every week on Mondays and Wednesdays we went to the school library. Our school library was very spacious and full of interesting books and computers. We had a librarian named Mrs. Daisy, she was very helpful and attentive to everybody. On Mondays and Wednesdays we had Music classes. Our music teacher was Mr.Aska. We were eager to learn new songs, play the harmonica or the guitar and beat rhythm on drums. For two months we had D.A.R.E, which means D-drug, A-abuse, R-resistance, E-education. A policeman came to teach us the course.
I remember a day on the eve of Halloween, because there was a wonderful party. We could paint the Principal’s and teacher’s hair and use make up. We could play games and win candy. One more interesting fact is that if a student did his homework in a good way and returned it on time, and was good at it all week, on Friday those students had 30 minutes to play outside. And those who didn’t do their homework on well, and didn’ return it on time, had to sit inside and do their homework.
I had such classes as Language arts, Reading, Spelling, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Physical Education, Music. I enjoyed studying that is why I worked hard and finished the 5th grade with all As.
My classmates and I went to the opera, theatre, museums but the most memorable was our trip to Springfield, the capital of Illinois. I feel proud that we visited the museum of President Abraham Lincoln and his house. In February we had a talent show. There were many students who wanted to perform on the stage and, certainly, including me. I sang a song and I was so delighted when I won the 3rd place. Every month we chose the Student of the Month who had the best behaviour and grades. I was so happy when I was chosen the February Student of the Month and got a certificate.
I have a lot of warm and nice memories of being a student of an American school last academic year. I feel happy that I could make a lot of friends there. American children are so open, easy-going and friendly. I keep in touch with my best friends by e-mail now. I am sure, the experience I’ve got in the USA is extremely important for my personal growth and my future adult life.
Recently, the workshop A Practical Guide for Fun English Language Activities as part of the project Let's GoCamp was held at America House in Kyiv. Our gymnasia was represented at the seminar by Khvorostantseva N.V., an English teacher. The organizer Liubov Zaliubovska told the audience about the idea of organizing summer language camps at schools and about the activities of the NGO Go Global. Anna Novosad, a representative of the Department for international relations of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, who was invited to the seminar, told the audience about the initiation of language camps with the support of the Ministry of Education. Kevin Makkohi, a regional representative for the study of English of the US Embassy, and Leslie Op-Beckman, a specialist in English language teaching from the U.S. Department of State, conducted brilliant master classes on the implementation of gaming technology in learning English, taking into account the theory of multiple intelligence and cognitive abilities of pupils. The seminar participants received certificates and gifts from the US Embassy, which would be useful for our language camp.
