Congratulations to Cherkasy First City Gymnasia Ukraine on its 130th Anniversary
Vic Jackopson
President of the International Christian Charitable Fund "Hope Now", Southampton, the UK
Dear teachers,
It is a great joy to congratulate you on the occasion of your 130 year celebration. It has been a privilege to be associated with the First City Gymnasium over the past ten years and, even though I am retiring from Hope Now at the end of October this year, I shall maintain an interest in the school.
It is to your credit that you opened your doors to allow, erstwhile homeless young people, places in your establishment, providing for them a secure academic foundation for their continued studies in university and future chosen professions.
Indeed, it is that conscious pursuit for excellence in all things, academic andsocietal, that makes the First City Gymnasium the best school of choice in Cherkassy for any parent who understands that education is more than just passing examinations and desires for their offspring a fully developed social conscience.
Susan Willoughby
Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire, the UK
I am delighted to have this opportunity to contribute to the celebrations to mark the 130th Anniversary of your school. Since I first visited Cherkassy in 1992,the school has gone from strength to strength becoming a beacon of excellence not only in the city and region but also nationally. This has been as a result of the dedication and professionalism of outstanding teachers and the hard work of students who love learning for its own sake and who are ambitious to succeed in everything they do. Both of these factors impressed me from the first moment that I arrived in your school and I have never ceased to be amazed by the vision, drive and energy that has created a school that not only excels in the range and quality of its language teaching but that also reaches out to and touches so many aspects of our 21st century world. I believe that teachers and students of the First City Gymnasium can be justly proud of their achievements. I send you my heartfelt congratulations and share with you my confidence that the school will continue to grow, develop and to achieve great things in the future.
Gary Stimson
Colchester, Essex, the UK
Congratulations to The Fist City Gymnasia on the school's 130th Anniversary. The staff and pupils of Baynards Primary School in Tiptree, Essex, England all wish you joyous elebrations on this historic occasion.
We have enjoyed our connections with you over the past years, particularly through the mutual exchanges of staff and pupils, and hope that your students and staff continue to develop their specialisms in a diverse range of anguages and countries to visit in which to practise them.
Best wishes on this momentous occasion.
Arthur Glinn
a member of International Christian Charitable Fund "Hope Now", the UK
It was my privilege to be invited to First City Gymnasia. Here I met your groups of seven/eight year old children in their English class under the guidance of Olga Tarasenko. They were a bright and enthusiastic group of children and I was impressed at the level of English they had achieved at such a young age.
In addition I attended and spoke with a very confident group of 14 year olds. Such students are worthy of educational investment for their own welfare and the fortunes of their country in the wider world. The facilities of the school appeared good and the general ethos progressive.
The age range of the teaching staff was wide and some appeared so young as to be confused with senior students. Returning to the students of English I noted that many spoke with diction and clarity that is greater than some English children with whom I frequently deal.
So congratulations to staff, pupils and parents and may the rewards of such education result in the enrichment of the society into which they have been born.
Sonja Bedford and Alice Waco
Santa Rosa, California, the USA
Congratulations to First City Gymnasium and all its staff and students on the school's 13 decades of education. We and our Santa Rosa Sister City Youth Exchanges have been honored to be part of your history during two of those decades. We have experienced your staff's remarkable teamwork and dedication to mutual understanding of global issues and empowering youth to realize Ukrainians and Americans are more alike than different.
We know it has taken leadership and commitment to envision your school's program and its international outreach. You have allowed an openness and willingness to navigate this pathway. How fortunate we are to be part of this journey which started in 1989 and continues into the 21st century with youth and teacher exchanges. We know that Santa Rosa, California is not your only partner in the world. The school's many partnerships demonstrate how FCG is a model for international citizen diplomacy.
If we were to visit you in the future, we know we would experience the same warm welcome and love of the FCG family. We wish you the best in this new decade and hope that all your goals are realized.
Mike and Jolee Steinberg
Sebastopol, California, the USA
Mike and Jolee Steinberg have been aware of this wonderful school for many years. In 1989 we had the opportunity, through Mike's work as an administrator at Santa Rosa High School and a Sister Cities student exchange, to meet many students from First City Gymnasium and in 1992 to house Nadezhda Ananieva. We have kept in touch with Nadia for all these years and have even been fortunate to visit your impressive school in 2005.
We are so happy to send our congratulations on such an important occasion.
We know Nadia Ananieva has worked for the past 29 years to constantly improve and advance the school. She is so proud of this school and so are we. She has been instrumental in fostering student exchanges so students can encounter other countries and cultures, make long distance friendships, and see how important language skills are in a global society.
Cherkasy is no longer our Sister City, due to our retirement from education.
However, we were just called recently about the visit some of your students made to Santa Rosa. It is good to see that these exchanges continue.
When we visited your school, we had the opportunity to see many classrooms, the reading room/library, the auditorium, and the playroom area for younger children. We also know there is a media area, but it was summer and we were unable to visit it. We are so pleased that many efforts continue to improve the school. We are experiencing many budget problems in our country right now and appreciate how hard it is to keep schools progressing and prosperous. We applaud Nadia for all her efforts and again offer our congratulations.
Richard and Victoria Looze
Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, the USA
HEARTIEST CONGRATULATIONS
It is with great joy and sincerity that we extend our heartiest congratulations to First School Gymnasia on its 130th anniversary. For an institution such as First City Gymnasia to survive social and political upheavals during that time, is truly a testimony to the excellent teachers and administrators who have so competently guided the school through some difficult times.
Please allow us to note in particular the contribution made in the past thirty years by Nadia Ananieva.
Her guidance in making First School Gymnasia an internationally recognized school of excellence has been remarkable. As an honored Educator of Excellence by the American Councils, Nadia directed several highly successful student exchanges to Fort Atkinson High School, Wisconsin, USA, and was instrumental in the establishment of a sister school program between First City Gymnasia and Fort Atkinson High School.
During our visits to First City Gymnasia, we were highly impressed to observe a staff of educators completely dedicated to the welfare of their students. The Board of Directors can be proud to know that First City Gymnasia is in such competent hands.
Again, we congratulate First City Gymnasia on its 130th anniversary and are confident it will celebrate many more such milestones.
Barry and Donah Seidel
Minocqua, Wisconsin, the USA
It is with great pleasure and enthusiasm that we congratulate you and the entire staff of First City Gymnasium on the occasion of your 130th Anniversary! We also congratulate your students as they are the very reason for the school to exist, and it is through their hard work at their studies that the efforts of you and your staff come to fruition. When were privileged to visit your school several years ago we found the enthusiasm of the students and staff to be remarkable and your standards for education to be of the highest degree. It was very apparent to us that First City Gymnasium is truly a first class educational institution and one of the best of its kind.
What is even more remarkable is that you have accomplished this in spite of what at times seems to be very difficult and even adverse conditions. It is your spirit and hard work that has made this possible. You all have much to be proud of. You have set an example that we wish the schools in our community would follow.
You have our respect, our sincere congratulations, and our best wishes for continued success in the future.
Ivana Ottonello, Giovanna Gorziglia
Sckola Pietro Thouar, Genova, Italia
Dear teachers,
On your school’s 130th anniversary, we send our best wishes for you, for your school and students: may your work with youth be successful for ever!
Else Maj Franzel
Hanstholm, Denmark
We wish you all the best in the future and thank you for many years of correspondence via letters, mails, and personal visits.
We have been close partners at a distance and have truly enjoyed the various exchanges throughout the years.
On behalf of Hanstholm Friskole, Denmark, I send my warmest wishes to all your students and staff, may the future bring you much happiness, learning and creativity full of enthusiasm.
Olena and Oleg Rebenko
graduates of 2000 and 1986
Dear Administration, Teachers and Students of the First City Gymnasia:
It is our pleasure to congratulate all of you on the 130th Anniversary of the Gymnasia. Even decades after our graduation, FCG still lives in our hearts as the brightest star that always shines with talent, outstanding performance and enduring results.
We believe everyone will agree that time and experiences at FCG are unsurpassed, and we cannot be prouder to have been a part of the Gymnasia - the one that is so unique, culturally diverse, socially driven, and always the first one. FCG has had a huge impact on many people's lives and it is that time that we honor Gymnasia and each one of you. So, thank you for all you do to hold the school's highest reputation, your devotion to knowledge and achievement, and your dedication to excellence and high standards.
We wish you the best as you embark on your next exciting adventure in the new decade. Congratulations!
Kateryna Sologub
graduate of 2005
I have been studying in the First City Gymnasia for eleven years. I often think fondly of my time there; the friendships I made, growing up and, of course, learning. However, the school has played a much more important role in my life than just happy reminiscing. My education at First City Gymnasia and the support I received from teachers allowed me to pass the entrance exams and study at Dean Close School, England. This in turn led to studying a degree in History of Art (BA) at Bristol University where I am in my final year. The excellent teaching of the wide variety of English subjects including English Grammar, Language, Literature, Country Study and Economics not only gave me profound knowledge of English language but also deepened my knowledge in the history, culture, the economical and political issues as well as current affairs of the English speaking countries. However unlike most of the schools, the First City Gymnasia offered more than just teaching. It was a community of the teachers and students working together for a better school, city and country. I have many memories of the cultural events that the teachers of Ukrainian Language and Literature organized, dedicated to the famous poets and writers. My classmates and I recited their poems, analyzed their life and even reenacted some scenes from their lives. Due to the school's fantastic international contacts, I had an amazing opportunity to go on a school trip to Texas, where we lived in the lovely homes of the hosting families, who looked after us and showed us the country with great generosity. The First City Gymnasia has always been active in the community, organizing many charitable events such as the Earth's day, when the whole school cleaned the streets of Cherkasy acting as an example to follow. They also organized days for us to visit children in the orphanages to bring small gifts, talk to them and show that someone cared. I will always First City Gymnasia as the place that shaped me into the person I am today and I am sure that the school will continue to educate and inspire the children of Cherkassy who are lucky enough to go there.
Natalia Bruslanova Hertel
graduate of 1992
Dear First Schoolers!
From the bottom of my heart I wish all of you a very happy 130th anniversary! I would like to wish all of you health, fulfillment and personal strength, especially in the times of political and economic turmoil.
I will share a quote from Peter Buffett, the son of legendary investor Warren Buffett, one of the richest men on the planet - "Economic prosperity may come and go, but values are the steady currency that earn us the all-important rewards." The values he refers to are the ones he learned from his parents and teachers - trust, tolerance, belief in education, and strong work ethic - these values helped Peter work his way up in the music industry on his own.
I am certainly very proud and grateful for the strong foundation I received during my ten years at FCG. I am hopeful that the traditions of excellence and academic rigor will remain for many years to come!
Natalia S. Yereskovska
graduate of 1997
Golden Period of My Life
I still remember like yesterday: enthusiastic teachers who saw an exciting future ahead of me. They believed in me and trusted that I could reach anything I would set my mind to. They challenged me to achieve my best and to never give up. I miss this mentoring nurturing environment, and I hope to do the same for others.
Every teacher I had in the Gymnasium was exceptional, gifted, and very diligent. And I always aspired to be like them. Their thoroughness and striving for excellence on every level were striking. It was in the Gymnasium where I truly fell in love with learning and performing, which stayed with me.
As I fell in love with arts, I continued singing and even dancing when studying at the university. I sang each year at the university international festival. During Winter Olympics of 2002, I also had the privilege to sing Ukrainian songs, dance "Hopak," and even play the Ukrainian flute "sopylka." I still dream to have my own recording studio, where I could record new songs and make inspirational music videos. I recognize though, that there is time and place for everything. One of the most valuable things I learned at the Gymnasium is that we should never stop dreaming and striving to accomplish our dreams.
Many years ago I shared one dream with many other young people. It was to study overseas. Thanks to the efforts of Ms. Nadiya Vasylivna Ananieva, the Gymnasium has established numerous ties with various schools and organizations overseas, which opened so many doors to the students! It was through one of such programs, ACCELS, that I went to the US for the first time, and it changed my life for good. Some may say that this might not be beneficial to Ukraine, when good students end up leaving the country. Yet these very students build bridges, while overseas, with Ukraine.
For example, when studying and working in the US, Ukrainian students, including myself, receive numerous opportunities to strengthen Ukraine's positive image here through their daily interactions with Americans and people from other countries. And it happens on many levels, from youth to high-ranking government officials. I am confident that those from the Gymnasium, especially those who have taken Ukrainian and Ukrainian Literature from
Ms. Manuikina and Ms. Gafinova, will carry the Ukrainian culture in their hearts wherever they go. These women's great appreciation for Ukrainian language and culture is contagious, and I still feel it. When such love is burning in your heart, it becomes natural to share it with others.
My desire to help Ukraine took me not only to international festivals, but also to several organizations, where I was using my knowledge and skills to build bridges between Ukraine and the US. The US-Ukraine Foundation was one of them. Another organization was the US-Ukraine Business Council. As I joined the IMF, I must maintain neutrality, but I still enjoy sharing Ukrainian culture through music and singing.
It has been 12 years since my graduation. The best memories of the Gymnasium, however, remained. I will always remember Mr. Sylenko and Ms. Tkachenko for teaching me to expand my horizons and to strive for knowledge beyond the given study curriculum. I will also always remember Ms. Ananieva's example of perseverance and perfection in all her undertaking. Her absolute dedication to the Gymnasium and her students is exceptional and is truly amazing. The students of the Gymnasium are very lucky to study in such a school, and I hope that there will be more schools and more like this in Ukraine and in the US. I hope with all my heart that the Gymnasium will become the model of the quality education not only in Ukraine, but also worldwide.
