Polis-Licey

Today in La Crosse my students are celebrating Read Across America day for Dr Suess' birthday.  They will celebrate with a Read-a-Thon all day to raise money for our sister-school in Nicaragua.  Here in Dubna, we got to celebrate as well at Polis-Licey!  They had a celebration for the First Day of Spring, and we were the guests of honor!  (Ironically, this is the first day in several that it has snowed.)

Polis-Licey is a very small school with only a few classrooms that has both regular and special education students.  The other schools we went to were around 450 students, this one had less than 40. It was clear that they have a family atmosphere.  Mrs Every and I have both been looking forward to coming for a visit because we met their principal, Lyudmila G this summer in La Crosse.

The celebration began with Mrs Every and I being welcomed and the room cheering for us.  Wow - that's not the kind of entrance I'm used to making!

Then the students sang some songs for us.  Of course I loved this!!!

After the singing, a couple of teachers explained about some Russian traditions.  One is hand made dolls.  I'm actually going to do a separate blog on those, because they became an important part of our day.  They also had a ring of bread with a container of salt in the middle of it.  We were invited up in front, and we took a piece of the bread and dipped it in the salt.  This symbolizes that we have eaten meal together and so now we are like family.  It was very sweet!  This picture of it is from my friend Ljudmila L.  The funny part of this is that we wanted to embrace the tradition, and so really dunked our bread in the salt, not knowing that we were just supposed to touch it in there.  Have you ever eaten a mouth full of salt?  Whew!

Next the students showed parts of a play that they are preparing.  It was about a fly that found a coin, went to market and bought a samovar, and then invited her insect friends over for tea.  

See the large kettle that this boy is holding?  It is a samovar.    I have seen these in many Russian homes!  In the bottom is hot water for tea, and you get the water out by the faucet.  On the top is a holder for a teapot, to keep the water warm.  

After the play, a ladies choir came up and sang traditional songs.  I can not begin to tell you how special it was to me to be with these musicians, on the other side of the world, enjoying their music and in such beautiful clothing!

The audience was clapping along, and at one point adults spontaneously grabbed students to dance along.  There was such joy in the room, it really touched my heart!

After the performance, Mrs Every and I  were invited with the choir to sit down for tea.  We had delicious blini made by the parents and students.  

What a lovely tea!!!!!

This was no reserved staff...once again the bayan was pulled out for more singing and dancing.  I'm wondering would the North Woods Staff would look like if this was OUR teacher's lounge...