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Education should be equally available for everyone, no matter where people live. It would be grossly unfair to concentrate better educational opportunities and facilities in the capital and big cities. The Internet has made everyone equal. Today, in the information society, there is no reason for people in smaller localities to feel inferior and less significant. It is all the matter of how people see themselves, position themselves, the matter of personal commitment and responsibility.
It is so good to know that in Belarus there are enthusiastic teachers everywhere, in big cities as well as in towns and villages. They do not look for excses, they just make things happen. 

Slonim Gymnasium No 1 is a great example. They are among top five in the national Centralized Testing, their students regularly win prizes at regional and national Olympiads, and later are admitted to the best universities. All this becomes possible because the Gymnasium gives a lot of attention to teachers' development.

Teachers' publications and students' achievements go hand in hand.
Every two years Slonim Gymnasium No 1 organizes an inter-regional forum for innovative practicing teachers, which is called PedPoisk, Pedagogical Quest. This year it was focusing on Traditions And Innovation in Education.
It was a good sign that the participants  and speakers from the previous Forums keep coming to Slonim and the number of the participants is growing year by year.

 

Halina Paikina, Principal of Gymnasium No 1, an inspiring leader, innovator, mentor, talented administrator is opening the Plenary Meeting, presents the Gymnasium and the teaching staff and briefs on the history of the PedPoisk Forum.

To say that it was well organised is to say nothing. The Forum attracted about a hundred of educators, not only teachers, but also researchers, regional and district administration, media, and even Rector of Hrodna Regional Institute of Development of Education Sviatlana Siarheika.

There was local and national press, as well as the school videographers.

  It was two days of inspiration, fruitful discussion, informative presentations, enjoyable children's performances and a trip to some local places of interest. 
Here are some glimpses, 

Welcoming performance by the students.
Students are the face of every school. No matter what teachers and administration say, children's behavior and attitude speak louder. In Slonim Gymnasium No 1 students are polite and welcoming, eager to take part in the events, to perform, to demonstrate their versatile talents, which are lovingly nurtured by their teachers. 
The reports and the discussions were informative and practice oriented. 

T.Tsihanchuk, Deputy Principal of the Gymnasium No 1 is demonstrating students' social networks based educational projects.

I.Dureika, Principal of the Gymnasium in Smarhon', another district center, explains how they harness innovative methods to achieve best performance of their students. 
The Plenary was followed by five sections: for educators, teachers of science, teachers of humanities, primary school teachers, and for teachers of foreign languages, which obviously was my destination. 

The session was moderated by Tatsiana Panasenka, a talented teacher of English, who over dozens of years has been in charge of the English Department in the Gymnasium. 

Valentina Holubeva was talking about easy ways to convert into a 21st century teacher available to everyone by just shifting the perspective, using technology and changing the priorities. This all implies a change in teacher development policy, doesn't it?

Natalia Padzyuk from Slonim Gymnasium No1 presented an ambitious social network project, where students studied their topics interacting with their peers in other cities and countries. This project involved the development of such 21st century skills and online interacting, multimedia production and real-life  learning.

A Movie Club was presented by Sviatlana Zotava from Hrodna Gymnasium No 7, who highlighted the key methodological principles of success. 
We can borrow a good tradition of Slonim's PerPoisk to close the Forum with reflection on what was happening at the session and awarding certificates.

Tatiana Panasenka is summarizing the presentations at the Foreign Languages Section. 

In addition to the certificates, the guests were awarded beautiful photobooks of Slonim, a city remarkable in terms of eventful history and picturesque landscapes.
An enjoyable retro-party followed. The students and teachers scrupulously selected hits from the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s, and dressed up accordingly. 
It was really moving to see how they were trying to reconstruct the atmosphere of the time and engage us, tired teachers in dancing and singing together. 
And we did dance and sing! What an enjoyable party!



Everyone enjoyed the beautiful voice and professional performance of the Gymnasium's teacher of music Natallia Kanapeshka, who makes school performances so enjoyable. 

The second day was for interaction and sight-seeing. It started with Pippi Longstocking muscle in English!
Enthusiastic kids, expressive acting, decent English plus dancing and signing - they conquered our hearts! The Domino Theater rocks!

Pippi is trying to figure out why the teacher is asking her questions if she knows the answers.

Pippi deals with the bullies.

Pippi shares her ideas of life and how to live it well.

Liudmila Kurdun, Coordinator of the PedPoisk Forum, presents the facilitators of the Domino Theater: Olga Masladudava, Assistant Director (left) and Tatiana Panasenka, Director (right).

The organizers of the bike ride and the sight-seeing tour are giving colorful ribbons to the participants. Teachers always try to add brighten up the life.