Gymnázium Ceský Krumlov

Our grammar school provides 4, 6 and 8-year study programmes. All students must get used to a new way of work, which is very different from learning at a basic school (also known as 'elementary'). All programmes prepare the students for the school-leaving exam. Passing this exam, which is compulsory in Czech and another language and then two other subjects taught here, is a necessary condition for entering the university or college.

Equipment There are a few specialized and lots of ordinary classrooms. In all of them, there are desks, chairs and green blackboards. You must use a chalk to write on the blackboard and a wet sponge to erase it, again. We have about thirty computers available to each student. All have access to the internet. The computers are placed in two specialized classrooms. In addition, there are Tv sets and video machines in some 'ordinary' classrooms. We sometimes use them in our lessons. There are a large gymnasium with new bright lights and a small fitness centre on the first floor. You can get rid of all your energy in these facilities. We are allowed to have pets, such as spiders, hamsters or mice, in our classrooms. Some classes have already put an aquarium with a pet in their classrooms and must now look after them every day. There are a swimming pool, some tennis courts, volleyball courts, a football pitch, a winter stadium for ice-skating, an athletics track and a medium-size skatepark nearby. All these facilities are within a walking distance of our school. All students and employees have got a chip card, which they need to enter the school. There is a wonderful hill garden with rare species above the school. It is always so relaxing to look at it. During free lessons, we can study in a special room. We call it 'study', because you can sit down here, borrow a book from the bookshelves or simply revise from your exercise books. Here you can prepare for the next lesson. For those, who like their midday meal, we have a small but cosy canteen. Here you can have a soup, the main meal and something to drink. There are two table tennis tables. One in the students' cloakroom and the other near the gymnasium. All students can feel free to fill their breaks with a table tennis match with their schoolmates. There are many more facilities, such as the students' library, copy centre, advertising notice-boards, school radio broadcasting where different classes take turns during the lunch break, etc. Starý, Hanušová, Kopacková Types of study provided at our school The 4-year programme is for 14-16-year-olds, who have just finished the basic school and plan to go on for a university after finishing the grammar school. This programme has the longest tradition at our grammar school and has been provided for tens of years now. The 6-year study programme is for younger pupils with outstanding results. They leave the seventh class at the basic school and start their eighth class here. They must learn more but are often rewarded by better results at the university entering exams. We think that they have an advantage compared to the 4-year study. They have more time for mastering the different subject matters and can go in a greater depth. The 8-year study programme is for small children aged between 11-12, who have outstanding results at the basic school and maybe get a little bit bored there. They have a chance to meet more competition here at our school and study with other pupils with similar skills. After eight years of study at our school, they have a great chance of getting in a university of their choice nationwide. Accommodation is provided for all students who would otherwise have to commute to school every day. Kalíšková, Vávreová, Lávicková Location and the school year timetable The name of our school is Gymnázium, Ceský Krumlov. Its location is, therefore, very important. Our school is situated on the outskirts of a beautiful and historical town of Ceský Krumlov. Arguably, Ceský Krumlov is the most beautiful of all cities nationwide. It is also listed under UNESCO. The grammar school used to be situated in the historical part of this town. Later it moved to its present premises. However, its life remains closely connected with it. The school year always begins in the first week of September. Every school year has two terms. At the end of each term, all students get their half term reports. They get mark 1 to 5 (1 - best results; 5 - inefficient work) for all the subjects they have been studying. Every term takes five months. As for holidays, we have 5-day holidays in October - called the 'autumn holidays'. It is our first holiday of the new school year. At the end of December, we have 'Christmas holidays'. We return back to school after 1st January. In spring, we have another week of holidays, this time the exact day depends on the authorities. They divide different weeks for different schools to prevent crowded roads and holiday resorts. Our school year finishes with the end of June, when our main, 2-month 'summer' holidays start. Soukalová, Smiróvá, Jancuch What does a typical lesson look like? Every lesson takes 45 minutes. The teacher enters our classroom and we always greet him by standing still, looking at his eyes. He/She greets us and tells us to sit down, again. The first thing the teacher does it to write the date, subject and missing students into the class book. It is an official document for each class and all schools nationwide. Sometimes the teacher tests some students in front of the class - they have to answer his questions, so everybody can revise. On other occasions, we simply write a short test answering similar questions relating to the new subject matter done in the past lessons. Then, he/she begins explaining some new things. We listen and make notes. Then, we do some exercises to test if we understand everything. Towards the end of each lesson, we revise/refresh the new subject matter. We can ask our teacher about things we have not understood. He answers or asks someone else to try to explain in his/her own words. Sometimes, we get homework for the next lesson. Thus, we can test our understanding of the new subject matter. When the bell goes off, we greet in the way and he/she leaves the classroom for his office. Augsten, Kadlec, Sirový Teachers and their methodology There are 35 teachers at our school. 20 are women and 15 men. Usually, their lessons are good fun. However, from time to time, we find some classes boring and uninteresting. Apart from good teachers, there are some teachers who we do not like very much. Some are authoritative and some have no authority, at all. Some of them give us lots of homework, others give us bad marks throughout the school year. But we have a saying in the Czech Republic - 'the more you fight on the training field, the easier it becomes for you on the battlefield'. The worst thing of all is a situation, when a teacher is not able to explain new subject matter as well as we would wish him/her to do. Luckily, such situations are exceptions to the rule. Nowadays, the majority of teachers tend to use entertaining material, so learning is becoming less drill and more fun. However, we clearly understand that getting to know new things is not only playing, but also studying and working hard at home. Indra, Bednárová, Mazáková Please, do not hesitate and contact, or visit us personally. Mgr. Jana Cipínová, headmaster pupils and teachers of Gymnázium, Ceský Krumlov, Chvalšinská 112, 381 01 Ceský Krumlov Telefon: 0420-337-711 171, 711 349 Fax: 0420-337-711 709 e-mail: cip@gymck.cz