Friday´s news
Dear Parents, Guardians, Students, Graduates and Friends of Open Gate,
The first days of Autumn are upon us; cooler but still sunny albeit not for sunbathing any longer. Hopefully our Friday letter will warm you up a little. On the other hand it must be owned that these temperatures are more conducive to study as witnessed by the efforts seen all week.
Both of our assemblies this week were of a similar travelogue nature; on Monday Mr Tomasek presented the Junior section with reminiscences of his forays into Albania, the local customs and traditions so alien to us here made for fascinating listening enlivened as they were by film and even a fun introduction to the Albanian language from which he taught us three words necessary for survival. On Thursday the seniors were treated to a report from Oktava students relating to their successful and challenging Gold Duke of Edinburgh expedition in the wilds of Romania and Slovakia. In this way our students realized just what it entails to participate in these expeditions – the fun to be had yet also the team work necessary to overcome the discomforts both physical and psychological of such excursions into the wilderness. For more information see:
Whilst on the subject of Romania mention must be made of two of our ex- students Lukas and Honza who during the summer negotiated 100km by bike following the tourist trails from Banat. You can vicariously enjoy their travails on Facebook and also:
http://www.opengate.cz/cs/aktuality/14627/vyslapeme-cesty-v-banatu
https://www.facebook.com/Vy%C5%A1lapeme-cesty-v-Ban%C3%A1tu-1341623939184553/?fref=ts
On Monday there was a presentation devoted on how best to apply for scholarships at American Universities, yesterday three young ladies from our partner school in Germany began their two week exchange stay with us. Today a group of our students studying French visited the French Institute to document their media exhibition. Not to be outdone, one of our group of students studying Spanish who will shortly be leaving for an immersion programme in Toledo are in active communication with their host families, details of which will be found on our FB.
The upcoming assembly on Monday will be in the Sports’ Hall and will devote itself to the final hustings of the election process of new President of the Student Council. To date this has been a passionately fought contest with all three candidates presenting their platforms in public debate, all highly reminiscent of the Trump vs Clinton affair! The actual voting for our President will take place throughout all of Monday with final votes being counted at the end of the day.
The Kvinta four day Social Studies project is in full swing and will continue until next week. And also do not forget that next Wednesday is a State holiday; there will be no school lessons as such but dormitory students may remain on campus – just let the House Staff know in advance please if you wish to stay.
With all best wishes for a colourful autumnal weekend.
Peter Nitsche.
