A Polish school is ensuring that the culture and language from the country are taught to children who now live in the Newark area. The Saturday Polish School was set up three years ago and has more than 60 children, aged three to 14. It is held at Holy Trinity Catholic Academy, Newark, which many of the children attend, and costs £5 a session. It was originally set up by Barbarq Mochel, a teaching assistant at Holy Trinity and language teachers Justyna Rozyc-Molenda, Katarzyna Wieckowska and Urszula Sadkowska. They now have other commitments and so, since September, it has been run by Monika Ledzion and Anna Bialas. Anna, who has two children, aged three and four, has lived in Newark for ten years. She said she came to the town to work and to learn English and is a section leader at Bakkavor, food manufacturers on Newark industrial estate. Monika, a manufacturing technician at Bakkavor, moved to Newark with her two children, aged nine and 11, six years ago to be with her husband, who had moved to England ahead of her for work reasons. Anna said: “It was definitely the right move but we feel it is important that our children know where their families come from. Some of the children were born in Poland and their families still live there. “Polish cultural and traditional values are very important and need to be cherished.” The children are divided into five age groups and taught how to read and write Polish. They are also taught about the Polish nation, its customs and traditions, its geography and history. Monika said: “For the children the school stands for Little Poland and is a place where they can spend time together and also learn and play.” Two music teachers, Mr Robert Starr and Mr Daniel Ledsion, have recently started to help at the school. A delegation from Newark’s Polish twin town of Sandomierz has visited the school and donated Polish books for its library. Monika said: “We hope that the school will be the main point where the Polish community can gather together, create tighter bonds, discuss and become more aware of our objectives, which are so important for the proper education of all our children.” She said the school also helped the children to ensure they were not behind with their education if their families returned to Poland. Anna said they were grateful to all the teachers and parents who volunteered with the school and to the head of Holy Trinity, Mr Barry Doran, for his help. The school takes part in community events in Newark including Newark Carnival and the Sconce Fest in Sconce and Devon Park. In the lead-up to Christmas the children were taught about how it is celebrated in Poland. They were given a taste of traditional Polish treats and taught Polish songs. In Poland 12 dishes are served on Christmas Eve with a spare place traditionally set for a stranger who may be hungry and in need of food. After dinner the children have a visit from Santa Claus and then go to church. Christmas Day is spent with their families and many will visit a cemetery to remember their loved ones. Anna said: “We so miss our families but these days with internet and Skype we are always in touch and we try to visit home when we can.” newarkadvertiser.co.uk/articles/news/Children-learn-about-their-Polish-roots-at-Ne
Posted on: Tue, 23 Dec 2014 15:54:41 +0000
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