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| Monday, 14 January 2008 | |
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CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SCHOOL
Daily studies at Gymnasium (Grammar school) Sázavská last for four years. Students come to the first year after nine years of study at elementary school, or they can pass from another six or eight year grammar school. The students finish after passing the fourth year and passing a school-leaving exam. According to the current rules, students must write the exam in Czech and complete the oral part of the exam for four subjects – two of them are obligatory (Czech language study and literature and a foreign language) and the other two are optional (students can choose from different subjects taught at school). Students also have the option to complete the exam in one additional subject. Second-year students in the 2005/06 academic years will be the first students taking the state school-leaving exam. We place emphasis on the basis of general education, foreign languages, and computer studies. When learning foreign languages, students are divided into groups according to their level of knowledge and ability. This division allows the more advanced students to continue from their previous level of fluency while letting the beginners study the basics of the language. A Czech teacher (usually teaching grammar) cooperates with a native speaker (usually teaching conversation) who is a certified foreign language teacher. In their higher years, students can choose from optional subjects. These subjects help them determine their future goals and prepare them not only for a school-leaving exam but also for a university entrance exam. Maths (which is often a scare for many students) is divided into three subjects after an introductory course: 1) Maths as a school-leaving subject, 2) supplementary Maths, and 3) standard Maths (which we call “Maths for life”). We teach Czech language study and literature separately. The current educational reform, which supports dividing a subject into different levels, proves the fact that we have already succeeded in doing this. Our school has been preparing for the previously announced change of a school-leaving exam into the State Maturita Exam. We have intensified studies by providing various optional seminars, creating more school-leaving exam subject lessons, and adapting subject programmes to fit new requirements. With access to a wide-range of studies, exposure to modern and innovative forms of teaching and learning, proper preparation in two prominent foreign languages, the freedom to choose their core subjects, and the option to attend professionally taught seminars, Grammar School Sázavská graduates are well-qualified for university entrance and prepared to rigorously pursue their chosen field. We also want our students to obtain and practise principles of morality and honesty, to become experienced in ethics and politics, to be able to understand not only the culture and art of their homeland but also those of other nations, and to be able to work well and cooperate with others.
Frequently asked questions
What type of school is Gymnasium Sázavská? Gymnázium Sázavská, Ltd. is a non-profit organisation. This means that all of the money received is invested back into the school’s development and the money cannot be paid out as profit to the school founder. How many classes are going to be opened? We accept 50 new students into two 1st year classes for the school year 2008/2009. There are no specialisations offered; the education is a generalized secondary study. Students can later decide which field of study to concentrate on and what special seminars to choose. When does the entrance exam take place and what does it look like? The first round of the entrance exam takes place in April (as stated in the amendment of the Education Law from April 21, 2008). Each student is allowed to apply for only one secondary school and does so through his/her basic school. Due to this, we offer all students preliminary entrance tests from December on. If the students pass these tests, they would be considered successful applicants for our school. The results of these tests are binding and would be counted for their April test session, therefore calming students about their standings at the Gymnasium. When do I have to hand in the application form? The state application has to be handed in by a set date (usually the end of February), but the application procedure at our school requires another form to fill in (the application form). If taking part in the psychological tests, the application form must be handed in at least one day before the test takes place. The preliminary tests take place in the school building on five set dates (December – February); they always start is at 3 p.m. You can download the application form here. What are the admission criteria? Passing our admission interview is the only criterion for admission. How many students do you usually accept? This question is not easy to answer; it slightly changes every year. Last year, the proportion of the applicants to the accepted ones was 2:1. What foreign languages can you study at your Gymnasium? Our students have the option of studying 2 – 4 foreign languages (2 is the minimum and will be compulsory): English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, and Japanese. There are about 10 to 15 students in each language group. Assignment into groups is based on the level of student’s knowledge of the respective language. What methods do we use to teach foreign languages? All first-year applicants write placement tests before or at the start of the school year. This test distributes them among groups according to their language knowledge. Thanks to this system, the education precisely corresponds to the level of the group. The language level is set and estimated on the basis of the Common European Framework for Languages. Students also have the opportunity to prepare themselves for international language exams in a optional exam prep-courses offered by the school. There are two teachers for each study group. We lay emphasis on the full qualification of all our language teachers including foreign lectors. The Czech teachers aim at developing the complex language skills of the students (grammar, reading, writing and listening). Foreign lectors are responsible for the development of students’ communicative capabilities, as well as their ability to understand daily life language. They also help students with their writing skills. A foreign lector is employed only if he or she can prove the required qualification and previous pedagogical experience. We also open special language courses for those students who plan to successfully pass an international language exam. When and how may I use computers at your school? All students have the computers at their disposal. These are located in the IT room, and are connected to the Internet via a broad band. This classroom is open for all students every afternoon (the school is locked at 6 p.m.). Each student has his/her own access password to the school net. What optional seminars does the school offer? First group – these are seminars that deepen particular specialisations; they include seminars of maths, biology, chemistry, physics, history, geography, civics, philosophy, text interpretation, arts, or the history of arts. Second group – these are optional seminars that arise from students´ various interests and include realisation of interesting projects, sport activities, arts, etc. How does your school work with handicapped students? Our school strongly supports the education of talented children who suffer either from a physical handicap or from a learning disorder. Our school provides free education for physically handicapped students. Unfortunately, we cannot accept students on wheelchairs because our school is not physically equipped for their mobility. Students with learning disorders can attend special Czech lessons to learn how to overcome their handicap. These students follow an individual programme in other lessons as well. Our teachers are trained to compensate for learning disorders in regular lessons. What is the school fee and how does it change during the studies? The fee for the school year 2007/2008 is 31 500 Czech crowns. The fee is paid in two instalments per school year. How many classes does the school have and how many students are in each one? We have 8 classes in the school year 2007/2008, which means that the school is fully occupied. The number of students in one class is about 25 students. When was the school established? The “mother secondary school”, GJM, has been functioning for 15 years. Our school started its work in September 2002 as a branch of GJM. Later on, on the 1st September 2006, the school got registered in the school register and has been an independent secondary school since then. Are there any out-of-school events organized for students? The students do not begin the school year in the classroom. There is an introductory course where they spend a week with their classroom teacher and professional instructors only. Our school offers a one-week sports course (e.g. tennis, biking, hiking), skiing courses, educational trips as well as exchange student visits to various countries. Is there a canteen at the school? Although the school does not have its own canteen, students can decide to eat in the basic school’s canteen that is situated in the same building. Alternatively, they can eat in any of the school canteens that are in GS’s surroundings. Who teaches at GS? The team consists of 30 teachers (18 male and 12 female) who are on average 35 years old. We also employ several external teachers to teach the seminars. How are students evaluated? During the course of the year the knowledge and abilities of students are evaluated on a percentage basis. At the end of the school year, the students receive a school report. Additionally, they receive a written evaluation for all subjects describing their competencies. How can one obtain additional information about the school? You can visit the school during any of the “Open House” days. On these days, you can come and discuss anything concerning the school with the management of the school on:
All of the “Open House” days start at 6 p.m. by a presentation and discussion with the principal. On these days, starting at 9 a.m., you can also observe the lessons (individually or in small groups). Does the school provide scholarship? Students can be awarded a Grade-Social Scholarship. This one is decided upon by the scholarship board, i.e. J. Němeček (a school founder), a representative of the Board of Parents, and a School Board representative. When do the classes start? The school usually starts at 8.30 a.m. What is IES – International Education society? It is a society within the international project Certificate specialised in the foreign language programmes. It evaluates all educational subjects ranging from the universities to private language courses.
Each accredited subject may issue international certificates that clearly states when, where and what the student has achieved, at what level and also describes the up-to-date accreditation level of the institution issuing the certificate. A panel of experts evaluated our school for 3 months and we have finally obtained the evaluation of a „Highly erudite and professionally managed institution“. We have received the 3rd best rating in the 12-band rating scale and there is no secondary school with a better rating in the Czech Republic at the present time. The school pays for registration of all its students’ certificates the IES database for the period of twenty years. All students receive the IES certificate as a part of their Maturita report card. The evaluation of the school has recently changed from grade B to grade A and Sázavská, together with GJM, have become the two only secondary schools with such a high evaluation in the Czech Republic. How to contact us?
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