While it is still summer on the calendar, the imminent fall is already evident. Leaves on the trees are not as green as they used to be, and it is cooler in the mornings. It is a sign that it will be time to go to school soon!

  On August 21, in Hesed Astana 23 schoolchildren, those who will attend school from the 1st to 9th grades, met with each other. The guys shared their plans for the upcoming academic year, told each other about interesting events of the passing summer.

  The holiday began with congratulations addressed to the youngest participants who will sit at the school desk for the first time. Everybody could see that Polina Golovina and Ilyas Levin are ready for school - they recited poems about school loudly and expressively.

  We had funny competitions - "Funny Questions", and "Mathematic tasks", the guys demonstrated their good humor, logics, and excitement in solving difficult tasks. The most interesting competition was "Compile Your Schoolbag". Children competed not only with each other but their parents also. The parents put into the bags not only school things but also some … toys! These are our parents! But the kids were not upset as they like to play very much.

  Another competition, which everybody remembered was "Watermelon Oracle". After this competition, every participant received a piece of tasty water melon. Then the united team of parents and schoolchildren cheerfully sang the song "We learn at scool", which they learned under the guidance of volunteer Nina Levina.

  Every year, every schoolchild receives a grade book as a gift from the Community. This year we followed the tradition as well. We hope that it will contain only good marks! Children from the socially deprived families received different school supplies and copy books from the Program "Children’s Initiative".

  When a big tasty cake appeared on the table with a tea set, parents and children sat around the table. It was not the end of the holiday, it continued with children’s jokes and parents’ recollections of their time at school. It was fun for everybody.

Elena Levina