A new Polish kindergarten has been functioning in the village of Sudervė (Vilnius district) already for a month. Modern, spacious and comfortable facility was established as an extension to the building of the local M. Zdziechovskio Basic School.
Investment of more than one million
Polish community of Sudervė and the surroundings have been waiting for very long time for this kindergarten. This is not the fault of local authorities. Searching for free land for the construction of kindergarten and creating of the plan simply took a lot of time. 'We proposed to use the 7 hectares of the school territory. We decided that we will build a kindergarten near the school. This way we created a wonderful modern room for pre-schoolers under one roof,' told Teresa Mlynska.
The construction of the kindergarten was funded by the Vilnius district government and the Association 'Polish Community'. 'The construction costs amounted to 1.5 million euros. In addition, costs of equipment reached over 80 thousand euros. These are huge costs, so we are very grateful to those who initiated and funded the construction of a Polish kindergarten in our village,' said the principal.
The new kindergarten building was built in a record time. Its construction lasted for just one year. As Mlynska pointed, the contractor of this investment - the company 'Mūras' - did a very good job.
Three groups established
First children entered the kindergarten on 19th October. Ceremonial welcome was organised for kids and their parents. Three groups were established - nursery, kindergarten and pre-school. In general, there are more than 40 kids.
'Each group has two rooms: play room and a bedroom. There are also cookers and toilets,' told the principal. The establishment is equipped with new furniture, toys, equipment, and teaching aid.
The area of the new kindergarten is 550 square meters. It can accommodate 52 pupils in total. 'At the beginning I was a bit afraid that there will be fewer children. We still have vacancies, but more toddlers will come after the New Year. There are a lot of children, who would like to join, thus I am worried if we have enough place for everybody in spring,' said Mrs Teresa. 22 children are waiting for a place in the kindergarten.
Full of ideas and enthusiasm to work
Teaching staff is already complete. However, the principal admitted that she had some difficulties with finding proper educators, who are currently greatly needed everywhere.
'We hired five educators and their helpers,' said Mlynska. In addition, a third vice principal was appointed for the kindergarten education. It is Renata Starenkienė who has won the contest. Starenkienė worked as a teacher in the nursery-kindergarten in Maišiagala. There is also a psychologist and other specialists working in the establishment.
'We just started to work and we have many plans for the future. There are a lot of tasks and projects to complete. Our educators are full of ideas and enthusiasm to work with kids. New and comfortable kindergarten obliges us to good work,' Starenkienė said in an interview with our portal.
Artistic lessons
The kindergarten is open from 7.00 until 18.30. It has been functioning only since one month so, as the principal stated, the adjustment period of children is still in progress. It is not going without tears, sadness and despair, especially among the youngest.
However singing and dancing lessons dispel any worries. 'We hired an artistic manager for a part-time job. In the future, we will consider the widening of the educational offer for our kindergarden,' said Mlynska.
Future pupils
The whole area around the school has changed after the construction of the kindergarten. 'Beautiful playgrounds were built; there is also a great sports field and some exercise equipment for older pupils. All the school territory was fenced,' the principal could not hide her satisfaction. Now there is also a parking nearby, walking paths, and a geothermal boiler as well. The kindergarten is located in a very beautiful place full of greenery,' stressed Mlynska.
The creation of the long-awaited Polish kindergarten in Sudervė will for sure bring some pupils to the school in the future. As the principal said, the positive effects of the kindergarten can be already felt. 'The number of students in higher grades has increased by 22 people this year. It is because of the fact, that parents who wanted their younger children to go to our kindergarten, let the older ones to our school too,' stated Mlynska.
Sudervė rejuvenates
Not only children from Sudervė attend the new kindergarten. There are also toddlers coming from Dūkštos, Rastinėnai, Čekoniškės, Avižieniai surroundings, Airėnai, and even Maišiagala.
'Sudervė rejuvenates. Young families return on the lands of their fathers and grandfathers, build new homes, so there was a lack of a Polish kindergarten in the village,' stressed the principal. Before parents were forced to drive their children to Vilnius kindergartens or let them to a local Lithuanian one. 'Now these children come to us. There is even one educator who worked previously in the Lithuanian kindergarten but now decided to join us,' said Mlynska.
Beautiful gift for the residents of Sudervė
Parent meetings were already held in the kindergarten, during which all the conditions of children admission and stay were discussed. 'Parents were pleasantly surprised by the fact, that the government of the Vilnius district covers 30 percent of children meals' costs in the kindergarten. In addition, parents do not have to pay for the educational process, because it is usually an expense of 0.43 euros per day in kindergartens belonging to local governments,' noted Mrs Teresa. On behalf of herself and young families from Sudervė, Teresa Mlynska would like to thank the local government and the Association 'Polish Community' 'for such a beautiful gift for people who live in Sudervė - for the new kindergarten,'
In recent years, the local government of the capital built 6 new kindergartens: in Nemenčinė, Lavoriškės, Mickūnai, Rudamina, Avižieniai, and Sudervė.
And it is not the finish. Soon the construction of kindegarten in Riešė will start. During the implementation of this project an unused building of the former kindergarten will be renewed and be adapted to the needs of children.
Ivona Klimaševska
http://l24.lt/en/polish-education/item/101228-suderve-the-dream-about-polish-kindergarten-came-true#sigProGalleria5e46546513
"This project is co-financed from the funds granted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland."
