'This anniversary is not only the holiday of our school, but also of all Polish education in the Vilnius Region,' said Artur Valiučko, the principal of the school.

Polish school in Pavilnys was founded in 1915 following the wave of revival of Polish education. It was founded during German occupation under the supervision of the secret Committee of Education, which was taking care of Polish education in Vilnius.

An exceptional aura
Within it 100 year old history, the school has gone through various transformations and status changes. But is has retained its exceptional aura.

'We are not only one of the oldest schools in the Vilnius Region, but we are also located in one the most beautiful districts of the city. There is a Pavilniai Regional Park nearby. Moreover, the writer Tadeusz Konwicki is related to this place,' noted the principal.

Konwicki was a student of this school and last year the school's community came up with the idea to choose Tadeusz Konwicki as the patron of the school.

The School in Pavilnys already had a patron before World War II - it was poet Władysław Syrokomla. Late Teresa Klimašaukienė, long-standing principal of the school, author of the book 'Pavilnys. Wileńska Kolonia Kolejowa' said that the school tried to get its patron back during the revival period, but it was already taken by another Polish school in Vilnius.

Good principals
Klimašauskienė was managing the school for the last 21 years. Artur Valiučko, who took over the helm, noted that she was full of energy, dedicated to her job and school's community. 'First of all, thanks to her efforts a full renovation of the school was carried out a few years ago,' marked the young principal. It was her contribution when in the 90s the school resumed teaching of higher Polish grades. Unfortunately, due to the lack of students the school had to go back to its primary status.

'We were always lucky to have good principals who cared for the school very well,' marked school's graduate and current math teacher Jadvyga Šliachtovič. She still remembers former principal Ilarijon Šestierenik, who enjoyed a lot of respect and love of the school's community. She also remembers his wife Larisa - teacher of biology and geography, who knew how to instill in students the love for nature. 'Former student of our school and current principal of Adomo Mickevičiaus Gymnasium in Vilnius loves plants very much and this is the influence of the mentioned biology teacher,' noted Jadvyga Šliachtovič.

Anna Michel, the school's first principal, played major role in the development of the school. Natalija Kiričenko and Adam Blaškevič were also the principals of the school.

Competent and dedicated to work
Lots of talented educators worked in the school. Šliachtovič particularly recalls math teacher Nikolai Domanski. 'He taught us very well. I remember his lessons and various formulas until today. Maybe he was the reason I became a math teacher myself,' joked Jadvyga Šliachtovič. School in Pavilnys is very close to her, almost like a second family. 'I studied here, my children as well, and my sister and nephews too. And my mother studied here in secret facilities during occupation in 1943,' she marked.

There are 31 teachers currently working at the school. 'Every parent wants to be sure that the teachers of his or her children are competent and responsible people. I want to assure everyone that we have such kind of people here. They are conscientious and dedicated to their work,' said the principal. He is also very happy because of the cooperation with parents, who are active, full of initiatives and ideas, support the school materially.

Lack of classrooms
There are 164 students in the school currently. The number of students is stable. Actively searching for new generation, the school aims to create the early school group. Unfortunately, these plans failed this year because of the lack of funding for renovation of premises. Nevertheless, the principal assures that the group will be created in the coming years.

The principal is happy that the school building is almost fully renovated. There is only lack of classrooms. But he has some ideas on how to use cellar, however the lack of money is stopping every works at the moment.

Valiučko would also like to renovate the school's playing field. It could become an attractive place for sport lovers of Pavilnys.

Family atmosphere
School is attended by children from Pavilnys, Naujoji Vilnia, Grigaičiai, Veliučionys and even Mickūnai. Afterwords, pupils go to various Vilnius schools i.e. Adomo Mickevičiaus Gymnasium, Simono Konarskio Secondary School, Jono Pauliaus II Gymnasium or J. I. Kraševskio Gymnasium.

The school offers lessons in Polish and Russian. Russian classes are bigger. 'I have noticed that more and more children are joining Russian groups. For example, this year's first Russian grade has 16 students while there are only several pupils in a Polish one. Children from Polish grades make up 30% of all our students,' said the principal. He regretted that many children from Polish and mixed families go to nearby Lithuanian school. That is why Polish school community is trying to do everything to attract more students from Polish families.

'Our goal is to show that our school is attractive and that a Polish child can achieve more in our school than in a Lithuanian one,' stated the principal.

There are many advantages of the school. It is a small school; there is an intimate, family atmosphere. He added that many parents notice this when looking for a school for their children.

The school invests a lot in primary grades. This year classrooms of first grades were renovated so that new pupils could have ideal learning conditions.

'Strumyk' band as a school pride
Another school's advantage is a huge selection of after-school activities for children. 'Parents often want their children to stay in school until 5pm. That is why we have a group of extended day where a child can relax and spend this time usefully at the same time,' said the principal.

Students have opportunities to develop their interests in many activities (free or paid). These include art courses, dancing, singing, sports (karate and volleyball being the most popular). 'I am sure that children and parents will value this and we will be able to attract more children to school,' said full of ideas principal of the school.

Song and Dance band 'Strumyk is school's pride. This year it is celebrating its 25th anniversary. The band is guided by a choreographer Lilija Vojtkevič, singing teacher Irena Šeibak and Jadvyga Šliachtovič. 'There are about 60 members in the band including youngest and oldest students,' said Šliachtovič. She added that once there were even 120 members, but unfortunately demographic low did its job.

Principals forge
Many known and respected people graduated from the school in Pavilnys, i.e. Česlovas Davidovičius, principal of the Adomo Mickevičiaus Gymnasium in Vilnius, Walery Tankiewicz, lawyer from Gdynia (Poland) and the Polish language ace of 2014, Jevdakija Vasiljeva, principal of the Sofijos Kovalevskajos Secondary School in Vilnius, Henrik Bukovski, former principal of the Simono Konarskio Secondary School in Vilnius, and Andžej Šuškevič, priest and Vice-Rector of the Vilnius St. Joseph Seminary.

'The school in Pavilnys is a school with traditions. It has been functioning incessantly despite various difficulties. The learning has not been suspended even during the occupation in the period of World War II, as secret sets of gymnasium and high school were functioning,' said Jadvyga Šliachtovič. She still hopes that school will continue Polish educational traditions which were initiated here a century ago.

Ivona Klimaševskaja

"This project is co-financed from the funds granted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland."