On Saturday, 13 October, the headteacher, teachers and graduates of Primary School in Gromadka celebrated the 60th anniversary of the school’s founding. The ceremony, organized in the sports hall at the School Complex, was attended by former and current teachers and headteachers of Gromadka’s primary school, as well as four generations of its pupils.
After welcoming the large number of guests—including Gmina Head Dariusz Pawliszczy and Gmina councillors, the teaching staff and graduates, some of whom had travelled to the ceremony from very distant towns—headteacher Robert Furman invited those gathered to a screening of a film presenting the school’s history. The film showed the institution’s story against the background of historical events in Poland. Viewers could recall, from their own memories or their parents’ stories, the former headteachers of Gromadka’s primary school: from Stefan Zalewski, through Niewiadomski, Kuczera, Jankowski, Majewski, Lasak and Malina, to those currently running the school—Robert Furman, Aleksandra Szydełko and Grzegorz Koziara.
The changing school buildings appeared on the screen: from the premises in the building now belonging to the Cooperative Bank on Witosa Street, through the “old” school near the Iron Foundry, and the later premises in the “red-brick” building by the swimming pool, to the present-day modern primary-school building, opened several years ago. More than one eye filled with tears of emotion when people recognized their loved ones, acquaintances and often already deceased graduates of Gromadka’s primary school in the yellowed photographs.
Letters of congratulations were also included in the programme of such a solemn ceremony. The first, on behalf of Bolesławiec County Head Cezary Przybylski, was read by Councillor and Member of the County Board Ewa Potyszka. The second letter, addressed to the school’s headteacher and teaching staff, was signed by Lower Silesian Deputy Superintendent of Education Stanisława Kos. An element that gave Saturday’s ceremony an unusual school character was the induction of first-year pupils of the primary school and middle school.
After the official part of the ceremony, the audience watched children and young people from the school in folk costumes as part of an artistic programme. The young performers danced the polonaise and mazur. Jula Gołębiowska also remembered the birthday present, singing “A Birthday Song for the School”.
A military orchestra conducted by Jan Chojnacki added a short concert to the celebrations. The sentimental journey into childhood and youth ended with the participants viewing photographs together, in which, over the years, we will look for teachers and schoolmates. See you in 10 years!
(report Tomasz Matyjewicz/GA)