148 students from the town and surrounding area, and 27 teachers with their hearts in the right place, led by mgr Stanisława Szlenzak, an educator by calling and by choice.
...They come here without a smile, often with tears and fear in their eyes, with anxiety and dread. Rejected, unloved, unhappy children. Here they are needed; they find a common language in dialogue with their educators, discover their own identity and trust, and find an atmosphere in which to develop psychologically. After years, they fly away like birds from a caring nest into independent life. Will they manage without the warmth of their school, which over the years becomes a second family home? Here, the familiar slogan “all children are ours” is realized most fully and beautifully; it contains nothing of a cliché. The school’s register of friends could not be written on an oxhide, but without them it would also be difficult to restore the smile of childhood, that normality for which we long across Poland. I will mention only a few facts. The Mayor and City Council provided “Seven” with 30 million zlotys to replace the skylights in the spacious building. Let us hope they will not spare further zlotys for a comprehensive solution to this issue. The Technical Fabrics Works “Bonitex” donated 5 million zlotys. The Bolesławiec Vials and Ampoules Factory “Polfa” contributed the same amount. The educational institution has devoted patrons in the persons of directors Tadeusz Nakonieczny and Stanisław Kozłowski, exceptionally sensitive to the psychological and material needs of the youngest. Fortunately, there are more people of goodwill in the town on the Bóbr: Tadeusz Reguła, President of the “Bolmet” Disabled Persons’ Cooperative, donated children’s roller skates and tracksuits; ZCh “Wizów” provided cleaning and laundry powders; the Guild of Various Crafts ensured practical vocational training for older students, while also providing financial support. The Polish Army Artillery Brigade carries out minor repairs inside the building and, traditionally, organizes military pea soup for participants in the Voivodeship Sports Games of Special Schools in Bolesławiec, as well as transporting students to sporting competitions free of charge. No major ceremony takes place without the participation of the officer corps: Col. Tadeusz Żuchowski, Lt. Col. Kazimierz Mańkowski and Maj. Zenon Dudziński.
The director of PKO, mgr Julian Jamróż, a man of exceptional sensitivity, helps bring together good people, sponsors and patrons, while also donating 10 million zlotys for teaching aids for rehabilitation and for purchasing fuel. Individual benefactors have recently been joining in: the owner of a hairdressing salon, Ms Maria Dolik, agreed to cut and style the students’ hair free of charge, while School Council members Ms Elżbieta Tor and Mr Maciej Żytniak effectively organize assistance for the poorest children. “Ceramika Artystyczna” agreed to provide practical vocational training and also donated stoneware vessels and vases to the school. BOK director Dr Danuta Maślicka promotes the school on local cable television, effectively helping to find kind-hearted, selfless patrons and sponsors. This brings joy and satisfaction and is an optimistic note in a gray and difficult everyday reality.
The warm, child-friendly school has artistic achievements extending beyond the local scale. International success came from art competitions in Argentina, India, West Germany and Sweden, from which distinctions for participants from Bolesławiec arrived. Art is a universal language, and the children adore it under the guidance of their art teacher, Ms Grażyna Kryś. Recently, for example, the children received seven distinctions in a firefighting-themed competition. They are also especially fond of music and rhythm classes, masterfully conducted by Ms Janina Kunecka. For the eighth time, the town on the Bóbr will host the Voivodeship Sports Games of Special Schools, which are organized to an exemplary standard by physical education teachers Weronika Słotwińska and Wojciech Respondek.
P. Teresa Rudzińska’s method of work centers in early education aroused the admiration of specialists from the Education Authority, while the rehabilitation work carried out by P. Mirosława Czajkowska is an excellent example of professionalism and effectiveness. Such educators create not only progress in education and upbringing. With Benedictine patience, they reconstruct lost childhood, shape human lives and return normal citizens to society. It is a beautiful and noble mission, creative work and an exceptional effort, for which the teachers of “Seven” deserve genuine respect and sincere appreciation.
Let us unite across divisions and help. All children are ours, and these children need especially much heart and kindness.