A Year of Russian Events
The Russian Program has several regular activities throughout the year that add spice to the class and take dollars from your wallet. I thought you’d like to know about them in advance.
October: SLAVA induction ceremony
What: the National Russian Honor Society
Who: third-year students who intend to continue in Russian through high school and beyond
Why: looks good on the resume, provides the Program with ready volunteers for all things Russian
Where: at West High
How much: $10.00
Comments: depends on GPA and grades in Russian classes; requires a speech and a poem or other presentation in front of an interested audience.
November: The National Russian Essay Contest
What: a two-hour essay on a prompt that is secret until the last minute
Who: second-year students and above.
Why: practice in communicating with an unknown audience
Where: in the classroom or the library. Usually students finish in one block period, though I allow them to take the entire two hours.
How much: about $5.00.
Comments: everyone is required to do the essay, whether or not they choose to enter the contest. I recommend the contest, because at the very least students will get a lovely certificate for their scholarship folders, and at the most, may receive national recognition (or international, for the gold-medalists in the advanced category).
January: New Year’s Play
What: participation in the Russian Community New Year celebration.
Who: all levels
Why: learn more about Russian culture
Where: at Turnagain Elementary School
How much: time for rehearsals and one long Saturday for dress rehearsal and performance; FREE for those attending
Comments: Every family should come (it’s free!)
March: Olympiada Competition of Russian Language
What: the state contest of spoken Russian for high school and middle school students
Who: all levels
Why: learn what you can do with an unknown judge
Where: usually at West High
How much: $7.00
Comments: Every student should take part. There will be about ten minutes of sheer terror during judging, and then the rest of the day is interesting and informative. I will need lots of parent volunteers, and if you know people who could provide food, make presentations about some aspect of Russia, or judge the competition, please let me know!
March/April: Maslenitsa
What: Russian Community’s Welcome to Spring; West High students volunteer in games, food sales, and crafts…it’s a great chance to use your Russian!
Who: all levels
Where: at Turnagain Elementary School
Why: Russian cultural event
How much: FREE (volunteers do work)
April: last preparations for IB and AP tests
Who: fourth-year/IB/AP students
Why: to pass with flying colors!
Where: UAA and West
How much: testing prices vary from $80 up.
Comments: our advanced students have done very well lately.
May: planning for summer immersion camp
What: counselor recruitment for Russian elementary summer camp
Who: all levels should apply
How Much: Pay range is average for teen summer work ($250 for 5 days in summer 2008)
May: UAA Summer session starts
Who: anyone wanting to get ahead a bit in Russian
June: Olympiada winner leaves for Vladimir
Summer immersion camp
Potential trip to Siberian town/camp
Other ideas:
Russian Orthodox Museum, displaying religious artifacts from both Russian religious traditions and Alaska Native cultures. Across A Street from the Anchorage Museum between 6th and 7th Avenues.
Touch of Russia, at 333 W. Fourth Avenue for great frozen pel’meni to make at home, other Russian delights, including candies, and movies of unknown quality. Their gift shop is to the west in the same mall building. It’s great for motivating gifts for Russian learners, as is the Catherine the Great shop in the mall. The parent group at the Turnagain Russian Immersion program also carries and sells Russian gifts.
Russian Alaskan Colony Singers: watch for concerts. This choir is outstanding! Two of our Russian students have been invited to join the choir.
Coffee Land, at the corner of Spenard and Wisconsin, is a coffee shop run by Russians. They carry Russian art and pastries, and they participate in First Friday events. |
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