Our school was opened in 1970 and it got № 2. It was a secondary school, widely-known for high academic results and extra-curricular activities. In 1999 two educational institutions: municipal primary school № 8 and secondary school № 2 were combined and Gymnasium № 1 was organized. Nowadays it is the largest school in our area. More than 800 pupils and students attend it. Our Gymnasium consists of 4 levels: four groups of pre-school for children aged 6-7, they spend the whole day here. They learn, play, sleep and have fun. There are 20 children in each group.

Then comes primary school for children from 7 to 11. Our Gymnasium is full time school, it means that primary school pupils stay after classes, do their homework, go for a walk and attend different clubs. We have two buildings; in one there are pre-school and 9 classes of primary school, in the other there are 3 classes of primary school, 15 classes of middle school and 6 classes of high school. We have profiled classes, after finishing th 7th grade students have to choose one of three profiles: mathematics and physics, humanities, biology and chemistry.

Our Gymnasium was twice awarded National Grant for brilliant work. After finishing Gymnasium our students successfully enter Universities and Institutes. We have a lot of different clubs and societies for any taste. Students can join football, basketball and volleyball teams. We have a chess and table tennis club. There is a scientific society and every April we have a conference called ZUBR (Knowledge and Skills for Russia’s future) where students present the results.

Helena Krasnova, teacher at  Gymnasium #1, Balashov, Russia

2014-02-14