Today is thursday,
28 march 2024
Time 19:06
Untitled Document

85th Anniversary

 I.J. Paderewski Grammar School and Lycée

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On 16th September our school celebrated its

85th anniversary

It was an opportunity for a reunion of all our students.

 


At 4 pm, at the Corpus Christi Church, a mass begun in the intention of teachers and graduates, celebrated by Canon Maćkowiak -  the Paderewski School graduate, and Father Józef Majchrzak, Father Dariusz Mazur, and Father Maciej Stawski - religion teachers.  
At 5 pm, at the playground, in the classrooms, and  the assembly hall, teachers and graduates - both the oldest who graduated in 1938, and the youngest who graduated in 2006 - came together to remember the good old times.
The weather was splendid, and a good atmosphere was even better because we had a band playing. This, too was a reminder of the times when school celebrations were highlighted by an ensemble directed by J. Milian.
The following events were organised for the students:

  • A one day play presenting what happened at school over the last 5 years.
  • Jubilee school emblem to be worn in the lapel - a return to the past and the memories of  all those whom the emblem brings associations with more than just the school building. /see: "Memories"/
  • a publication devoted to teachers' and graduates' memories called "Wspomnienia" [Memories] - part II / part I- "Chwilo trwaj" [Those Moments Are Forever]/
wspomnienia

Thanks to the publication, we can see how our school was changing over the 85 years and how the students were changing.
The most tragic time for our school was naturally the war-time. It ruined our peaceful life,  took the nearest to our hearts away, many were forced to emigrate to seek their luck abroad.

This part of our memories reminds us about Jerzy Szaniec, Bogdan Remlein, Joachim Suwalski, Stefan Gorski, Antoni Kopaszewski, Kazimierz Łukomski.

Those of our students who started school after the war, told us about the damages to the school building, food shortages, gloomy times of indoctrination. But even then, a sense of humour was not in short supply.

 

Our friend, Wojtek Skoczynski, had many other entertaining talents. For example, he had an incredible ability to insert  about 8-10 centimetre long nails into his nose. The whole situation in the classroom required, firstly, averting the teacher's attention. Following that, Wojtek, looking insolently at the teacher, would slowly start taking the nails out of his nose, astonishing all the teachers, and making the students happy.
/from the  memories of W Lechowski, a 1949 graduate/

The emblem, which for many was a obligatory prop, brings out one memory: It is 8 A.M., in front of school building. The headmaster, armed with a pencil, with a trained gesture checks the fastness of the connection between the emblem's material and  the school uniform. The scene has been pictured  in a poem by an ex-student, now a well known director, Lech Raczak.

 

tarcza

The Sixth - a beloved mark
The Sixth -  many will cry over you
The Sixth, the problems will never end
Whether to sew, to stick, or to pin.

            /a fragment of T. Szymanski's memories - a 1964 graduate/

Paderewski's students, as we can see, were always able to find way to get out of the dire straits. It might be because they had tutors whom they remember to this day. With respect, gratitude and humour.
At the end, I would like to say  that if after 40 years away from Poland, I can still make myself more or less clear in Polish, it is Julek who should get a credit for it /Juian Dąbrawa      /
/From  the memories about Julian Dąbrowa - Wojciech Skoczyński - a 1949 graduate./

Then, professor /E. Sokołowski/ bought  a "mikrus". He parked it near a pump in Kościuszki Street, because there was a no parking zone at the other side. When he scolded us during lessons, we moved his little car at the no parking zone. /./ Some other times, we placed  it between the pump and a tree, so he couldn't reverse it or drive it away.
/ A. Aumiller - a 1964 graduate/

It reminds me of another situation, this time from the life of teachers. Professor Preisler in the black coat, a wide-brimmed hat, seated in his red Fiat Bambino. And then we saw that the hat had changed into a beret, because it was pushed from both sides; the professor's head, and the car roof. To this day it is a mystery for us - how did he fit into that car?
/ S. Kopaszewski, M. Sedziak - a 2003 graduate/

It would be impossible to mention all teachers that appear in the memories in the preview - that is why we would like to direct all those interested to the book.
It would be also impossible to mention all the graduates. Paderewski  students have chosen so may different walks of life. Many are known beyond our city, many are famous abroad - they are artists, doctors, politicians, journalists, sportsmen, etc.

In the  memories put together much earlier, I have read someone's opinion that Paderewski lycée can not list any well known names of their graduates. I cannot agree with this  statement. Just to mention a few from my year: Jerzy Kołtuniak, a journalist and  poet, Jerzy Milian, who set up a famous orchestra, himself vibraphone virtuoso. / From the memories of Andrzej Wituski - a 1951 graduate/.

 

Some publications are illustrated by student and school photos.

 

Can anyone recognize that place?

klasopracownia

 

We would like to inform all those interested in purchasing the publications or the school emblem that they are still available in our school - in the ground floor reading room.

 

SEE THE GALLERY OF CONVENTION PHOTOS

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