Planet’s biggest Estonian school warm with community spirit

Photo: Andres Haabu / Postimees

Yesterday, the world’s largest Estonian language school, the Viimsi one with 1,786 students, festively kicked off academic year with three ceremonies in its three houses. Today, five more ceremonies are in store – only then the studies may begin.

«Welcome to the Viimsi school family!» the headmaster Karmen Paul wished the four class-fills of first graders and their parents. Then, she said the same to the three first grades in the freshly completed Randvere school; and, a couple of hours later, to four more first grades – in the Karulaugu schoolhouse. Thus: a whopping 11 first grades, all in all, the Viimsi school having kids for 78 classes. Seven years back, when the big school house got ready, they managed to stick the 1,156 kids in somehow. Even so, the Viimsi school just keeps on growing: year after year, about 200 kids enter grade one; to these, add the children yet to move into Viimsi Commune.

«Meaning: next year we will try to squeeze in somehow. But, in 2015, we will either need a new building in Haabneeme or Viimsi small town area, or at least an extension of the Karulaugu school house (neighbouring the big house – edit),» related the headmaster, looking into the future.

«The Viimsi region is characterised by its highly aware and demanding parents,» said Ms Paul. «They desire to be involved in the school activities.» As an example of that, the headmaster talks about parents of last year’s fourth graders, initiating sports events for all seven 4^th grades all year long. «We are seeking ways for all class levels to do something together,» she added.

In Viimsi, the letters marking parallel classes have reached all the way to «K»; for the first grades, the letters are now allocated somewhat differently: in the big house primary school, they are A, B, C, D; in Karulaugu school KA, KB, KC, KD; and in Randvere RA, RB, RC.

In a big school like this, it was impossible to call out all by names to come get the A-B-C Book. Even so, every pupil got a handshake from the headmaster, as the classes lined up the get the books, 24 kids each, on the platform.

1^st D class teacher Mariliis Tuulik, who once entered grade 1 on the old Viimsi schoolhouse, remembers how she used to fear to get lost in the building – smaller than the current one. The new schoolhouses are built with special separated «nests» for the youngest ones; Ms Tuulik hoping that her 24 new students will find theirs quite easily.

Yesterday was not the first day the kids set foot in the schoolhouse. Last Thursday, school and class doors were thrown wide open for them to come see what was inside, and meet the teachers – together with parents and even brothers-sisters. There are no school tests in Viimsi, the classes come without biases.

According to headmaster Paul, to those who so desire, biases will be on offer starting from 7^th grades. «But surely not on basis of talent, rather according to what the kid is interested in,» added Ms Paul.

On the open-doors-day, every 1^st D kid could check and see if his/her name stood on the recreation-room wall. That also being a little trick by the teacher, trying to find out if they can read their names. They could. Yesterday, it was time for the first test: writing their names in the A-B-C Books. «All were victorious!» rejoiced the teacher, for whom this will be the second 1^st grade ever. «My previous 1^st grade was transferred to the Randvere schoolhouse’s 3^rd grade, almost all of them; I chose to stay here, however, and start afresh with new 1^st graders,» explained Ms Tuulik.

Every morning, the Viimsi 1^st graders kick the day off by warm-up time, for half an hour. «First week, we play games, move about... for it to sink in: school has started,» described Ms Tuulik.

Another peculiarity in the Viimsi school: all 1^st grades sing in the choir – no matter how off-key some may be. Afterwards, the singing will no longer be compulsory.

An 1^st D girl called Stella Pärtel had sister, brother and both parents come to cheer her on school day No 1.

Stella was slightly troubled by her reading skills, even having mastered the letters at a young age – with her elder sister. Growing up, Stella is quite determined to become a kindergarten teacher; the same friendly kind like her own teacher used to be.

According to Ms Tuulik, the class teacher, most kids can read a little as they show up to school, plus do calculations up to 20, say.

«Viimsi school may be big, but our older kids feel good here – must be the kindness in the teachers, and having good friends,» says Signe Pärtel, Stella’s Mom.