St. Stanislav Girls’ Choir of The Diocesan Classical Gymnasium went on a concert tour from 9th- 15th February 2024  to Stockholm to meet a phenomenal girls’ choir Adolf Fredriks Flickkör and present themselves to the Swedish public. It was an amazing opportunity to have two concerts with two amazing Swedish choirs and a concert at Adolf Fredriks Music Primary School where the subject of choir singing is emphasized. At this school we were presented some other classes as well.

It was an unforgettable experience to meet one of the world’s best conductor Gary Graden, who has been collaborating with Megaron Chamber Choir for the last thirty years. Later we joined him at the service in a Swedish old town church and were lucky to be able to listen to the amazing Bach’s B Minor Mass under Graden’s conductorship.

Cultural program was an inportant aspect of the entire tour and it also included listening to the incredible Swerige Radiokören/The Swedish Radio Choir which hosted a seminar for young Norwegian conductors. We were all stunned by their almost angelic singing and learned a lot about their singing technique which is quite typical of Swedish choirs. Our tour was not just about singing and music. There was enough time to explore the beauty of Stockholm, which is a very picturesque city. We managed to visit two famous museums. The first museum was the Vasa Museum with a massive 17^th century ship exhibited. Second one was the Astrid Lindgren’s Museum, where some of her most known stories are presented, including Pippi Longstocking. In addition, we also had a chance to visit Stocholm Stadshus/Stockholm City Hall, where a massive banquet for 1300 guests of honor is annually held after the Nobel Prize ceremony.

This is just a quick glimpse into our tour in Stockholm, but we experienced a lot more and had a great time with each other and singing together on stage as well as off stage. We would like to thank everybody who made this possible for us, especially the choir’s conductor Helena Fojkar Zupančič. /Diana Dominko, year 4/

Students of 3B class organized a Greek recital soiree as a part of a project assignment on January 30th 2024 at The Diocesan Classical Gymnasium. We had the honour of hosting the Greek ambassador to Slovenia Mr. Argyrios Makris. The director of St. Stanislav’s Institution Mr. Anton Česen also attended the event.

We had the pleasure of listening to excellent recitations of Greek and Slovene poems, in both Greek and Slovene language. The selection of poems for the occasion was excellent and the entire event was deeply moving and emotional. The house was full, the audience obviously enjoyed the recital. In addition to reciting poems, the program was enriched by students playing musical instruments. We listened to some Greek songs played on the piano and the violin, but it was the guitar performance that truly introduced the Greek vibe. If you closed your eyes, you could actually imagine yourself lying under an olive tree on a Greek coast.

After the recital, the students treated us to some exquisite homemade Greek desserts. Following Greek tradition,  a special pie was traditionally cut on a New Year’s Day, and we wished each other all the best for the remainder of the year. The audience agreed the recital was truly something special, definitely to be repeated. /Jurij Matija Lisec, year 3/

Christmas awakens longing for happiness, fullness of life and true joy. Let us stop, look in ourselves and consider others. There are many reasons for hope and opportunities to share it with the loved ones. Allow it to touch us and fill up our hearts with the mystery of Holy Night.

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a joyful New Year 2024.

St. Stanislav’s Institution Diocesan Classical Gymnasium, Jeglič Student Home, Alojzij Šuštar Primary School, Good Shepherd Kindergarten, Janez F. Gnidovec Residence Hall, Slovene Home, Matija Tomc Music School and Stane Kregar Gallery

Anton Česen, M.A. Director

The Best in English contest, which took place on November 16th 2023, is an online English competition that includes countries in the EU and more. This year 24,343 students from 702 schools in 34 countries took part. It is opened to all high schools and their students aged 14-19. The level of the test is B1 – C1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. The best students win a 2-week trip to Canada. Škofijska klasična gimnazija in Zavod sv. Stanislava did really well by getting the 167th position out of 702 schools globally. We are happy to announce that some students excelled also individually. The best result was achieved by Jurij Martinčič, (year 3), who was one of the top 7 students in Slovenia and ranked 66 out of everyone. Klara Lešnik (year 4) was second-best, followed by Jerica Brolih (year 3), Klara Gaberšek, (year 4), and Rihard Rener (year 2.)

The school community feels proud of students’ success and everything they have accomplished. Congratulations. /Katja Gorjup/

The Diocesan Classical Gymnasium student Vida Vurušič, year 2, won third place at Street dance show championship in two adult categories – namely the street dance show duos and street dance show formations. The event took place from 13th-15th November 2023. We congratulate Vida upon the outstanding success! The school community is extremely proud of you! /Lily Schweiger Kotar/

General description:  International conference on the challenges of education in the age of artificial intelligence, on building interpersonal relationships in the school environment and wider society, on teaching in and coexistence with nature, and on the future and vision of Catholic education in contemporary society.

Date: 9-11 May 2024

Promoters: national and internationally renowned lecturers and experts on the subject

Content:

1. Church in the mission of education,
2. Pedagogy in response to the challenges of our time,
3. Digitisation and AI in school processes

More information about the conference and opportunities to participate, including on how to present your own papers, will be available on the school website in early December.

Contact:

For more information, please contact: [email protected].

Various stages in the life of men and institutions illustrate their growth, which through time define their identity. St. Stanislav’s Institution was founded on 13th November 1992 and a year later lessons started in the partly renovated building. It was returned to the Archdiocese of Ljubljana by the then government of The Republic of Slovenia, led by Mr. Lojze Peterle and the Minister of Defence Mr. Janez Janša.

In the academic year 2023/24, we mark the 30th anniversary of the reestablishment of St. Stanislav’s Institution, which was founded by the Bishop of Ljubljana Anton Bonaventura Jeglič in 1905 as the first entirely Slovene gymnasium. He had an exceptional vision of the future. We are grateful that the alumnus, the Archbishop Alojzij Šuštar, initiated by some enthusiastic parents, made it possible that St. Stanislav’s Institution today represents the leading educational and cultural establishment of The Archdiocese of Ljubljana.

The renovation of the main section of the Institution and building of new schools on the area of former military barracks have provided the vertical learning environment from primary and music school to gymnasium, student home and residence hall to gallery, exhibition and concert management.

The mission of St. Stanislav’s Institution is to foster the integral personal growth of each individual in the community for the betterment of the wold.

We are grateful for each and every one who has been employed in the Institution so far: directors, headmasters, teachers, guardians and maintenance staff who have shared their experience with children and students; we are deeply indebted to all who have enrolled at different schools in St. Stanislav’s Institution and parents for their trust. Every day almost 1500 young people form their lives and create their future here. The school’s motto Amor magister optimus materialises the vision of being included in the life of the youth, and fostering their relationship with God.

Love is the best teacher in the present and the future. It is our ardent wish that the young would discover and materialize their mission in the Church and society, thus bettering the world for themselves and generations to come.

Ad multos Annos, Zavod sv. Stanislava.

Anton Česen, M.A., Director

28th Annual Concert of the Choirs and Orchestras of St. Stanislav’s Institution

The concert took place on Sunday, 14th May, 2023 at 6.00 p.m. in Gallus Hall in Cankarjev Dom (Ljubljana). The fil rouge of this year’s concert was the young heart’s song, which suggests that it was the creative force of a young person’s heart that brought about the unprecedented joy and creativity of all the singers of nine choirs (St. Stanislav Youth Choir of the Diocesan Classical Gymnasium, directed by D. Močnik; St. Stanislav Girls’ Choir of the Diocesan Classical Gymnasium, directed by H. Fojkar Zupančič; Chamber Choir Megaron, established and directed by D. Močnik; The First-Year Girls’ Choir and The First-Year Boys’ Choir of DCG, directed by M. Kozmus and T. Bec; St. Stanislav Student Choir, conducted by M. Praček Prašnikar; Alojzij Šuštar Primary School Children’s  and Youth Choirs directed by N. Janežič and T. Bec; and (Re)Mixed Choir of the Diocesan Classical Gymnasium directed by M. Kozmus) and two orchestras (the String Orchestra of Matija Tomc Music School, directed by D. Močnik and Ž. Faganel; and Orchestra Symphony 23, conducted by M. Zupanc Kovač). They performed a variety of compositions ranging from renaissance to modern genres, from folk music to religious pieces and musicals. Polona Gantar, journalist from Radio Slovenia, attended the event and this is how it resonated with her.

“Anybody who knows at least a little about the Slovene choir scene, is aware of the fact that music holds a special place in St. Stanislav’s Institution. This is what the audience felt at the Sunday concert. Every year the abundant measure of youthful enthusiasm about music, singing, music making and spring zest is sensed, and this time it was no different. The conductors of choirs and orchestras know it all too well that this status is never self-understood and cannot be taken for granted. These conductors of the choirs and orchestras are one of the most dedicated and learned in the country and so are the young singers and instrumentalists of all vocal and instrumental ensembles in St. Stanislav’s Institution. Most probably there is no other school or music establishment in Slovenia which prides itself on such diversified music activities, especially the choral ones. However, what really needs to be emphasised is not the quantity but the exceptional quality of their performance, which the audience has been witnessing for years and is in fact improving from year to year. This was a first-class music event. The only additional observation one could make is that the young can shape their values, life views and work habits very effectively through music, of which the music pedagogues in St. Stanislav’s Institution have been well aware for years. The audience has sensed it strongly tonight. I believe there has not a single concertgoer who has not touched by this joyous performance, which was followed by standing ovations.” /Lily Schweiger Kotar/

The visit took place from 7th–11th March 2023 and included getting to know the European Parliament, meeting two of the Slovene MEPs, admiring some of the Brussels highlights, going to Bruges and joining friends at Sint-Jozefscollege Torhout.

This is how the entire event resonated with one of the DCG students, who participated in the event: »As part of the School EU Club, the students headed first to the European capital Brussels.  First, second and third-year students set off on Tuesday, the 7th March, while the graduates started their adventure a day later. After an hour and a half of flying, we arrived at Charleroi Airport, where we were greeted by heavy rain. We then took a one-hour drive to Brussels, where we arrived at the hostel. On our way we made a few stops so that we could get some refreshments, and then we started our visit of the center of Brussels. First, we took a look at the famous Atomium, then we saw the peeing boy and the main Brussels square, which was fairytale-like in the evening. The next day, however, we were a little surprised by the weather as it snowed in Brussels, which is very unusual for this time of the year. We visited the Royal Museum of Fine Arts and an exhibition of the Belgian artist Magritte. Before lunch, we visited the chocolate museum, where we learned about the history and production of chocolate, and of course, we also had a delicious tasting. Then we enjoyed some free time until early evening, when the graduates arrived at the hostel, too and we had a joint dinner with MEP France Bogovič. On Thursday, we visited the European Parliament, where we were welcomed by another Slovene MEP Romana Tomc. There we also attended the conference on media freedom in Slovenia, where some of our students participated with questions. They addressed issues concerning the importance of national media. One of the students also remarked on Slovene media in general. After the conference, we went to a restaurant Chez-Leon and had some free time.

The following day we had a mass at the Slovene Pastoral Center, where we dined. On Friday, we headed to the beautiful old town of Bruges. We had an hour and a half to see the city center and then headed for Sint-Jozefscollege Torhout. We made a tour of the school and its facilities and had lunch there. There we met some of the students we knew from previous Erasmus exchanges, especially Small Countries Strong Cultures. The singing festival took place in the school on the day of our visit, so we watched an artist’s concert from Benin X-time. Then we headed back to Brussels, where we had some free time till the end of the evening. Saturday and our last day began with a visit to the European Parliament, where we looked at the history of the European Union and its institutions. Then we had some free time and headed home to Charleroi Airport and eventually to Ljubljana. We felt extremely grateful for such an interesting excursion especially to both teachers that accompanied us, Ms Hočevar, Geography teacher and Mr Grošelj, Philosophy teacher and mentor of the School EU Club.” /Jernej Perko, year 3/

In the week of April when Earth Day is celebrated a group of students from the DCG took part in the student exchange taking place in Mallinckrodt Gymnasium in Dortmund, Germany from 18th to 22nd April 2023. This is how the participants themselves experienced this exciting event.

»On Tuesday morning we set off for Frankfurt, then continued to Dortmund by Germany’s fastest train. We arrived in Dortmund at around 6 pm, where we were met by our host families. We spent the evening in the warm embrace of their homes. On Wednesday morning we officially started our exchange at our partner school Mallinckrodt Gymnasium. The name of the project is Futur€nvironment, so our programme included topics and activities to raise awareness of environmental issues. We discussed pollution, global warming, carbon footprint and sustainable lifestyles. In the project were involved students from six countries; Germany, France, Belgium, Scotland, Macedonia and Slovenia. First, we started with various icebreaking activities so we could get to know all the participants. We continued with a tour of the school. The Catholic school is located in the city centre and has more than 1000 students. It was named after Pauline von Mallinckrodt, a nun who played an important role in women’s education at the end of the 19th century.

In the morning, we took part in workshops. After lunch we went on a “selfie tour” of the city. In mixed groups, we discovered hidden corners of the city that contribute in their own way to sustainable development and a better quality of life. Dortmund is a relatively new city, having been destroyed by bomb attacks during WW II. It is one of Europe’s greenest cities, with many parks, tree plantations and gardens. Infrastructure is also modern, with the exception of a few old industrial buildings. /Iza and Eva, year 3/

On Thursday, we woke up to a slightly rainy morning, but that didn’t dampen our spirits, as we knew we had to make the most of every day. We gathered at school at 8 o’clock and headed to the atrium, where we were briefed on the day’s schedule. We had various workshops available, and some of us (Eva, Iza, and Jurij) continued with the Water Heroes workshop from Wednesday. Our relationship with water was examined and what we can do to keep it clean, while others participated in the Future of Energy workshop, and the rest in Let’s be Sustainable workshop. In the Future of Energy workshop, Zarja and Ajda, along with other participants, discussed the problems of using non-renewable sources of energy and their impact on the environment. They thought about alternative energy sources and the challenges we face in transitioning to greener energy sources. They wrote a letter to the European Union Commission to make them aware that young people care about the world they will live in. In the Let’s be Sustainable workshop, Anja, Ema, and Neža, along with others, first learned about what we can do ourselves for a better future, and then they recorded a DIY video showing their newly acquired knowledge, teaching us how to make our own waste bags from newspaper. Then came our favourite part of the day, snack time, followed by the second round of workshops. We had three different workshops available: Urban Future, DIY Shower Gel and Soap, and Design Your Own Jute Bag. At the Urban Future workshop, attended by Ema and Jurij, we saw how our cities could look in the future, and then the participants themselves designed and made their own “houses of the future,” which were then put on display. At the DIY Shower Gel and Soap workshop, Zarja, Anja, and Ajda learned something new about microplastics, which are found almost everywhere, even in shampoos and water. Then they made their own environmentally friendly shower gel. The last of the workshops was Design Your Own Jute Bag, where Eva, Iza, and Neža learned about the advantages of using sustainable bags and decorated their own reusable bag. We then had a brief summary of all the activities we had done, and then we headed to our hosts. /Jurij and Zarja, year 2/

On Friday morning, we took a bus to the Gasometer in Oberhausen, where we saw the fragile paradise exhibition. The exhibition was on three floors, and viewing the city and its surroundings from the roof was possible.  The exhibition was held in a building in a form of a silo, which was intended for the storage of gases.  It was written on the exhibition flyer that “The aim of the exhibition is to show the beauty of our planet, which is worth protecting, but it also means to draw attention to the abuses that threaten our paradise.”  On the first floor there were various pictures of our planet, its biodiversity, and natural and cultural features. On the second floor there were pictures of our planet destroyed by global warming along with activities that pollute the environment presented in the form of pictures.  However, measures and goals to prevent further warming were also displayed. On the 100 m high third floor there was a 20 m large model of the earth on which various videos were projected.  We were able to observe the paths of planes and ships, the illumination of the earth at night due to cities, the formation of continents, the melting and formation of ice in the wider area of ​​Antarctica and the Arctic and much more. The entire city of Essen and its surroundings could be seen from the top of the building.

Afterwards, we had lunch and then attended the closing ceremony. It started with watching the videos made at the various workshops in which we participated.  All the products that were made were put on display. We looked at the products of different workshops then took each of our products and stored them. Having finished with this, we sat back and there was a presentation of all the people who participated, from students to teachers and hosts.  Here we also received a certificate of attendance. A feast with juice and pizza followed.  We had the last chance to say goodbye to students from some countries (Macedonia, some Germans), but others we were to see the next morning.

On Saturday we gathered at 9.30 in the morning, when our host families drove us to the hotel where our teachers were staying. There we said goodbyes and thanked them for everything they had done for us in the time of our visit. After that the teachers took us to the nearby Catholic church, were Mrs. Stenovec explained its characteristics. We came to the conclusion that the church was built in the Gothic style. After the short lecture we had a quick prayer and then we separated for our last adventure around Dortmund. At 13.55 we met at the hotel again and made our way to the train station. We spent some quality time, travelling around and getting to know Germany, which was great fun and interesting, but we were all looking forward to coming home. /Anja, Neža, Ema and Ajda, year 1/