On invitation from the Bischöfliches Gymnasium Graz the (Re)mixed Choir of the Diocesan Classical Gymnasium will visit the school from 10th -11th March 2016. Singing students of both schools will take part in the evening concert and the guest will be shown around the school and the city of Graz.
(Re)Mixed Choir of the DCG with almost 110 singers is the largest choir in school, in which mostly 2nd, 3rd and 4th year students sing. The choir tends to sing an appealing programme of gospel, spirituals, pop and musicals. Under the energetic leadership of the conductor Helena Fojkar Zupančič and accompanied by a band, the choir thrills everybody everywhere and we believe it will be so in Graz as well. /Lily Schweiger Kotar/
The students of the DCG from the French Drama Club will participate for the third time in the observation of the International Francophonie Days in Celje, Slovenia. Students from ten different Slovene high schools will gather to stage a contemporary performance in French, namely Les Migrants by Sonja Ristič. Assisted by a French actress and stage director, it is the Slovene students who will set up this project, which is unique also in a broader context of topical migration issues, and demonstrates some good student teamwork. The first night will take place on 25th March 2016 in The Slovene National Theatre in Celje, Slovenia.
The students of DCG are rehearsing under the mentorship of Daša Obrč, teacher of French at The Diocesan Classical Gymnasium. /Lily Schweiger Kotar/
The above words are the motto in Lent 2016 at St. Stanislav’s Institution. During every season of Lent, but even more so in the holy year of mercy, people try to strengthen their relationship with God. Priests working in St. Stanislav’s Institution invited the entire school community to simply open its heart to God’s mercy, rather than trying to find out what could be done by themselves.
Ash Wednesday in St. Stanislav’s Institution opened Lent with the following words »”Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” After the ceremony, the activities which would enable students and teachers to feel God’s mercy, were presented. They would consequently permit everyone to show mercy to close-by people. A Slovene woman who is married to a Touareg presented this Lent’s charity action of raising money for the needy children and women from this African nomadic tribe. Apart from this, each class was asked for the participation in one of the morning masses or prepare the stations of the cross or adoration prayers during the main breaks in Lent. Students were also invited to take the sacrament of penance and reconciliation as well as attend the adoration of the most holy trinity in the school chapel, which takes place at the end of Lent.
Together with Pope Francis we wish you that » mercy becomes your path to unite yourself with God, opening your heart for hope that we shall always be loved no matter what obstacles are posed by sins.« /Lily Schweiger Kotar/
This year’s main theme was ethno music, which brought about numerous arrangements of folk songs from Slovenia and abroad. The heart and soul of the festival, Damijan Močnik, claims this year’s festival has been the best in every aspect. The winning song was an arrangement of a Slovene folk song Marko skače /Marko Is Jumping/made by Marko Rus, with inspiring choreography by Blaž Pavlakovič, who was also the class’ conductor. They are both members of the winning class, as is the author of the following report: Every January and February something changes at the Diocesan Classical Gymnasium. If one listens closely, singing can be heard from every classroom during breaks and even classes. Preparations for the traditional annual singing festival are in full swing. What is the singing festival anyway? The entire school community lives for this event. It does not matter whether you are the next Mozart or completely out of tune, you sing together with your classmates. Some classes practise for months, aiming to win, while others start a week before and participate just for fun. On the festival day, the tension grows as the school hall fills to the brim with students, teachers and other visitors. The roaring applause marks the beginning of the show and the teachers perform their arrangement, which usually causes salves of laughter. Then the real competition begins. Once you step on the stage, the adrenaline kicks in and you just sing your heart out together with your friends. The rush of performing is indescribable and once you sing that last note you already feel like you are on top of the world. At the end, the judges retreat to discuss the winners. Meanwhile, the stand-up comedians take over relieving the tension. The classes that practiced the most are hoping to snatch an award. Best debutants, best cover, best original song and best choreography are just some of the awards given. Of course there is the reward for the best singing class. The Oscar of the festival. Two runners-up are also awarded, but winning the first place is a dream. Especially if you are a part of the class that won for the second year in a row and receive three awards on this year’s singing festival. /Klara Jukič Wilfan, year 4/
Yuka Marubashi, an English teacher at Kanto Daiichi High School in Tokyo, Japan visited St. Stanislav’s Institution from 30th January-3rd February 2016. She held several lessons in the DCG classes to unveil some cultural, social and educational aspects of the country. Students were especially impressed by the Japanese manners and etiquette, which differ widely from Slovene ways. The quiz on Japan and Slovenia brought about some competitive spirit among students and excited amazement at the large number of Japanese high tech products used in Europe and our school as well. This was a unique firsthand learning opportunity to provide students also with some basic Japanese words as well as Katakana and Hiragana alphabets.
The entire school community had the pleasure of Yuka’s company and performing at the traditional annual school singing festival. /Lily Schweiger Kotar/
“Exchanges are a great way to learn about different cultures, meet delightful people and travel to foreign countries. We have experienced all these and a lot more first-hand during this week as a part of the Erasmus+ exchange, Art Nouveau – Art Renouveau. The Slovene group wishes to thank all the participants, the Bulgarians, the French, the Germans, the Romanians and the Scots, for the amazing energy and atmosphere around us during preparation period before your arrival to Slovenia and the great work we have done during this week. At the same time, we would like to say how happy we are to have such great new friends! We hope that our newly made friendships will be long standing.” (Manca Karčnik on behalf of the Slovene team)
Classical antiquity days took place from 13th-16th January 2016 in the Diocesan Classical Gymnasium. The purpose of these three-day activities for first-year students is to discover the world of classical antiquity, recognize it and give it meaning in today’s world, and clarify the concept of classicism. As in classical antiquity, where academic subjects were not strictly divided, students experience intensive interdisciplinary learning on the first day. The second day is meant for practical work in the form of various workshops from sculpturing, painting, to drama, Roman cuisine and sport in antiquity. On the last day students present their work and acquired knowledge in workshops to the entire school community and visitors.
The Virgin Mary was called to rejoice above all because of what the Lord accomplished in her. God’s grace enfolded her and made her worthy of becoming the Mother of Christ. When Gabriel entered her home, even the most profound and impenetrable of mysteries became for her a cause for joy, faith and abandonment to the message revealed to her. The fullness of grace can transform the human heart and enable it to do something so great as to change the course of human history. (From the homily of Pope Francis at the opening of the Jubilee Year of Mercy on 8 December 2015)
May the spirit of Christmas fill us all with joy of life and gratitude for everything we are blessed with. Let us remain open to the new Life and, like Mary, accept it wholeheartedly and bring it into this world that strives for peace, mutual acceptance, justice, mercy, and tenderness. May the New Year be a year full of sincere and genuine relationships, readiness to help and support each other and blessed abundantly by our merciful Father.
Roman Globokar, Ph. D.
Director
We have the great honour to announce that the Diocesan Classical Gymnasium alumna Petra Kovačič from Tolmin won the first violin tutti audition in Vienna on 18th December 2015. This time all four candidates to make it to the final round were women and Petra is the fifth woman to be admitted to the Vienna Philharmonic since the start of this month. »The times may be a-changing.«, commented Slipped Disc, the world’s most-read cultural website.
At The Diocesan Classical Gymnasium in St. Stanislav’s Institution sport climbing has had a long-established tradition since 1993. In these years, twenty-one annual national climbing championships for high school students in Slovenia have been organized. Each year about 150 contestants from all over Slovenia take part. National championship is held every year at the end of January, this year on 27th and 28th January, 2016.
This season we have decided to expand the competition and invite some foreign climbers as well. The conditions for the participation are the following: foreign climbers must be enrolled at a secondary school in the academic year 2015/2016 and born between 1997-2000. The competition runs separately for registered contestants who are lead-climbers and for those who are tope-rope climbers.
If required, accommodation is available in St. Stanislav’s Institution. For further information adn foreign climbers registration, please contact us by 18th January 2016 at [email protected]
We look forward to meeting you in Ljubljana.
Andrej Kokalj, P.E. teacher, Head of National/International Climbing Championship for High School Students in Slovenia
phone: 00386 41 569 530 [email protected]
