End of Jewish School Year for Dnepropetrovsk Students

DNEPROPETROVSK, Ukraine – In the East Ukrainian city of Dnepropetrovsk, the school bell rang for the last time this year at the Ohr Avner Levi-Yitzhak Shneerson Day School. This June, 58 graduates are leaving the student body to pursue higher education at top universities and institutes in Ukraine, Austria, Israel, USA and elsewhere.

This Jewish school is considered to be one of the foremost schools in the city, both in terms of the education it offers its students and due to the numerous seminars offered here every year for teachers throughout the region. Since graduates are a key measure of a school's success, the ceremony to mark the academic year's end holds special importance. Those completing their studies at this time have every right to be proud since a diploma from this school has assured them the highest educational standards and a warm welcome from any college or university. The ceremony involved numerous guests, including Jewish community Chairman Grigory Korol, Director of the Jewish Agency for Israel Dmitry Apartsev, and Betsy Gidwitz, who has been a friend to the community and is a author and researcher on Jewish life in Ukraine. Chief Rabbi of Dnepropetrovsk Shmuel Kaminetsky stated, "I congratulate all graduates, parents and teachers. My six children study here, so I know for a fact that this school provides a good general and Jewish education. I am sure that children who study here are top students. I wish everybody much happiness and a great summer." Graduates now face the challenge of writing their entrance exams, with most of them feeling very confident with the knowledge the Chabad Ohr Avner school has provided them. "I'm filled with emotions because I'm leaving the school," stated Alina Siatina. "I'll surely be coming here but this time as a guest. Fortunately I won't be leaving this city, since I'll study psychology at a local university. I'm also sure I'll stick to the Jewish lifestyle I was brought up since childhood." The ceremony, held in the school yard, involved about 1,000 guests. It began with children from the Cheder reading Torah verses. After presenting student Maria Borisonnik an award for diplomas for successfully completing Jewish history studies, School Director Leodin Ganapolsky handed out the Honours Diplomas to the best students. "I remember when you first came to this school in the first grade. It was many years ago and naturally you've grown up since then. I want you to remember forever the warmth of the teachers who guided you all these years." The students and teachers then sang songs and recited poems for the graduates, who in return sang their own song about the best school they have known – the Chabad Ohr Avner Jewish School of Dnepropetrovsk.