Author: адміністратор

Ukrainian Language and Writing Week

was, as always, fruitful. Our lyceum students, eager to learn and discover more and more facets of their native language, took part in competitions and creative contests.

Each student of our lyceum, starting from the 5th grade, had the opportunity to test their knowledge in the All-Ukrainian Olympiad in Ukrainian Language and Literature, as well as in the Taras Shevchenko International Language and Literature Competition.

Not only high school students, but also primary school students in grades 3-4 took part in the Yatsyk International Ukrainian Language Competition. The winners will take part in the second stage of the competitions. We are grateful to the wise teachers-mentors who prepared the tasks and supported our students in preparing and holding the competitions.

All-Ukrainian radio dictation of national unity

• is a traditional annual national event dedicated to the Ukrainian language. This year, it was broadcast on Channel One of Ukrainian Radio on the Day of the Ukrainian Language and Writing on 25 October. The radio dictation is called the most massive flash mob of autumn.

At the My Horizons Lyceum, it united teachers and students of grades 7-11 around their native language. Although alarms prevented the dictation, our school family felt a common belonging to the Ukrainian nation, which is extremely important today. Special thanks to 10th grade student Koretska Viorica, who did not give up and managed to finish the dictation in a shelter. This is an example of the strength and endurance of Ukrainian children.

Young scientists of the KhPL ‘My Horizons’ Duda Luiza and Shulhatyi Vadym became participants of the XVII All-Ukrainian Scientific and Practical Conference ‘Ukrainian Language and Nation: Prospects for Development in the Period of Globalisation’, which took place on 29 October 2024 at the Khmelnytsky Institute of IAPM.

Leonid Hryhorovych Bilyi, Director of the Khmelnytsky Institute of IAPM; Olga Vasylivna Finovska, Member of the Board of the Khmelnytsky City Taras Shevchenko Ukrainian Language Society ‘Prosvita’; Deputy Director of the Khmelnytsky Centre for National and Patriotic Education of Children and Youth; writer made welcoming remarks.

The speakers were students and teachers of vocational pre-university and higher education institutions, as well as pupils of general secondary education institutions. The conference facilitated the exchange of views and ideas on topical issues related to the preservation and development of the Ukrainian language in the context of modern globalisation challenges. Students of the 6th grade took part in the game-competition ‘Paths of the Mother Tongue’, during which they demonstrated their erudition, intelligence and ingenuity. Two teams answered questions, solved puzzles and came up with words. They recalled Ukrainian phraseology based on pictures created by AI. They demonstrated their artistic and acting skills by depicting proverbs and sayings with the help of drawings. Everyone contributed to the team’s victory.

Sincere emotions of joy, delight and enthusiasm were in full swing. During the event, the children expressed their thoughts on the importance of enriching their language, nurturing and preserving it, because it is our contribution to the victory, to the age-old struggle for the existence and prosperity of the native word.

The teacher of Ukrainian language and literature Rybchynska O.M. conducted an exemplary lesson in the 5th grade on the topic ‘Noun cases’. During the lesson, the students read proverbs and sayings, quotes from famous people about the importance of language in human life, about how our words affect other people. They discussed why it is so important to preserve the language in modern conditions and how it is connected with the freedom-loving nature of our people.

At the literary performance ‘In the beginning was the Word’, primary school students travelled through the history of Ukrainian writing. They saw how the language developed and how Ukrainian literary traditions were born, from oral art to modern books. Each stage of the story was brought to life by our young actors: girls sang folk songs, a chronicler copied manuscripts by candlelight, and a first printer created his first book. Taras Shevchenko, Lesya Ukrainka, and Ivan Franko addressed future generations with instructions. Lina Kostenko spoke about the deep and imperishable beauty of Ukraine.

The event host stressed that language is the force that unites Ukrainians. She encouraged the audience to read modern and classic literature while travelling, at school, and at home!

The artistic and musical performance ‘The Sixties. Creators of Freedom’ was the final chord of the week of artistic and musical events.

The student actors not only recreated the images of famous artists of the Sixties, but also conveyed the struggle for freedom of speech, cultural identity and truth that the creative intelligentsia waged under the pressure of Soviet censorship.

With this performance, we honoured the memory of the indomitable fighters for Ukrainian identity and reminded them that their contribution remains alive in the hearts of future generations.

My Horizons Lyceum is one of those institutions where English is studied in depth. What is the peculiarity of learning it here?

Study English in depth at Horizons

Firstly, we have an increased number of hours, namely 7 lessons per week. In addition, students have time for self-preparation. During this time, they independently consolidate the material they have learned by completing tasks under the guidance of a teacher. The number of English lessons is much higher than the standard, which allows for more practice in different aspects of the language – speaking, writing, listening and reading.

Of course, since there are more hours for study, there is an in-depth study of grammar and vocabulary. Students study grammatical structures and vocabulary in detail to be able to express complex thoughts and build coherent speech.

Secondly, teachers practice teaching lessons using the CLIL (Content and language integrated learning) methodology. CLIL aims to combine foreign language learning with other academic subjects (biology, physics, chemistry, history, literature, etc.). English language teachers conduct such lessons both independently and in pairs with other subject teachers. Lessons using STEAM education are very interesting. Children are happy to learn when elements of research, construction, and creativity are used in the classroom. Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) is a teaching method aimed at developing critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork skills through the practical application of theoretical knowledge.

Thirdly, language learning takes place through a communicative approach. Lessons are aimed at developing speaking skills through role-playing, discussions and project work. Students are encouraged to use English in everyday situations.

Fourth, we use authentic materials. Teachers actively select texts, videos, audio, and other materials from the English-speaking environment to immerse students in the real language.

What result are we working for?

Passing international exams is an important indicator. Students are prepared for international exams such as Cambridge English or IELTS, which allows them to confirm their level of English at the international level.

Our teachers are always improving their skills and upgrading their qualifications by attending conferences and seminars. We don’t stop there, we have internationally recognised English language certificates. We also have international TKT (Teaching Knowledge Test) certificates, which prove that we have mastered the Cambridge Scale teaching methodology.

They come into our lives, bringing joy, light and boundless love.
In the fast pace of modern life, many families may forget about the spiritual aspects of raising their children. But it is the spiritual aspect that is fundamental to the formation of their inner world. Jesus Christ gave us the best example of how to treat children. The Holy Scriptures say: ‘They brought children to Him to touch them, but the disciples did not allow them to come near. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the children come to me and do not forbid them, for of such is the kingdom of God. Most assuredly, I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a child will not enter it. And he embraced them, laid his hands on them, and blessed them’ (Mark 10:13-16).

Therefore, it is necessary to bless your children, because by blessing them, parents give them something that money cannot buy or obtain with material goods – love, spiritual support and the grace of God.
A blessing is a prayer and spiritual protection for a child, a call for God’s grace and care on his or her life path. When we bless our children, we invest in them the power of faith, love and confidence. When parents ask for a blessing, they place what they are asking for in God’s hands, and these hands are the most reliable hands in the world!

May a parent’s blessing always be a light for their children that guides them through life, giving them wisdom, strength and peace of heart.

Adapting to a new school is an important stage in the life of every child, which can be accompanied by both excitement and challenges.

At ‘My Horizons’ we strive to create an atmosphere of trust and support for each individual, so that every student feels part of a friendly school community. The first days at school are always about new experiences and acquaintances. Children learn to interact with classmates, adapt to new rules and routines. This can cause both excitement and some anxiety.

It is important that every student feels part of the community. For this purpose, we organise various games and activities, develop communication skills, teach children to work in a team, develop empathy and mutual respect.

Constant monitoring of the adaptation process by a psychologist allows us to identify difficulties in time and provide the necessary support. In individual work with students, we can discuss new impressions, fears or difficulties that arise during the first weeks at a new school. Together, we look for ways to reduce emotional stress and find points of support in the new environment.

Close cooperation between the psychologist and parents allows us to identify the individual needs of each child in time to make the adaptation process as comfortable as possible.
Together with the teaching staff, we analyse the condition of children who need more attention or support. This allows us to create an individual approach to each student, based on their needs and characteristics.

At the My Horizons Lyceum, we create an environment where adaptation becomes not only a step towards successful learning, but also towards harmonious personal development. Thanks to the coordinated work of a psychologist, teachers and parents, a child finds his or her place in school life, develops new abilities and builds strong social ties.

is a comprehensive approach. It is a common misconception that it consists only of ‘proper nutrition’ and/or sports.
In fact, a healthy lifestyle is a set of certain skills that can help a person maintain a high level of physical and intellectual activity. Today, we are surrounded by a lot of contradictory information from various doctors, nutritionists, biohackers, and people who call themselves experts in healthy lifestyles. How can we avoid getting lost in all this and how can we improve our health today? We will try to answer these questions below.
The first and golden rule that could be highlighted is healthy sleep. If you don’t know where to start, start getting enough sleep. This seemingly easy advice can make a huge difference to your life. It’s no secret that the human body has its own biorhythms, which in turn are associated with the production of certain hormones at certain times. So, for the harmonious functioning of the nervous, immune, digestive, endocrine and cardiovascular systems, a person needs an average of 7-9 hours of sleep (adolescents aged 14-17 years – up to 10 hours, children aged 6-13 years – up to 11 hours a day). It is noteworthy that not only the duration but also the quality of sleep is important. Experts recommend giving up gadgets, watching films, and exhausting workouts 1-1.5 hours before bedtime, as this negatively affects melatonin production. Before going to bed, it’s better to read a book, take a warm bath, go for a walk in the fresh air, pray – do those things that help you relax and calm down. The bedroom should be comfortable, quiet, and cool.
Also, try to stick to your sleep schedule – fall asleep and wake up at the same time.

The second equally important rule is healthy eating. This is a varied and balanced diet that includes proteins, fats, carbohydrates, and other nutrients that help provide the body with the necessary substances for its proper functioning. The main problem with modern nutrition is the fast, uncontrolled and chaotic consumption of fast food, sweets and processed foods, foods with a lot of trans fats, foods with a lot of salt and sugar. Remember that it is impossible to have a healthy body without a healthy gut. A few simple tips will help you make your diet better:

1. Try to include as much seasonal food as possible in your meals.
2. Eat as many greens, berries, vegetables, cruciferous vegetables and legumes as possible. These foods improve the microflora, strengthen your immune system, and contain a large amount of vegetable protein. Experiment with different recipes, don’t be afraid to try new things. Introduce foods that are new to you gradually.
3. Try to exclude confectionery and sweets from your daily diet. Try to replace them with nuts and dried fruits that are dried without syrups or sugar. Eat only high-quality chocolate that contains cocoa butter and no additional vegetable or milk fat or cocoa powder. Fruit is also a dessert.
4. Stick to your diet. Try to have 3-4 full meals, without additional snacks. Do not skip breakfast.
5. Do not forget to drink enough water.

The third is physical activity, which should be moderate and enjoyable. If you have the time and the mood, choose the stairs over the lift. Try to spend more time outdoors, take more walks, and try to alternate regular walking with brisk walking – this is very good for strengthening the heart muscle. Find a hobby that you like: whether it’s dancing, cycling, going to the gym or group Pilates or aerobics classes – whatever it is, it will help you keep fit physically and also has a very good effect on your psycho-emotional state.

And the fourth is taking care of your mental and emotional health. In the context of a full-scale invasion, it is important to take care of ourselves and the people around us. Don’t close yourself off and don’t be afraid to ask for help if you really need it. Seek professional help if you feel you cannot cope with anxiety or obsessive thoughts on your own.
Take care of your information hygiene. Choose 2-3 sources you trust and don’t scroll through your news feed every 15 minutes. Try to approach information critically, and if in doubt, it is better to check it for fakes. Spend more time with your family, friends, and people close to you. Allow yourself to rest every day to avoid emotional burnout.

In general, schedules and regimes are something that our brain (its emotional part) does not like very much, but our body likes very much. Therefore, for our body to work better, we should stick to a diet and drinking regime, a daily routine: a balance of work and rest, and a sleep schedule. Discipline is more important than motivation and works in the long run, so if you really want positive changes in your life, you can learn to gradually acquire the above skills. You shouldn’t try to embrace everything at once: it’s better to gradually change your life without stress, try and try to understand what works for you.

A healthy diet is an integral part of a healthy lifestyle that affects our immunity, our health, our appearance and even the state of our nervous system.

Your daily diet should include proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, fibre, water, sufficient salt and a minimum of refined sugar.

We need proteins to build and maintain muscles. Carbohydrates provide energy for the brain, nervous system, and liver. Fats are necessary for maintaining the body’s hormonal levels, the beauty of nails, skin, and hair. Water removes toxins, ensures the proper functioning of all organs and systems of the body, affects the skin condition and improves overall health.

At the My Horizons Lyceum, experienced chefs, professionals in their field, take care of a healthy, balanced diet for students. A healthy diet can help meet the body’s needs for protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. A balanced diet is based on the consumption of natural healthy food in the quantities required by the body and the organisation of a proper regime.

We follow the most rational three meals a day.
Our lyceum students always have a plate of delicious vegetables on the table: cabbage, cucumbers, tomatoes, herbs, onions, carrots, peppers. For dessert, there is a plate of fruit: apples, pears, oranges, bananas, grapes, plums, etc.
We care about the health of our students so that they are cheerful, energetic, and have strong immunity.