ONLINE CELEBRATION OF THE CZECH NATIONAL DAY ON OCTOBER 28, 2020
The streamed celebration premiered on October 28 at 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (October 29 at 1 a.m. Central Europe Time). The documentary, entertainment and greetings by Canadian and Czech dignitaries and community groups is available for viewing at Together To Victory 2020. There you will also find a commemorative newspaper and other information.
VIRTUAL GREETING
On October 27, 2020, students and families gathered by video conference to record a greeting in celebration of the October 28 Czech National Day and to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. Members of the Ottawa branch of the Czech and Slovak Association of Canada and families from the Czech embassy participated. The greeting is a part of the live-streamed documentary Together To Victory 2020, dedicated to the Canadians and Czech Canadians who helped rebuild Czechoslovakia during the course of the war. The project was created by the Czech Embassy.
Drahomira Cechova, our most mature participant, opened the greeting. This 90-year-old lady epitomizes the feelings of gratitude to those who helped end the war and made it possible for families such as Mrs. Cechova´s to settle in Canada. Our teachers continued the greeting in English, French and Czech.
ONLINE COOKBOOK
When, in early March of 2020, one of our students presented her family recipe and the story behind it, it made the last in-person class of the school year as sweet as the wafer torte that she shared with us. Sadly the pandemic lockdown meant that the rest of the students’ recipes would have to be prepared and eaten at home, but our creative students “shared” their dishes by video and online presentations.
The unveiling of our students’ cookbook of recipes from 2019-2020 has to wait, but for now it is available on the Web. We look forward to a second edition this year, and a picnic once the restrictions are over.
MARCH 2020
As a result of Covid-19, we switched to online teaching with great success. We began our Czech Regions project where the kids chose a geographical region and recorded videos inviting people to tour the most exciting destinations. When all were complete, the students voted on and picked the best presentation, with Prague winning this time.
The results are fabulous. See for yourselves
CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS - DECEMBER 14, 2019
On December 14 both our Czech classes will get together for activities such as decorating traditional Czech gingerbread, cutting open an apple in hopes of revealing a star and floating a candle to foretell our next year. We’ve planned a Christmas treasure hunt, a quiz and of course singing carols.
ST. NICHOLAS - DECEMBER 7, 2019
It’s that time again this year when Saint Nicholas comes to hand out little gifts to all good children. December 7, 2019, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in Mel Baker Hall at Dulude Arena, 941 Clyde Avenue, Ottawa. As usual we ask parents/grandparents to bring at most one gift.
We will try to divide up the gifts into two sacs so that children younger than six will not have to wait too long to greet Saint Nick. Each child will have the opportunity to show Saint Nicholas a token of appreciation in the form of a talent (a short song, poem or dance) or a piece of creative work (such as drawing or cutout).
Helen Grus has offered to accompany children wishing music for their carol or dance (or you can bring music on an MP3 or iPod/iPhone). The arena will be open for skating from 1 to 1:50 and again from 2 to 2:50 pm for those interested.
We ask each family to bring a potluck snack or treat if you can and $10 to $20 per family to cover the cost of room rental. As in past years, there will be a fun fair with games and mini-competitions. Feel free to forward the invitation to friends and family, with or without children. Bring your best singing voice for carols too..