On Thursday, 18^th January, 2024, our school received an important visit from chefs from the show Dinner for 5 in the Country, which was programmed on Planet TV in the fall. Sonja Škof, Polona Rahmanović, Marko Jurman, Mojca Kramarič and Nika Lovrin decided at the end of the competition week to donate the prize, which was then doubled by Planet TV, to our school. As a result, the students put in a lot of effort to prepare a varied program for them, which included singing, playing instruments, recitations, and at the end, a play in which they were given a secret recipe for gratitude. As if there were not enough surprises, after the program we were impressed by Mrs. Mojca gigantic cake in the shape of a birch tree, made for our students and teachers.

On behalf of the entire school, we express our sincere and warm thanks for their contribution to our school. Their donation will enable additional activities for our students – we will use the money entirely for a trip to the sea. We are all very much looking forward to this, as we know that this visit to the sea will be the first for many of students.

Mojca: It was warm, sincere and wonderful.

Polona: We must be an example to children and learn from them at the same time, they are such amazing teachers of life. I am honored to have been a part of such a beautiful and heartwarming event.

Sonja: When you know that you have done something good and you feel warm in your heart. Satisfaction and love, reach deep into the heart, so we know it was the right decision.

Nika: “Happiness multiplies when you share it with others.” I witnessed it and I shared it with my friends. I’m very grateful for this experience.

The holidays are behind us, but let’s us keep the holiday spirit a little longer. This time we will focus on the last good man – Father Frost. How was it celebrated in the past and how today?

In the past, the arrival of Father Frost at school was a big event. The teachers came to school in the afternoon to decorate the hall and classrooms and prepare the program and gifts that the good man brought to the good and hardworking children. Usually sweets and school supplies, but sometimes individual classes also got a board game or some legos. Students and teachers prepared a cultural program for Father Frost with recitations, singing and dancing. This event took place somewhere between Christmas and New Year, as they did not have Christmas holidays at that time.

Now we celebrate the arrival of Father Frost or Santa Clause together with the holiday of independence and unity on the last day before the Christmas holidays begin. A cultural program is held with a variety of different shows as children eagerly expect and call out for Father Frost or Santa Claus together. He brings gifts that were provided by generous donors, and then says goodbye with a promise to visit us again next year.

But, regardless of when and how the good man from the north comes, the students then and now await him with wide smiles and sparkles in their eyes.

The school is extremely happy when a working machine comes, as is expected that something will be worked on or be restored. From a small building on top of the hill in 1970, we have become a large and modern school that can be proud of many its achievements. Though every achievement is not self-evident or was not easily acquired, but it made working with students much easier and ensured their better safety. In addition to co-financing of the municipalities of Črnomelj, Metlika and Semič, we obtained a large part of the financial resources through European projects and donations.

During these years, we acquired a multi-sensory room, renovated a classroom for housekeeping courses, we gained a school changing room, additional sanitary facilities, better energy efficiency, additional classrooms on the 1st floor of the former student dormitory, the connecting corridor between the school and the former student dormitory, dining room, a path to the sports field, classroom outside, toilets for the disabled, elevator… The school is now equipped with new furniture, modern IT boards and computers, and many accessories intended for children with special needs.

The 50th anniversary is an important jubilee, as part of which we will also ceremoniously open new, renovated rooms in the student dormitory, where our most vulnerable, but most heart-felt students have their classrooms.