The first day of school, September 1, is a real holiday event for children, their parents and their teachers at the Sholem Aleichem school in Vilnius. This is the school’s second year in new premises renovated and built to the latest construction standards, located in the Žvėrynas neighborhood of Vilnius. This year there are 390 students. Principal Miša Jakobas says the large student body shows the school is an attractive one for city residents, and that people are talking about the school.

“In ratings of Lithuanian gymnasia, we take 17th place, and 5th in Vilnius. That’s a good indicator. We will work and strive, and competition is growing. The last school year was successful. Our graduates entered higher education and chose different subjects, including microbiology, chemistry, philology, engineering and technological fields,” he said.


Asked about priorities for the coming year, the principal said school priorities have to be worked out in unison with the Ministry of Education and Science, but there were two main ones: attendance and the emotional atmosphere in schools across the country. He said parents need to realize that school is serious work, and shouldn’t take their children on vacation during the school year. On fostering an emotional atmosphere conducive to the learning process, he said: “Every child should feel he or she has a place at school. Attention needs to be paid to each and every child. That’s why the emotional climate at our school is good. We always have and always will pay a lot of attention to the student. And I have to point out that it’s not just the teachers who create the emotional atmosphere, it’s also the parents and the children. So we can’t put all the responsibility upon the shoulders of the teachers alone.”

Asked about whether Sholem Aleichem was a Jewish school or not, or how “Jewish” it is with a mixed student body, principal Miša Jakobas said: “Yes, children of different ethnicities attend. I won’t say, intentionally, how many are Jewish. I am very pleased that it is this way. It enriches us all, we are one big, friendly family. Of course Jewish history and culture, Jewish traditions, values and so on are the dominant theme in the learning process. Our children participate in all sorts of Lithuanian Jewish Community programs. Of course I’d prefer if there were more active participation. So we’ll keep working on it!”