The GZAAT school culture committee is a fundamental and essential part of our school community. Their group, consisting of students and teachers, plans many significant events and activities each year and serves to help students execute their ideas, increase communication not only between each other but with other school representatives as well, and more. Recently, a few new, bright-minded students joined the GZAAT school culture team. Since their group increased in size, we were interested to find out their future plans and interviewed one of the committee members - Ana Tvaladze, who was happy to share some information.
Since all of us are in an unusual situation due to the pandemic, keeping in touch with schoolmates and teachers is very important but has also become more challenging. It has been especially difficult for the junior high students who haven’t had a chance to attend and get to know GZAAT in person, and the freshmen who just started high school. As reported by Ana the first activity of this academic year was planning the meetings with 8th and 9th graders. Students from higher grades shared their experiences, gave them advice, and answered their questions. This activity enabled new students to get to know their peers and the school a little better, considering some of them haven't even met each other yet.
Ana also mentioned some events that are going to take place in the near future, like the GZAAT annual chess tournament and online lectures given by guest speakers. After the winter break, the GZAAT school culture committee is also planning a very engaging and interesting week, called “The Alumni Week” where GZAAT alumni will share their experiences, details of college life and their chosen profession, give some advice and answer any questions students might have. This activity might help them in choosing their path and give them an idea of what they want to do after graduation.
One of the most advantageous and effective programs offered by the GZAAT school culture committee is peer tutoring, where students help each other improve in a specific subject. Sometimes a fellow student’s explanation can be quite helpful. This program is beneficial for the tutors as well, it is not only a brilliant chance to revise old material and help others, but to also make new friends along the way.
Moreover, the GZAAT School culture committee recently selected the school mascot with the help of the whole school community. A mascot symbolizes good luck and school spirit which we especially lack nowadays due to the online format. This is exactly what all of us need right now! Every student had the opportunity to suggest their ideas and participate in the final election. Many animals were suggested like a dolphin and an owl, representing wisdom, but with 45% of total votes, the Phoenix won. The Phoenix is the light and life of the universe, its association with the sun resonates well with the line in our anthem “Academy is the sun”.
“Powerful, beautiful, and eye-catching, rising from the ashes, the Phoenix will strengthen our school spirit and unity during the tournaments!”, says the school culture committee.
The next step after selecting the mascot is choosing its appearance, a design competition has been organized, so every student can participate in creating a mascot with their own interpretation.
Edited by Elene Berelashvili
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