PANAYOT VOLOV PRIMARY SCHOOL the village of Madara, Bulgaria

The rock relief “Madara Horseman” is a unique monument dated to the early Middle Ages. It is in the north-eastern part of the country, only twenty kilometers from the town of Shumen, near the village of Madara. The relief was cut in a vertical rock at twenty-three meters height during the eighth century and it measures 2.6 m in height and is 3.1 m width. This unique masterpiece comprises a life-size rider, a lion, a dog, and Greek inscriptions. The relief is included in the national history and archaeology reserve of Madara, as well as in UNESCO’s World Cultural and Natural Heritage List.

Where exactly are we?

This is our school

Our school is 108 years old. Every year on the 20th of April we celebrate our patron’s birthday and organise concerts on the stage of the local cultural centre “Prosveta”, as well as make posters to commemorate his revolutionary activity in the years 1874 – 1876, all in the great cause of the liberty of Bulgaria.

Our students, performing on stage.

Having lessons and extra-curricular activities among the proud and majestic Madara cliffs, at the foot of the Madara horseman, has become a tradition in our school.

Every year on the 6th of May at the foot of the cliffs of Madara we celebrate the Fiest of St. George, who is the patron of our village. Our students always participate – they dance and sing folk songs.

Starting a new school year The new students are welcomed and are given a symbolic key to the knowledge.

Native English speakers in our school In 2007/2008 the volunteer from the Peace Corps (the USA), Gina Gonzales, worked in our school. She taught our students to play baseball and showed how Halloween is celebrated in her country as well. They returned the favour by taking her cherry picking.

Photos of our students, celebrating the 1st of March – the coming of spring. The custom is to give each other martenitzi and greet people with the words: Chestita baba Marta! - Happy Granny Marta! Granny Marta (=March) is a mythical woman who tells her brother January and February to go away, so she can step in.

Mutual understanding and responsibility Using our experience, we, the teachers from Panayot Volov primary school, offer the following recipe for a never-fail dessert: Family A smile and love A kiss and a compromise Mutual understanding and responsibility Stir and add spices. Sprinkle with patience. Thank you. This presentation was made using the ppt “The extra curricular activities – an incentive to positive attitude towards the school environment” By Mrs M. Gancheva, Mrs M. Bozhanova and Mr P. Burov