Narva Russian Sunday School
This school was founded in 2004.
Its ‘Russian culture’ curriculum includes lessons on the cultural history, folklore and folk calendar and traditional art, handicrafts and cuisine of Russia.
The children also learn how to make traditional Russian gifts and souvenirs. Their motor skills are developed, they are taught how to use colour when drawing and they learn how to make amulets and other handicraft items. The students are introduced to traditional games, dances, songs and performances.
Learning about traditional culture also develops their language, speech and understanding. Poems and songs broaden the children’s folk culture horizons. Lessons also touch on the links between the cultural traditions of Russians, Estonians and other nationalities living in Estonia.
Upon completing a course the students are presented with a certificate that sets out the subjects they have studied and the number of hours they have attended the school.
The target group of the Sunday school is students from schools where Estonian is the language of instruction (and where at least 80% of the students are ethnic Russians) who want to learn more about the subjects the Sunday school teaches. Admission is based on applications.
Since the school operates as part of the NPO ‘Svätogor’ Slavic Cultural Association of Narva, the students have the chance to take part in events organised by national culture associations (including the ‘Mary Day Handicraft Workshop’ festival, a Christmas concert, a Russian church music concert and the ‘Play, Concertina!’ festival). The children get to perform and prepare traditional food.
