Romanian Language School history

Through Romanian language itself, which is without doubt the key to communication for us Romanians, we can deduce our people's way of thinking, their emotions, and understand our existence and role in history. Far away from our homeland, we cling to it, with our sense of pride and the desire to explore and speak the language of our mother, who gave us life and nursed us. Moreover, we, Romanians, strongly believe that it is our duty to pass on to the next generations the Romanian language, morals, culture and traditions. Our offspring, products of two civilizations, have the chance to benefit from these inspiring opportunities available in Canada, as they are being raised here with both Canadian and Romanian morals and values knitted together. This chance grew more once the Canadian Government introduced the "International Languages Program" in schools, 30 years ago, allowing also the existence of a school where everyone  could study Romanian language and  heritage under this act.

Therefore, a Romanian Language School was established in Kitchener in the year of 1992. From 1992 to 1994 the teacher of this school was Eliza Savescu. Due to children shortage, the school stopped functioning in 1994 and was reopened in November 1998 by Monica Petrus, with a background in teaching Romanian and English in Romania. Back then, the school actively involved forty children in learning and maintaining their mother language, having as a main goal Romanian language acquisition and development.

In January 1998, the Romanian Language School became part of the Waterloo Catholic District School Board's "International Languages Program", having the classes held every Saturday morning at St. Anne School in Kitchener until June 2000.

Between 2000 and 2003, Marinela Mihu, a former Romanian language teacher, and her husband, Nick Mihu, continued as teachers of the Romanian School, the school being located then in St. Louis Adult Learning Centre building, in Kitchener.

In 2001, the Romanian School included within its teachers a new member, Stefaniada Simona Voichita, a former Romanian language teacher as well. Since 2003 she will continue this school's tradition as a key instructor, remaining the only teacher within the school  between 2003 and 2006.

In November of 2006 from one class, the school grew now, to two classes, with over sixty children registered, representing a great success and a big step forward for the Romanian community from this area. Besides Simona Voichita since then, Bianca Man (supply teacher), Doina Georgescu, Camelia Ardelean, Anca Rosca and Diana Secasan, were the other instructors who worked within the school.

In the school, activities happen individually and/or in groups, with material, exercises and projects specific to each student and groups potential. The mission of the school is to endorse everything Romanian, including the culture, literature, traditions, general knowledge as well as its history and geography.

Besides regular accomplishments of learning the language and expanding students' cultural horizons, since 2003 up to present, is worth mentioning some projects and activities, in which the Romanian school was involved, mostly under Simona Voichita's coordination:

2003-2004

•  "Star student" and "ABC bingo" were the most popular contests among students;
•  The parent - student riddle contest was a surprise for parents and a sensation;
•  Students' work and Romanian books display.

2004-2005

•  Simona Voichita's stage adaptation of the greatest Romanian playwright's, Ion Luca Caragiale, sketch D-l Goe, had to be performed twice on the same day, due to its success, for guests arriving from Toronto;

2005

•  One of the school's students won one of the prices of the charity contest "Day of hope", organized in order to rise funds for the 2004 tsunami victims;
•  Simona Voichita created the officialRomanian School website: www.scoaladeromana.ca
•  The traditional Christmas celebration and show "Waiting for the Santa Claus" was a another success among parents and community guests.

2005-2006

•  Simona Voichita initiated a communication project between students of our school and students from Romania called: "My friend from Romania". With this project, our students had the change to communicate directly with children from Romania and gain more language and culture knowledge.

2006

•  "Trip around the world" performance was a great success not only because of student's recitals, Romanian national costumes and handicrafts' display, but also because of the presentation of an excerpt from the Romanian puppetry popular show "Vasilache and Marioara";
•  "Santa's Apprentice" and "The Little Writer" contests were initiated, becoming the most liked by the students contests and an ongoing tradition of the Romanian school;
•  In June, Simona Voichita tailored, on stage, Ion Luca Caragiale's sketch, Vizita to celebrate the end of the school year;
•  In December, she adapted a show to celebrate Christmas, named "Looking for Christ" in which were included popular carols, poems' recitals and a play. Also, children were surprised by the presence of the Christmas tree and Santa Claus's appearance with gifts, for the first time in our school;
•  After the show, a group of children and parents, together with the teacher, went caroling, door by door, within the Romanian community, to show and teach our children this superb Romanian custom which nourished everyone's childhood.

2007

•  Among other members of Romanian community, a small number of students took part in the celebration of our National Day (December 1^st), which was also honored by the presence of the Romanian Ambassador in Canada, Mrs. Elena Stefoi;
•  A group of students recorded the song "My mother is a song" for the 30 Anniversary Celebration of "International Languages Program", and to honor our treasured and unique mothers;
•  In March, a show with songs and poems was performed to celebrate Romanian mother's day. All mothers received a booklet, created by their children, in which they stated, using words, drawings, photos and decorations their love for them, and the traditional "martisor" as well. After the show, everyone viewed, with great emotions, the unique movie Mama, a screen adaptation of Ion Creanga's story: The goat with three kids;
•  In June, a great success had the show "Fairy tales' carnival", organized to celebrate the end of the school year;
•  For Christmas celebration, the school presented the spectacle "Christmas is coming" where now the regular carols, poems, plays, gifts, Christmas tree and Santa with its presents were present once again to continue the school tradition of Christmas celebration.

2008

•  In March, a show was staged to celebrate our bellowed mothers and spring arrival.
• In May, students from the school successfully participated in the 30th anniversary celebration of the "International languages program" and "Romanian-Canadian day" celebrations at the Kitchener City Hall, along with Romanian community.
• In June, Simona' Voichita class had a "Contest of general culture" hosted between parents and students, and students won the contest.

2009

•  In December, Christmas has been celebrated in the school when both classes sang carols and recited poems. Simona Voichita's class also presented a play called "Christmas Eve social" illustrating the ancient rituals used by village people to celebrate this beautiful holiday in Romania. Children were visited at the end by Santa Claus with gifts, and the winner of The Santa’s apprentice has been announced.  
• In June 2009, we have celebrated school end with a play presented by Simona Voichita's class: Fat-Frumos cand era mic, a satire about contemporary Romania through the world and characters of fairy tales. Diana Secasan's class recited and sang poems and songs for the Alphabet Celebration.
• On June 13, 2009, Simona Voichita's class published the first number of the class magazine Tinere Mladite, with 40 pages with students compositions.
• On December 12, 2009 Simona Voichita' students staged the play "Craciun la bojdeuca lui Creanga" for the Christmas celebration. They've also recited beautiful Christmas poems and sang lovely Romanian carols. Diana Secasan' students sang carols for the guests as well. At the end, Simona' students displayed Christmas cards they've created for fundraising and Santa Claus has brought presents for everyone under the Christmas tree. 

• In Jan 2010 together with parents committee (Stela Rogobete, Cristina Mihailescu, Horatiu Rus, Sorina Szkokan) we have finalized the implementation process of a nonprofit fund for the school resources. The Waterloo Region Romanian Language Fund has been established in partnership with the Waterloo Region Catholic Schools Foundation and we will be able to provide tax receipts for all monetary donations of $25.00 and over. This is huge for us!

Other events to reflect the popularity that the Romanian Language School gained, within the community in Canada and Romania, throughout the years are:

•  Simona Voichita's interview for the Romanian radio, "Radio Romania International", broadcasting in Bucharest, capital of Romania;
•  School shows' fragment presentations and teacher-parents' interviews on OMNI 1 TV station, during the Romanian TV broadcast "Noi romanii";
•  Regular appearances in the Romanian newspapers such: "Jurnalul romanesc" and "Agenda Romaneasca";
•  Special congratulation by phone, received in January 2008, from the Romanian Embassy in Ottawa (Eugen Predatu).

Of course, the school could not exist, without the parents' support, those parents who are bringing their children to school every Saturday morning, and have always been there, regardless of any obstacles.

In addition, of a big help was the  presence of our volunteer students and also the school enjoyed the  support of the Romanian Community over the years: "ARTA", "Cardinal e-Quality Ltd.",  "Noi romanii" and "Romanian Agenda" .

This is a small chapter, of the many other chapters still coming, that wants to illustrate the history of our school, through witch we preserve alive the bond with our Romanian language and culture, through witch we carry on our ancestors' legacy. This is our Romanian Language School that gives us joy and proud feelings of belonging to this marvelous, awakening and inspiring program: "International Language program".