Students not only listened with interest, but asked Mr. Vexler many questions

On February, 8^th, senior students of Gymnasia # 1540 (Moscow ORT Technology School) had a lecture-meeting of well-known political scientist and observer, Adviser of the Minister of Internal Security of Israel Mr. Alex Vexler on the topic “Internal and international situation of Israel” at the School’s assembly hall.

Throughout his political career Mr. Vexler was an Adviser of the Minister of Internal Security, Mayor of Kirjat-Gat, Head of Tel-Aviv District of the Ministry of Absorption, Consul and Member of Israel diplomatic representatives in Moscow, and also worked as the sociologist and the coordinator in the field of social adaptation.

During his lecture Mr. Vexler told about the most actual events of modern Israel in a very alive manner. Thanks to Mr.Veksler’s profound knowledge about the country’s history and its present internal and international situation as well, lecture has turned into an exciting narration with set of bright examples and references to realities of political situation, elections, Arab-Israeli conflict, etc.

President of ORT of Moldova Mr. Ilan Shor and Director of ORT Technology Centre Mr. Vitaly Kirillov

As President of ORT of Moldova Mr. Ilan Shor repeatedly underlines in his interviews: “ORT-Moldova’s doors are opened for realisation of various innovative projects”. And ORT does its best for  implementing the programs of t state educational institutions, and various ministries and departments as well.

Already from the beginning of the new, 2010 year, there were 2 seminars of retraining  of educational workers of Moldova taking place on the basis of ORT Moldova and ORT technology Lyceum named by Herzel.

On January, 28^th,   the seminar for young experts “Information technology on Math lesson”, organised by ORT Moldova in cooperation with the Municipal Government of Education of Kishinev was held in the ORT Technology Centre. The tutor for the group of young Math teachers of 12 lyceums of Kishinev was Director of ORT Technology Centre Mr. Vitaly Kirillov.

In a week, during the period from February, 3^rd, till February, 5^th, republican instructional seminar devoted to the issues of organisation of examinations on bachelor degree (bachelors in Moldova are graduates of lyceums) on the basis of ORT Technology Centre was conducted.

The seminar was prepared by the Agency on Testing and Examinations of the Ministry of Education of Moldova Republic. 50 representatives of regional managements of education, colleges and universities were participating in the seminar.

Since 2008 World ORT realizes the international project directed, first of all to increase students’ interest to Math studies. Club sessions pass in the form of videoconference in which at least 3 countries are taking part. Each session has separate topic. One is devoted to developing strategy with ordinary matches, during the other chessboards could be involved in solving some mathematical problems, etc. "Math Club” leader is World ORT Research and Development Coordinator Dr Yakov Ronkin.

On January, 21, 2010 the "Math Club” the session of with participation of Dnepropetrovsk, Kishinev and London took place.

In Dnepropetrovsk the session was organized in the conference hall of the Central Synagogue of Dnepropetrovsk “Golden Rose” with participation of the 5th grade students of 'Levi Yitzchak Schneerson' Ohr Avner School # 144 and students of the “Chaia Mushka” mahon. On the other side of videoconference the 5th grade students of the Kishinev ORT Technology Lyceum named by B.Z.Herzel were solving mathematical problems on chessboards. For them it was the second session in this academic year. In total it is planned about 5-6 sessions for this academic year. First three videoconferences are to be held between the following cities: London, Kishinev and Dnepropetrovsk, the next ones will be organised with the participation of Dnepropetrovsk, Moscow and Odessa.

Tatyana Ivashkova, Deputy Director of 'Levi Yitzchak Schneerson' Ohr Avner School # 144, underlines that she enjoys the first results of videoconferences: “Students’ motivation for Math studies has increased, considerably; children wait for the next videoconference with impatience and prepare for each forthcoming session carefully during the optional school lessons of Math hobby group. If the first lesson had been a little bit unusual for them and children had tried not to miss every particular word of the leader of the videoconference, students had made their best to solve interesting and difficult for them logic strategic problems, already on the second session they were “armed fully” and everybody suggested variants of decision”.

On February, 2nd, joint session of “Math Club” from Moscow, Odessa and London took place. 8th -9th grades students of Moscow Gymnasia # 1540 (Moscow ORT Technology School) and Odessa Secondary School # 94, ORT were participating there. The session was devoted to the introduction into the graph theory. Teachers noted that participation in club work allows children developing logic and spatial thinking, imagination, imparts their interest to math: children were active and sometimes they found even several various decisions of the problem.

Dnepropetrovsk

Moscow

Odessa

On January, 21, 2010 teachers and students of Minsk school # 132 ORT "Bialik" took part in the action devoted to the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the organised by the United Nations Representative Office in Byelorussia and Republican "Holocaust" Foundation.

There were in ceremony of mourning candles’ ignition participating:

• United Nations Representative in Byelorussia Mr. Antonius Brook;
• Ambassador of the State of Israel Mr. Eddi Shapira:
• Ambassador of Ukraine in Byelorussia Mr. Igor Likhovoy;
• Councellor-minister of the Embassy of the Lithuanian Republic in Belarus Republic Mr. Darius Vitkauskas;
• Charge d'Affaires of the Embassy of Moldova Republic in Belarus Republic Mr. Grigore Sadovitch;
• representatives of the public Jewish organisations of the city.

On January, 27 there was the action devoted to memory of victims of the Holocaust also taken place at the school assembly hall. There were verses and words by 10th grade students performed which should remind the audience about those terrible days and candles in memory of six millions victims of Catastrophe were lighted.

A high-powered delegation from South Africa has toured ORT institutions in Paris and Moscow, its members seeing them as models of the quality vocational education they want to develop in their own country.

Senior representatives of government and business joined representatives of ORT South Africa on the four-day fact-finding mission, which took in the stunningly refurbished ORT Montreuil school in Paris and the ORT Technology College and ORT Technology School in Moscow.

Frank, professional discussions with local business people, educationalists and staff provided insights into the benefits of the ORT model as well as the challenges which must be overcome in order to attain the high standards on display.

In Moscow, the delegation were shown how ORT can provide a full range of vocational education services, from pre-vocational school level up to adult education and on-going career development, said ORT Russia National Director Dr Sergey Gorinskiy.

And during their visit to the ORT Technology College, the delegation participated in a round table discussion on the theme, “Training Programs: Cooperation with State and Business.” Also there were Dr Gorinskiy, the College’s Director and Deputy Director, Dr Yuri Mironenko and Igor Pavlov, the First Deputy Director of the Federal Institute of Educational Development and General Director of the National Agency for Qualifications Development, Professor Alexander Leibovich, the Director of the SKOLKOVO Infrastructure Research Centre, Professor Alan Kantrow, the Vice President of the Federation of Restaurateurs and Hoteliers, Igor Karapetyan, and Vice President of the Moscow Union of Designers, Antonina Rudnitskaya taking part.

“We enjoyed very professional discussions,” Dr Gorinskiy said. “It was very interesting for us that the delegates asked us some questions about the challenges we face that we had not asked ourselves. So having their observations from the outside has helped us to see things in a new way.”

Moldova’s Education Minister, Leonid Bujor, and the Minister of Pre-University Education, Valentin Crudu, have become the highest-ranking dignitaries to visit the ORT Herzl Technology Lyceum in Kishinev.

The ministers visited several classes and paid particular attention to the superb facilities at the ORT Moldova Technology Centre, where there is one computer for every three students compared with a national average of more than 22 students per computer. And they discussed education issues with teaching staff and senior students in the school auditorium.

And the Director of the Lyceum, Svetlana Klimina, added: “These facilities are used not only for computer lessons, but as a way of incorporating the latest technology in the teaching of subjects such as history, biology and mathematics. Lessons become more interesting and the children learn more.”

Mr Shor and David Benish, World ORT Representative to the Countries of the Former Soviet Union, invited the Minister to the school earlier this month and it is testament to the warm relations between the government and ORT Moldova that he made time to take up the offer so quickly.

Such warm, high level contacts were established since 2003 when the Moldovan Government passed a resolution renaming the high school in Kishinev the ORT Herzl Technology Lyceum.

Since then, ORT Moldova has led the way in applying information technologies in education, said Mr Shor.

“We support many initiatives including a number of training programmes in conjunction with the Moldovan Ministry of Education,” he said. “I believe that ORT should be involved in many social programmes of the state - in precisely those areas in which our expertise can contribute to finding the best forms and methods of teaching not only high school pupils but also mature students of all religions and ethnicities.”

One such programme is the provision of training in the use of IT in education management for the heads of the regional educational departments. Others include vocational training for vulnerable women (a joint project with World Jewish Relief), and a research and analysis project to identify the most sought after skills in Moldova so that appropriate training can be made available.

Photo: ORT Moldova President Ilan Shor (centre) with the republic’s Education Minister, Leonid Bujor, and Svetlana Klimina, the Principal of ORT Herzl Technology Lyceum.

On January, 18, the Day of anti-virus safety, organised together with Anti-Virus School of Kaspersky, took place at the Moscow ORT Technology School (Gymnasia # 1540).

Leaders of Anti-virus school of Kaspersky Mr. Stanislav Shevchenko and Mrs. Margarita Bakina told students of 8^th -11^th grades about Anti-Virus School’s activity and discussed some complex issues concerned information safety. They also congratulated two teams of Moscow ORT Schools on including into the first ten of autumn Computer Biathlon. More than 100 commands from different cities of Russia took part in this competition.

Especially interesting was the presentation of Maxim Dorofeyev's, School’s graduate, former teacher of school and specialist of ORT Technology Centre, the co-author of “Digital Electronics” for 8th class course who is one of leading experts of Kaspersky’s Laboratory now.

Active participants of Day of anti-virus safety received prizes and everybody, both adults and children has been handed over free three-monthly license on Kaspersky Internet Security 2010.

Training of the first group on Get-IT program is coming to an end.

 Each participant submitted to advisory council portfolio with the information of professional experience, plus producing advertising poster about specialty and the trademark with presentation.

On December, 13th at the city Art Centre the rewarding ceremony took place. The big merit in the organisation and carrying out of the contest belongs to ORT-KesherNet Centre teacher Sergey Fomin. On the basis of the centre, he together with the listeners developed and printed Diplomas for the winners. On the screen (provided by HP) and using the new projector (provided by HP as well) the works of the winners and solemn ceremony of rewarding were shown.

Now thanks to facilities and to the new GET - IT program Centre had received from HP and thanks to ORT support Centre is planning to promote themselves not only in the city, but in the regional and areal actions as well.

On December, 11-13^th, 2009 at the Art Centre "Theatrical" the fourth, final seminar for school students and parents of the Jewish schools of St.-Petersburg, organised within the frames of the program «Jewish communities», financed by CAF, passed.  

Nearby 100 persons - students, their parents and teachers of three Jewish schools of St.-Petersburg (two schools of ORT network: Secondary School # 550, ORT de Gunzburg “Shorashim” and Secondary School # 274, ORT “Yerushalaim” and School "Adain Lo" # 374) took part in  three-day out-door seminar near Zelenogorsk.

Hanukah celebration became a theme of the seminar. Traditional Kaballat Shabat under the supervision of Mitya Fainerman and Mira Vitman was held on Friday evening. They lighted Hannukah and Saturday candles with the help of students of ORT de Gunzburg School who also sang some songs devoted to the holiday.

Having traditional entertainments old acquaintances shared impressions about lectures and thought out their suits for forthcoming performance.

All participants of the seminar are creative people and that is why they took part with a pleasure in the dramatized performance, staged under the direction of Evgeniya Sinelnik; painted and decorated plates and made traditional Hannukah tops-savivons.

Sunday has been devoted for Makkabiada. The light frost and the snow which had fallen out for night, frightened nobody - young sportsmen only ran on a football ground faster and participated in various competitions more actively.

Last joint Hanukah work was the hand-made newspaper in which each participant placed the responses, wishes and drawings. Before departure this newspaper was cut for some parts and was taken away for memory for each of the schools participated.

On December, 11th there was a celebratory concert devoted to a Hannukah holiday organized at the Moscow ORT Technology School (Gymnasia # 1540) for students and their parents. By tradition the concert began with the candles lightening.

The basis of the first act was the classical and variety music performed by students of ORT School, and in final the winner of the international competitions, the art director of chamber theatre "Ganzel-opera" singer Beata Ganzel (mezzo-soprano) acted.

On December, 4-6th, 2009 ORT St. Petersburg specialists took part in work of the third international youth forum the “Youth Wave”.

The forum annually passes in Lenexpo exhibition centre under aegis of St.-Petersburg Administration. In 2009 it became the central event of the Year of Youth.

It is already the second case of cooperation of ORT-St.-Petersburg and Lenexpo: in March, 2009 teachers of ORT gave master class on work with the computer for aged people, participants of the “Senior Generation” forum. 

Exhibition area – the biggest stand of pavilion – was provided to ORT free of charge as the Lenexpo administration had all bases to believe that a mobile computer class and performances of highly professional teachers will draw attention of visitors of the Forum.

ORT stand really became one of the most active the participant of the business program – for 3 days experts of ORT have spent 13 various trainings and master classes. 

Master classes on work with the computer which were conducted by teachers of the Centre, psychological trainings and recommendations of the career adviser about resume drawing up caused a great interest of visitors and participants of the Forum. All planned educational actions were devoted to really actual questions for youth: how to make resume correctly; how to answer the artful questions of the employer during the interview; how to create the make business-cards and to advance a site in the Internet; how to conduct the budget by Excel program and to organise working hours by time-management technologies.

Some participants visited all master classes throughout three exhibition days, coming to visit lessons specially.

The special attention of participants of the Forum was paid to the with the project “ The School of Career”, developed by experts of the Center specially for the young person doing the first steps in professional career.

Each visitor of the ORT stand could estimate advantages of participation in this educational program, after all master classes and trainings conducted there had been developed on materials of "Schools of Career”.

Organizers of the “Youth wave” forum handed over to  ORT-St.-Petersburg Director Marina Sorokina the Diploma.

On December, 10th, 2009 the results  of the open tender of projects «Grassroots - 2010», carried out within the frames of the “Jewish communities” program  under the initiative and with financial support of UJA Federation of New York and Genesis Philanthropy Group (GPGhave been summed up).

On the basis of experts’ recommendations and  according the results of meetings  and interviews 20 winners, including  the  Board of Trustees of the Kazan Secondary School # 12 (ORT-Mishpahteinu) and the Centre "ORT-St. -Petersburg".

The project «Mishpahteinu – Club»  of the Board of Trustees of the Kazan Secondary School # 12 (ORT-Mishpahteinu) is aimed for attracting graduates of different ages for  cooperation with school; for investigating the fundraising possibilities among the graduates  and parents; and for using  their professional possibilities for solving the problems facing to school.

Centre "ORT-SPb" project urged to stimulate youth’s interest to history of the Jewish community of Petersburg and its contemporary activity. Within the frames of that project not less than 40 persons – senior school and universities students will familiarize and comprehend creatively all the accessible historical material and will receive new knowledge in the field of information technology for presentation and distribution of the information about the life of Jewish community of Petersburg. As a result participants should create the Internet resource and provide thematic tours for 200 school and universities students of the city on the routes developed by them.

On November, 25th, 2009 in HP-ORT GET-IT Centre on the basis of Youth Business Centre which operates at Moscow Business School "MIRBIS"  the training “Own business establishing and what is  is necessary to know for beginning business owner” (with the elements of GET-IT program) for students of two Moscow schools: Gymnaisa #1540 (the Moscow ORT Technology School) and the Secondary School # 2017 - began.

The centre was opened in September, 2009 within the frames of expansion of the joint program of YP and the World ORT "GET-IT" (Graduate Entrepreneurship Training through IT) in Russia and Ukraine. The purpose of the programme is to help potential entrepreneurs acquire IT skills with the aim of becoming better placed to create and run their own businesses

On December, 10th, 2009 the first videoconference of two leading ORT colleges – ORT Strasbourg Lycée and Moscow ORT Technology College has taken place.

From Strasbourg side there were present: Mr Claude Sabbah, ORT Strasbourg Director, Design teachers and students. From Moscow side Mr Igor Pavlov, Deputy Director of Moscow ORT Technology College, teachers and students took part in videoconference/        

Technical support was provided by Vasily Meshcherjakov (Moscow) and Katya Skripnikova (Strasbourg). Katya Skripnikova also became the forum moderator and Franco-Russian interpreter.

After the general introduction, the sides told in detail about the colleges and answered the questions.

During conversation the particular interest was provoked by the fact that there are  “Fashion Design” specialty is taught in both colleges.

Considering that 2010 is declared by year of the French-Russian friendship, the sides decided to organize number of actions next year for strengthening the contacts between colleges.

The Strasbourg  Lycée  suggested to accept  a group of 10 persons, teachers and students of the Moscow Technology College. It is planned that Moscow students would present small fashion show, and teachers would conducted some thematic master classes of design.

 The sides also come to the agreement of a regular exchange of student's and teaching delegations, including these one in the form of interning.

Besides, the sides decided to carry out video conferences regularly and to devote the next such meeting to demonstrations of design works of teachers and students.

In the conclusion Mr Sabbah expressed gratitude to Moscow ORT Technology College for this initiative.

On November, 23rd on the web-site of “The Bronx Times” news agency the article devoted to World ORT 130^th Anniversary has been published.

The Bronx Times started and continues to deliver information as an online newspaper. It has been reaching locals and guests online through its flagstaff website Bronx.com since 2005. Bronx.com is up and running 24/7 and more than 80,000 unique visitors came to it last year, viewing 5 pages on average.

At the end of the article the link for World ORT web-site is given.

We are pleased to enclose a recorded clip from Bloomberg Radio, featuring our President, Dr. Jean de Gunzburg who was  interviewed by "Taking Stock" host Pimm Fox.

Bloomberg Radio provides live updates on world and national news as well as the latest in business news 24 hours a day. The network distributes news and information throughout North America. Bloomberg provides syndicated reports to more than 750 radio stations around the nation. Outside of the United States, the outlet delivers news in the local languages of the countries where it broadcasts.

 In order to listen to the interview, please click here.

On November 19th, 2009 ORT had an inspiring and sentimental reception at the United Nations building to celebrate its 130th Anniversary.

Please see United Nations Secretary General Message.

We invite all to take part in on-line voting on a People's Choice Award within the frames of annual competition of animation which is devoted this year to the Hanukah celebration.

All the works are placed here.

Here you can see and vote for work which will win a special prize then!

And our jury will estimate all  the works and will award the best of them in each nomination.

Results of competition will be published on December, 10th.

On October, 30th the Moscow Gymnasia # 1540 (Moscow ORT Technology School) was visited by delegation of British teachers.

During visit which proceeded more than 3 hours, the delegation of 9 teachers could not only have a tour on school, but communicate to teachers and students as well.

The meeting included presentation of the school, open lessons. During free dialogue of visitors with students and teachers the general and particular issues of various aspects of educational systems of two countries, elements of pedagogical technologies, using of ICT facilities at lessons etc. were discussed.  

During the story about school World ORT participation in school functioning at modern level was mentioned especially.

All participants of action had the most favorable impression about the meeting.

In a display that would have been all but impossible before World ORT brought Interactive Whiteboards and videoconferencing technology to Israeli schools on a significant scale, some of the Jewish State’s top decision makers were treated to a glimpse of the future of Jewish education at the Israeli Presidential Conference in Jerusalem.

In less than 20 minutes, World ORT showed more than 120 politicians, industrialists, Jewish communal leaders and academics at a panel discussion on Judaism in the Internet Age the power of educational technology to transcend geographical and cultural barriers

“Ours was very different from the other presentations which relied on PowerPoint; ours was interactive, it was like something from another world,” said Kadima Mada Pedagogical Manager Dr Osnat Dagan. “They gave us 15 minutes and it felt like only one minute because there was so much happening. After the session people were coming up to me asking me how we did it. They were fascinated.

On October, 23rd, 2009 НР together with World ORT opened GET-IT (Graduate Entrepreneurship Training through IT) Сentre on the basis of the Kiev ORT Technology Lyceum.

The purpose the developed by HP Company "GET-IT" program is supporting of graduates and active youth strived for opening their business. Training course specially developed for the program includes not only an information technology, but also business dealing bases, increasing, thus, efficiency of professional work of beginning businessmen.

As a result of "GET-IT" Centre opening one of Lyceum’s classes will be completely equipped by laptops and other equipment necessary for providing students with knowledge and skills which should allow them opening their own business after graduating.

At the opening ceremony there were:

• Slobodan Radic, Regional Manager, Micro-Enterprise Acceleration Institute (MEA-I);
• Karel Vavruska, HP Business Development Director; 
• Sergey Savenko, Director HP Ukraine;
• Igor Belousov, НР Manager on working with official bodies in Ukraine, CIS and the countries Central and the Eastern Europe;
• Svetlana Levchuk, the Chief of Department of Education of Dneprovsky District of Kiev;
• Sergey Gorinsky, the Head of development of programs of association "World ORT" in the CIS and Baltic countries;
• Jury Vinogradov, Deputy Dean, Faculty of Computer Science and Computer Facilities, Head of the HР Centre at the National Technical University of Ukraine “KPI”.
• And also principals, teachers and student of Kiev ORT Technology Lyceum, the directors of HP-ORT GET-IT Centres in Ukraine participated at the ceremony.

Besides the centre in the Kiev ORT Technology Lyceum, also within the frames of GЕТ-IT program joint HP-ORT Centres will work in Ukraine territory in Slavutych and Lviv.

During the period from October, 12 till October, 13th, 2009 in Suzdal (Russia) the HP Digital Forum took place. Within the frames of the Forum the contest on the best reports under НР corporate social responsibility programs was declared. More than 40 persons were present at the forum: representatives of the partner organisations and educational institutions – participants of HP charitable programs.

According the organizers’ plan the report made under the special form of Power Point presentation, was to be added with video, photos, success stories. All materials were put on the blog of HP Digital Community for the voting.

Following the results of the voting which were declared on October, 14th, the best report was recognised this one of the school # 12 of Kazan, ORT "Mishpahteinu", where in February, 2009 the new multimedia class has been opened within the frames of educational program of  HP company for school students and teachers.

The award for the victory in contest of the best report was handed over to the Deputy Principal Viatcheslav Fiyalo.

"During certificate delivery I gave to representative of Hewlett Packard Company Mrs Gabriele Zedlmayer (VP Global Citizenship, HP) a brick with НР abbreviation, made bythe firm of Vadim Umanskiy, graduate of GET-IT program in Tambov".

Dina Brjuske, Director of "ORT-KesherNet" Centre in Tambov

On October, 8th in at the "ORT-Career” Centre the Open Day passed. More than 70 persons participated in free seminars and the master classes conducted by teachers of the Centre.

The particular interest was provoked by master classes on photos processing by means of Adobe Photoshop program. The topic – “Family Album” had been chosen specially, after all the teacher of the Centre Alexandra Kovaleva showed to participants of training how it is possible to correct flaws of old family pictures by means of the computer program. Such useful skills appeared to be interesting as for children so as for elderly - the age of fans of photos fluctuated from 11 till 70.

On October, 6th and 7 the opening ceremonies of two ORT-KesherNet Centres in Tbilisi and in Gori were taking place. 

Project Kesher activists in Georgia, representatives of the various Jewish organizations and of local authorities who were present at opening ceremony, underlined the importance of the given project time and again: thanks to these centres’ establishing wider opportunities for receiving new knowledge and skills are opened for women of Georgia.

Among guests of honour there were the Representative of American "Joint" Committee in Georgia Mrs. Irina Lipski, Deputy Director of the Tbilisi Jewish Community Centre Mrs. Zaira Davarashvili, Director of Jewish Culture and Educational Foundation Mrs. Lena Berkovich, the Chairman of the Independent Society of Kurds-Ezid Women of Georgia Mrs. Lily Safarova, President of International Foundation LEA Mrs. Marina Solomonishvili in action at Tbilisi. Especially for participation in the opening ceremony delegation of Board of Directors of Project Kesher arrived from the USA to Georgia.

Besides representatives of the Jewish community and the heads of public organisations in opening ceremony of the ORT-KesherNet Centre in Gori there was a Representative of Department of Inter-Nationality Relations of Gori Municipality Mrs. Maja Surameli participated. There was the agreement with the city administration about the training on computer literacy for women-refugees signed.

Heads of 'Levi Yitzchak Schneerson' Ohr Avner School # 144  and specialists of ORT Technology Centre prepared the project for participation in ' Intel ' corporation program "1 student - 1 computer" for secondary schools. The manager of the project Director of Studies of school Tatyana Ivashkova appointed.

On October, 3rd on the site http://1to1.iteach.com.ua/ the first results were published. Among the 102 projects of different schools of Ukraine the project  of school # 144 of Dnepropetrovsk was included into ten finalists of contest.

The school project "The Future in us - we in the future" is placed on site of contest. 

Moscow, September 18,  2009  –  Today HP together with World ORT announced the opening of the HP-ORT GET-IT Centre at the Moscow Business School “MIRBIS” and expansion of the HP Graduate Entrepreneurship Training through IT programme (GET-IT) and the opening of six more training centres in Russia and three centres in Ukraine.

The opening ceremony of the educational centre and presentation of the new phase of the “GET-IT” program took place in the Moscow Business School “MIRBIS”. A lot of honoured guests participated in the ceremony, among them there were Savin Stanislav Leonidovich, rector of “MIRBIS”, Owen Kemp, HP Vice-president and HP Russia managing director, Asmolov Alexander Grigorievich, President of ORT Russia, professor, academician of Russian Academy of Education.

HP-ORT GET-IT Training Centre has been opened on the basis of the Youth Business Centre which operates in Moscow Business School "MIRBIS" since May, 2008.

The main objective of the Center Youth Entrepreneurship is creation of practical component of the system training of entrepreneurs who will possess a set of personal qualities needed for work in modern business. The Center provides assistance to young people in starting a business and development of business-thinking skills. The center is also involved in creating an infrastructure to support youth entrepreneurship in Moscow; it realizes its own business projects, the social significance to the objectives of the preparation of the MBA and Executive MBA.

On conclusion of the opening ceremony Mr. Owen Kemp provided master-class for “MIRBIS” students on the topic “The Future of IT”, telling about technologies, devices and services that will be part of our everyday life in a few years or even decades as these projects are already being developed in HP today.

Photo: Asmolov Alexander Grigorievich, President of ORT Russia, professor, academician of Russian Academy of Education; Savin Stanislav Leonidovich, rector of “MIRBIS”; Owen Kemp, HP Vice-president and HP Russia managing director.

September, 13, families of Petersburgers sang and danced, participated in competitions and were treated with apples and fresh honey in “Divo-Ostrov” ("Miracle-island") park because of New Year according the Jewish calendar – Rosh-A-Shana.

The actions devoted to this holiday are traditionally organised in the city by the Jewish community, and so great holiday of this year became possible thanks to active participation of all Jewish organisations of the city and financial support of American "Joint" Committee and the Jewish Agency.

Among other organisations presented on a holiday, ORT-SPb played one of the key roles.

Competition of children's drawings on the asphalt, thought up and conducted by ORT specialists, had involved big interest and spontaneously continued after the official conclusion of the competition so by the evening the main square of "Divo-Ostrov" was painted by all the colours of rainbow. Someone of children tried to paint a logo of ORT and it is necessary to tell, it was made not so bad.

This day was full of surprises. Two master classes thought up by ORT specialists: on computer drawing and origami – was aimed for children of primary school age. But the holiday made the amendments:  nice origami baskets were concealed as by kids (with the help of the parents and ORT specialists), so be the more senior children and adult visitors of the action. And computer drawing provoked not only children’s interest.

Besides the direct participation in master classes’ carrying out, ORT represented itself as one of sponsors of the celebration: CDs "Jews of Petersburg. Three Centuries of History" were handed over to finalists of "Hidon-Peterburg" lottery devoted to history of the Petersburg Jewish community, and the certificate on free visiting of English language courses became the main prize.

On September, 9 the one-day seminar for nine accountants of the companies of St.-Petersburg was taken place in the St.-Petersburg "ORT-Career" Centre. Excel is daily used in accontant’s work, but there is no time to understand all subtleties independently. And any innovation becomes simple and accessible after teacher’s explanations.

The subjects of training were not a novelty for specialists and teachers of the Centre – courses on work in Excel are conducted in the Center constantly. The pleasant surprise was an audience consisted of practically working accountants and economists who aspired to receive answers to absolutely concrete questions during the training. Working examples and cases from practice which were assorted by participants of training under the supervising of the Centre’s teacher Tatyana Vlasova have helped to approach such themes in details, for example how to use templates, to work with formulas, with sheets, tools of the analysis of the data, diagrams, macros and many other things.

By listeners’ reviews, such seminar became the convenient tool for improvement of professional skill for practically working accountants. Even those from them who considered themselves as assured and experienced users of the program could open some ways to simplify and accelerate work with this convenient program during training.

Listeners have highly appreciated the skill of the teacher. By words of Anastasiya Malekova: “Tatyana Vlasova is a remarkable teacher who perfectly knows the program and is able to submit a material perfectly. I will attend the courses of profound studying of Excel under her tution”.

American media delegation and World ORT Director General Mr Robert Singer at the Kishinev ORT Technology Lyceum named by Herzel 

During the period from August, 31st till September, 4^th the visit of group of the American journalists to educational institutions of ORT network in Ukraine and Moldova took place.

For these five days Walter Ruby, Debra Rubin, Alan Goch and Laura Stampler could see a solemn ceremony of September, 1st at the Kiev ORT Technology Lyceum, visit ORT school in Odessa and ORT Technology Lycum named by Herzel in Kishinev, meet President of ORT Ukraine, the first pro-rector of National Technical University “Kiev Polytechnical Institute”, Professor Jury Yakimenko; the ORT Moldova President, public leader, President of Moldavian-Israeli Centre of  external economic relations, medicine and training, President of "ShorHolding", Mr. Ilan Shor, and well-known representatives of Jewish community and  Israeli diplomats.

Within the frames of visit on September, 3rd 2009 the meeting of journalists’ delegation, the World ORT Director General Mr. Robert Singer, ORT Moldova President Mr. Ilan Shor, World ORT Representative in the CIS and Baltic states Mr. David Benish with the President of Moldova Republic Mr. Vladimir Voronin in which the successful activity of ORT on training the population of Republic in knowledge and the skills necessary for overcoming of difficulties of a modern life was considered; for encouragement of their economic independence, professional and social mobility and the further prospects of ORT work in Republic were discussed also was taking place.

Following the results of delegation of the American press visit  on September, 8th, 2009 in “The Jewish Week” the article of Walter Ruby “ORT Schools In FSU In Danger Of Collapse” was published.

There was a video conference organized for students of ORT Schools with the new-elected Head of the Jewish Agency for Israel Mr. Natan Sharanskiy at the Moscow Centre of Education no. 1311 (ORT “Techiya”).  

Born on 20 January 1948 Mr. Sharanskiy is a former Soviet dissident, human rights activist, former prisoner of Zion, Israeli politician and author. Had been a Israel's Minister, a member of Knesset of the Likud Party, a Chairman of the Adelson Institute for Strategic Studies  and Chairman of the Board of Beit Hatefutsot, since June 25,  2009 he was unanimously elected as a  Chairman of the Executive of the Jewish Agency for Israel.

Undoubtedly it was very interesting and exciting for students of four ORT schools: Moscow Centre of Education no. 1311 (ORT “Techiya”), Moscow Gymnasia no. 1540 (Moscow ORT Technology School), St Petersbrug School no. 550 (ORT de Gunzburg “Shorashim”) and Vilnius ORT Shalom Aleichemo Jewish School – to have a conversation with such an unordinary person.

Mr. Sharanskiy told about his life and his participation in fighting for human rights during the Soviet era. His speech was devoted to those not numerous activists who had organized actions for leaving for Israel at the Moscow streets, about their striving for freedom, and about abusing and victimization they had suffered from. And, of course, Mr. Sharanskiy said many important things about modern life in Israel and about the future and prospects of Israeli youth.

Students were immersed in conversation very much and asked many questions.

In conclusion Mr. Sharanskiy said that he is very glad that now ORT schools provided their students with an opportunity to study Hebrew, Jewish Culture and Traditions and Israeli history and political structure so that they could make successful “aliya”, continue their education in Israel and have a good professional and life prospects. 

Open lesson at the Vilnius Jewish ORT School

A survey published in Lithuania’s equivalent of Newsweek magazine has placed the Vilnius ORT Shalom Aleichem School among the Baltic state’s top 10 high schools.

But the school’s increasing popularity means it is now operating at maximum capacity and an increasing number of Jewish children face having to be educated elsewhere unless the money is found for a new building.

The school was ranked ninth in the survey of Lithuania’s top 500 schools by Veidas magazine and was ranked third amongst the capital’s schools.

Since then, World ORT’s continued support, culminating in last year’s introduction of Nova5000 date loggers and sensors to create “intelligent laboratories” – together with teacher training to ensure the equipment’s effective use – had contributed to Shalom Aleichem’s steady rise up the ranks. Shalom Aleichem is the only school in Lithuania to have such state-of-the-art teaching tools.

In 2004, the school was placed 108th in the magazine’s national rankings but by 2007 it was 46th and up to 27th last year. The fact that Shalom Aleichem qualified for the survey is in itself a sign of the school’s superior standards given that almost all the other schools listed are gymnasia – the education system’s top band of high schools.

Adult students at the Moscow ORT Technology College

In its first participation in an open public government tender to supply design training courses for small and medium businesses, the Moscow ORT Technology College applied to run two courses – one on application programmes of industrial design, the other on application programmes on design development, computer, interior and landscape design – and won the rights for both.

It  confirms the College’s reputation as one of Russia’s leading centres for vocational training in design, advertising, economy and technology.

The College’s success rested significantly on its recent certification by the Commercial and Industrial Chamber of Commerce of the Russian Federation. Until now, such certification has only been granted to Russia’s leading universities and is seen as the first step on the College’s journey to be recognised officially as a university.

The courses fall under the aegis of the Moscow Training Foundation’s City Programme for Small Business Development and Support, which has seen more than 30,000 specialists raise their professional skills over the past two years.

A group of 11 ICT teachers has undergone training in World ORT’s award-winning Graduate Entrepreneurship Training through IT (GET-IT) programme, the first such seminar since World ORT and Hewlett-Packard (HP) announced a massive increase in their GET-IT partnership.

The teachers from Kiev, Lvov, Murmansk, Rybinsk, St Petersburg, Slavutych and Tula were brought together at the ORT-KesherNet ICT training centre for women in Tula, which has a new computer class thanks to HP’s increased investment.

The GET-IT programme focuses on the need to encourage job creation and entrepreneurship among people below the age of 25. Its training courses deal with practical IT solutions for daily business challenges faced in areas such as finance, human resources, marketing, communications and technology management.

The four-day seminar raised the teachers’ skills in the use of ICT for business; another seminar is due to be held next month. The training, which was provided in this instance by Ana Barfield and Munir Ahmad of the Micro-Enterprise Acceleration Institute, is required by HP for all teachers at its GET-IT centres in 25 countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Hebrew and Jewish Traditions Teachers’ Seminar started on the 28th of June 2008 in Kishinev (Chisinau) capital of Moldova on the site of the ORT Technology Lyceum named after B. Herzel.

Forty one teachers from Moldova (15 pers), Russia (11 pers), Ukraine (10 pers), Estonia (1 pers), Latvia (2 pers), Belarus (2 pers) arrived to Kishinev on the 28 of June (Sunday) to start the seminar on the Monday, 29th of June 2009.

The topic of the seminar was: “Modern Teaching Tools and Educational Technologies in Teaching

Hebrew and Jewish History and Traditions”.

The preparation for the seminar started two months before the opening day. A special Internet forum was initiated where participants introduced themselves to their colleagues, suggested and discussed the topics and themes for the Agenda of the seminar, offered and got advice and consultation on logistics.

During their first class the participants were greeted by the Director of ORT-Technology center Vitaly Kirrilov, the Princiapl of the ORT Lyceum Svetlana Klimina and World ORT President

 Jean de Gunzburg in his video greeting from London, UK. Dr.Gunzburg pointed out that similar

 seminars were taking place at the same time in Rome (Italy) and Rio (de) Janeiro (Brazil).

The 11^th grade student of Samara school #42 ORT "Gesher" Ivan Voronovsky  won the special diploma at the 7^th  International Contest “Future ACes of COMputer 3D-modelling 2009” (Ascon KOMPAS 3-D Best Models Contest for Educational Institutions). 

The project’s supervisor Irina Pogodina, ICT and Computer science teacher of  school #42, underlines: “This year we for the first time participated in the International Contest “Future ACes of COMputer 3D-modelling 2009”, declared by ASCON company. It was a great honor and huge responsibility for us. Students of our school study computer three-dimensional designing and manufacturing of products (3D modelling and manufacturing of products) within the frames of an elective course for 10^th -11^th grades. We already had an experience of participation in the Russian competition “Kompas-2004” where the team of our school had won the 3^rd place. But we for the first time participated in the International competition on computer 3D-modelling and in spite of the fact that we had not won the 1^st place (competition is declared mostly for the Universities’ and Colleges’ students and works were very serious), we are very glad that the Contest’s Jury had estimated our work by the special diploma”.

There were 147 projects had submitted for contest, and only 23, among with was the project of the student of Samara ORT school, were awarded by diplomas.

Using KOMPAS program Ivan Voronovsky created assembled three-dimensional model of an ancient iron which was an exhibit of the virtual technical museum. Besides this he made a parts of this model using CNC machine. Among all works presented for contest, only Ivan's one was not only designed, but also made. That is, the whole cycle of computer designing and product manufacturing process (CAD/CAM technologies) had been run.

.

HP facilities' delivering in Tula

World ORT together with HP announced the expansion of the HP GET-IT (Graduate Entrepreneurship Training through IT) programme with the opening of ten new training centres in Russia and Ukraine.

The following ten institutions have most recently joined the network of GET-IT centres in Russia and Ukraine:

Russia

·   Moscow International Higher Business School MIRBIS (Institute)

·   Moscow, Secondary School #1257

·   Tula, ORT-KesherNet Training Centre For Women

·   Kineshma, ORT- KesherNet Training Centre For Women

·   Rybinsk, ORT- KesherNet Training Centre For Women

·   Saransk, Vocational Lyceum #36, ORT Technology Centre

·   Murmansk, Murmansk Regional Small & Medium Support Business Agency

Ukraine

·   Slavutich, HP-ORT Digital Community Centre

·   Kiev, ORT-Technology Lyceum

·   Lviv, ORT-Career Centre

Students working at School's Video Studio 

At once 3 films of students of the Samara school # 42 ORT “Gesher” won Regional Contest of Cinema-Photo-Video Creativity “Volshebnyi Lutch” (“Magic beam”).

The founder of this contest is Ministry of Science and Education of Samara region and its organizer is Regional Centre of Aesthetical Education at the Centre of Youth Socialization.

Students of Samara school # 42 ORT “Gesher” suggested three films at the 2^nd age category (14-17 years old) and received 3 diplomas in different nomination.

These projects were made by 11^th grade students (graduates of the previous two years) with the participation of the other school students of different age.

1st Degree Diploma in video-clip nomination was delivered to Valeria Pogodina for the comic video about school on the soundtrack “The Song of the Underachiever Student”

2nd Degree Diploma in social advertisement nomination – to Vladimir Sysoev for the advertising video “The Last Day in Your Life” aimed to promote licensing software purchasing.

3rd Degree Diploma in documentary nomination – to Vladislav Koryagin for the video “That is Our School” in which the school viewed by newcomer primary school student was presented.  

Supervisor of the projects suggested by Samara school # 42 ORT “Gesher”   is Computer Science and ICT teacher Irina Pogodina.

Films have been made within the frames of school optional course "Video Technology" which is also conducted by Irina Pogodina.

Irina said: “This victory means a prestige for our school. And a possibility of sharing experience with other schools’ studios as well. It is also an independent high estimation of our activity. We are always trying to present our students’ works for various contests. And our victories are stimulated other students for better work. They ask:"Would you suggest our works for this contest or that? Would they be demonstrated in some school’s action?” It is a great thing for students’ motivation".  

Ruslan Aiginin is a graduate of

Kazan secondary school # 12

ORT "Mishpahteinu"

Vladislav Kaganov is a graduate of

Moscow Gymnasia # 1540

Moscow ORT Technology School

An ORT student has his home town of Kazan abuzz with news that he scored a perfect 100 in his computer science high school graduation examination.

ORT Mishpahteinu student Ruslan Aiginin’s stunning achievement as Tatarstan’s only perfect scorer in the exam prompted the republic’s Deputy Minister of Science and Education, Ludmila Nugumanova, to congratulate the school’s teachers on television for their commitment and skill in nurturing such a fine student.

Ruslan,18, is one of only 61 of the 67,504 students who passed the Russia-wide computer science exam to do so without a single mistake. In the predominantly Muslim autonomous Republic of Tatarstan, 1,252 people passed the exam with an average mark of 57 per cent. But Ruslan’s result is just the tip of the iceberg of ORT’s achievement in teaching technology to teenagers.

Most ORT Russia students scored more than 80 per cent in the computer science exam, placing them in the top seven per cent of graduates; among them was Vladislav Kaganov, a student at Moscow ORT Technology School, who was one of only 197 students across the country to score 99 per cent.

Just the fourteenth year international contest of family trees is conducted at the Museum of the Jewish Diaspora (Beit a-tfutsot) and under the aegis of "NADAV" foundation. It is aimed to support the initiative of students to study history of their families more deeply and gives the chance to include their genealogical trees into the database of the Jewish genealogical centre and to guarantee by that that this important information will be kept for the next generations and will facilitate the communications with other families.

This year more than 20,000 students took part in the contest.

Among participants from the CIS countries the students of the Samara school # 42 ORT Gesher” Yana Levitan became the winner of competition "History of my family". Her supervisor is a teacher of the Jewish history and tradition Simona Fleisher.

Introduction of Yana’s presentation is: “My name is Yana Levitan. I am the student of the 7th grade of the Jewish school of Samara. I decided to take part in this project because it is important for me and my family to continue the work of my grandfather Pavel Finkelstein. Many years ago he had become interested in history of our big amicable family and had written and published the book “And keeping treasured light …”. Having read this book I understood, that it’s me who should study our family tree further. And I decided to investigate my branch of our big family tree”.

Simona Fleisher said:“Contest organizers let participants choose the form of suggesting materials by themselves. We decided to make computer presentation that allows us to present the great amount of materials, documents, photos and memoirs, in aesthetical and at the same time readable form, to trace internal connection between the history of country, history of Jewish people and defined family history. The problem is that child at the age as Yana is, usually does not interested in family history very much, and doesn’t understand precisely the great value of possibility to see grandma and grandpa and to speak with them. Such projects motivate children to know the history of their families, to be proud of their ancestors and their roots.

Great events of human history, for example as II World War, are rather far past for contemporary children. But through the studying of family history they understand the history as a whole and the history of Jewish people especially more deeply.

Victory is always stimulated. Last year we received the encouragement prize but this year it was a victory. To win in the international contest is a great prestige for our school. And besides this it is an experience of international cooperation. I am as a teacher interested in such work very much. Such projects motivate students for independent researches and investigations. And supervising these projects teacher learns to motivate students for independent thinking.

It is a great pity that because of economic crisis and lack of money Yana and her parents could not go to Israel and to receive the prize personally. Of course it disappointed Yana very much.

We are going to prepare another student to participate in this contest next year but we do not know what to do with the out of possibility to get prize in Israel as a motivation.

I also should say that during the last 5 years we realizing the project “My family” for the 4^th grade students at our school. At the end of the academic year they have a great holiday with their parents and defend there their projects. When Yana was primary student she participated in this project”.

Three schools of ORT Russia have been selected for funding of the 2009 HP Innovation in Education Grant award.  Among the several proposals submitted from the secondary schools of the Russian Federation there were 9 schools selected including those ORT ones as Gymnasia # 1540 (former Secondary School # 1299), School # 550 in St Petersburg  and Samara Secondary School # 42.

On behalf of the Managing Director HP Russia, VP HP, Mr Owen Kemp the congratulation letters were sent for the administration of ORT Schools in Moscow, St Petersburg and Samara, in which he said: “With only 50 selected proposals in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, your educational institution is part of an elite cohort dedicated to enhancing degree programs in engineering, computer science, information systems, and information technology the innovations that are possible at the intersection of teaching, learning, and technology. We are very excited to have the opportunity to partner with you and your institution as you implement your project and develop your institution's technology capacity for the benefit of your students. Congratulations again. Thank you for your commitment to education and for seeking new ways to transform the learning environment in ways that positively affect student achievement”.

At the beginning of June the results of ORT CIS photo competition was summarized.  The main objectives of this action were integration of the Jewish and Technology education in ORT Schools and Centres; developing of students’ creative ability; increasing their motivation, especially those who had been the participants of educational programs "The March of the Living" and "Masa Shorashim".

This year students of the following schools and lyceums took part in competition: the Moscow Gymnasia # 1540 (Moscow ORT Technology School), the Samara school # 42 (ORT “Gesher”),  ORT Technology Centre at the 'Levi Yitzchak Schneerson' Ohr Avner School # 144,  Kiev ORT technology Lyceum, Odessa ORT school # 94 and St.-Petersburg school # 274 (ORT “Yerushalaim”) and Zaporoije Jewish Gymnasium ORT "Aleph".

On May, 27th the Expert Council of the third open tender of social projects within the frames of the program “The World That Is Opened For All” of charity organisation CAF (“Charities Aid Foundation”) included the educational project of ORT-SPb “The Dialogue without Borders” in the list of grant winners in direction of the social aid for aged people.

The project “The Dialogue without Borders”, offered by ORT-Spb will allow 120 aged Petersburgers being trained on work with PC.

Timeline of the project realisation is from September 2009 till May, 2010. During this time in computer classes of ORT St Petersburg 12 groups of pensioners will be trained. They should get acquainted with computer techniques and get skills of using modern computer technologies and of working in Internet and Skype program and other communication programs.

The project aim is not simply to train pensioners in working with PC. New knowledge should help aged people to communicate with relatives, to realize their creative ideas and may be for someone to find new job.

Alexander Leonidovich Ioffe communicates with his friend with the help of Skype program

On May, 8th the aged people, trained on ORT computer courses, had an opportunity to congratulate their messmates and friends by means of Skype program.

Alexander Leonidovich Ioffe (the knight of the Award of Patriotic War of the 1st degree) made the first call to Chelyabinsk, to his messmate on Academy of Communication. “With him we had started to study together, in 1938. Then war began and we did not communicate with each other for a long time …”. The possibility to see the friend, to congratulate with a holiday so sacred for them by means of the Internet was not “a novelty” for Alexander Leonidovich– he is already “the advanced user”, within an inch of becoming the graduate of ORT computer courses. “I speak with you on the Internet. On Skype! And don’t you have such program? It is a pity, so it is so convenient to communicate …” 

Almost free calls to different cities of Russia, in far and near abroad give huge pleasure to pensioners. “And is it possible to call to America? Yes but not just now, it is night there, I don’t want awake them”. One of the student has shown the successes to her grandson living in other city proudly– there are no secrets for her in the Internet web and  it will be possible to communicate more often.

Animation films of "Jonah" and “The Flood", made by students of the Samara school №42, ORT "Geser",  won the 1st degree Diploma of winners of  the All-Russia Open Contest of Research, Design and Creative Works of Students "First Steps" 2008-2009.

On May, 8th on the threshold of Victory Day celebrating students of the School no 550, ORT Gunzburg "Shorashim invited members of the Society of the Great Patriotic War Veterans, School’s administration and parents for a concert. 

School students prepared 19 numbers which touched souls of all who was sitting in the Assembly Hall deeply. The concert was unordinary, and what is the most important thing, it was unforgettable. Students of the senior classes had thought up the small musical-literary sketches on a theme of the Great Patriotic War, and teachers had helped children to make the suits. Younger children were awarded with applauses for the song «Let a sun will be always there». With special enthusiasm and with active support of auditorium children sang a hymn of Jewish guerrilla in 3 languages – Russian, Yiddish and Hebrew. Teachers of the Branch of Jewish subjects had helped students to learn it.

Teacher of Computer Science and ICT of the Samara School no 42, ORT "Gesher", Natalia Fomenko is awarded by the Diploma of the All-Russia Festival of Pedagogical Ideas “Open Lesson” 2008/2009. Natalia has presented at the festival her development “Training Materials Pack on Computer Science on the Theme “Symbolical variables””.

During the several months the staff and audience of the Moscow ORT Technology School strived for passing the licensing process for getting the status of Grammar School.

The experts of Board of accreditation were working at the School and there was the Meeting of the City Committee of the Schools’ Accreditation.

All was successful and on April, 17^th, 2009 the Moscow Department of Education issued the order about the accreditation of the Secondary School no 1299 with profound study of Technology (Moscow ORT Technology School) as a Gymnasia no 1540.

As the School’s Principal Dr Marina Moiseeva stated that is a sign of a high estimation given by the government educational authorities for the quality of work of the School’s staff.

It means the increasing of the number of hours for additional and optional courses and hobby circles  within the School’s official curriculum; very high official status of the Hebrew and subjects of Jewish cycle  as a leading subjects of Liberal Arts; changing  the rates of teachers’ salary. 

Model of Gymnasia that is to be realized in Moscow ORT Technology School supposed the providing students with the profound academic knowledge by the means of up-to-date ICT environment and using all the possible technology facilities for developing creative abilities and academic level of students. 

Dr Moiseeva said: "We will start to change the school curriculum and settle new terms with staff. However, because of the economic crisis, we may not receive the additional funds before the start of the next school year so we have adopted a slower, step-by-step approach than we would otherwise have done".

The teacher of the Primary grades of  Samara school no 42, ORT "Гешер", Marina Strygina and the graduate of the  2008 Roman Meerson were included into the number of medal winners of the All-Russia Open Contest of Research, Design and Creative Works of Students "FIRST STEPS" 2008-2009 in nominations "History of times and people" with animation "Chocolate bar" (stories about the Holocaust). Work was conducted together with the 6^th grade during the classes of the History of  Jewish people.

In total 2442 works had been presented for contest, in the given nomination - 306 ones. 

“To help students of the primary and middle school to feel and understand theme of Catastrophe of the European Jewry in the days of the II World war,” - Marina Alekseevna considers, - “it is necessary to create at the lessons the spiritual atmosphere causing their condolence and sympathy to victims. It is promoted also by the method of projects. Using it at cartoon film creation, students become the subjects of informative activity. This project allows not only to learn history of the Jewish people better, but also helps each student to generate the personal feeling to the Holocaust».

 Evariste Galois Medal - the main award of the contest

On April, 21st, the first graduation of the course «English language with a computer support» was taking place. It is the new project of the Vocational Training Centre "ORT-Career" in St Petersburg, and the group which had finished its training is the first graduates.

“Virtual museum creation: designing and manufacturing of three-dimensional computer model of an ancient iron”

Students and teachers of the Samara school no. 42 ORT "Geser" became the winners of Regional Open Contest “Engineering Graphics and Its Application for Manufacturing.”

Internal round of this contest was on April, 16th 2009 in Tolyatti (it near to Samara).

Contest was though "regional", but "opened". Therefore as schools, and institutions of vocational training, and Universities not only from Samara and the Samara region, but so from the other regions of Russia participated in it.

Students and teachers of the Samara school no. 42 ORT "Geser" presented their works in the following nominations:

• “Modelling of three-dimensional objects in CAD and CAD/CAM systems”;
• “Modelling and designing in CAD/CAM systems and manufacturing of products on machine tools with CNC”.

All works provoked a great interest, as of external jury, so of the other participants of the contest.

The 9th year Day of Projects was conducted at the School successively. On April, 9th since the early morning the work was humming in school’s recreations and classes. Having forgotten about lessons, students of School no. 550 and their companions from one more ORT school in St Petersburg, School no. 274 "Yerushalaim”, presented, compared and discussed results of their creative and scientific activity.

Certainly, such interesting day could not pass without mass-media support. Young reporters interviewed developers of projects, found out the most interesting details of work on new projects and recollected interesting stories of already last years, photographers clicked cameras non-stop, trying to embody interesting shots. Under the supervision of ORT-St Petersburg PR Manager they have thought up the names for nominations in which awarded winners.

“The most innovative project”, “the best scientific exhibition of year”, “the best application of the theory in practice”, “the most useful project for health”, the most independent, patriotic, resourceful, tolerant projects – these and many other names sounded in assembly hall of the School during the rewarding of participants of Day of the Project by medals and the memorable prizes made in School’s Technology Lab.

And a finishing chord of the day became the photo-presentations prepared by young reporters and shown to all interested person on Conclusion of the 9th school Day of Projects of the School no. 550, ORT-Gunzburg “Shorashim”.

Natalia Fomenko, the teacher of the Samara school № 42, ORT "Geser", became the winner of the President of the Russian Federation award.

Contest was organized within the frames of the National Priority Project "Education" and as a result of the competitive selection Natalia Fomenko was included into the number of the best teachers of the Samara region in 2009.

Natalia Fomenko became the third teacher of the Samara school № 42, ORT "Geser" who will receive this award.

In 2007, 2008 as one of the best teachers of the Samara region the following teachers were recognised:

•             Irina Pogodina, the teacher of Computer Science and Information Technology, 2007;
•             Simona Fleisher – the teacher of the Jewish Culture and Traditions of the Jewish people, 2008.

On GET-IT Website the article about HP-ORT GET-IT  Centre activity in the Tula Boarding School for Deaf People was posted.

On April, 7th, 2009 the meeting of students and teachers of Department of Modern Foreign Languages and Cultural Science of Faculty of Foreign Affairs of BSU with the Public Affairs Officer of the Embassy of USA in Belarus Republic Mrs. Caroline Savage who presented the report on “Higher Education System in USA” was taking place.

Presentation provoked a great interest of audience and caused many questions answered by Mrs. Savage in details.

Mrs. Savage visited ORT Chagall Technology Centre in BSU and was amazed by the facilities of the centre and its work.

On the photo from left to right:Frants Korzjuk – ORT Chagall Technology Centre in BSU Director; Lydia Zhuk – the Teacher of Computer Science who conducted the training with the group during the visit; Caroline Savage - the Public Affairs Officer of the Embassy of USA in Belarus Republic; Igor Markhasev – Head of the Chair of Foreign Languages of Department of Modern Foreign Languages  and Cultural Science of the Faculty of Foreign Affairs of BSU; Zelik Pinhasik – Head  of Department of Cultural Science and Modern Foreign Languages of Faculty of Foreign Affairs of BSU ; Igor Zjablitsev – the employee of Embassy of the USA in Belarus Republic.

The Vocational Training Centre "ORT-Career" in Yekaterinburg has taken part in carrying out of First City Championship on Computer Business Game "Maximum" within the frames of the project «Startap – A Small Business Forum».

On April, 4^th-5^th 9 teams of various business structures of Yekaterinburg on the laptops given by the ORT Center, simulated development of the virtual business. The business game, developed by experts of the Moscow State University by M.V.Lomonosov, represents a step-by-step business stimulator in which a team (or individual participant) manage the virtual enterprise working in the competitive environment.

Thus the computer gives the detailed information on results of enterprise’s activity of the each step of game, as data of book keeping, financial and tax reporting, a great number of administrative reports, including the rating report of teams-competitors. Distinctive feature of the program is that book keeping and taxation questions are strictly corresponding to the Russian legislation.

On March 30, 2009 Minister of Education of Lithuania, Mr. Gintaras Steponavichius visited ORT Vilnius school named after Sholom-Aleichem.

He got to know school, it’s history, activities and future plans, he also had a tour over facility, classes an laboratories. In Physics class students demonstrated him how do they work with the system NOVA 5000 and train for the last tour of contest “Young scientists of European Union”.

Teachers and students told Minister about IT using for educational process and the multimedia boards were shown to Minister. At ORT Center Minister met with all school staff, discussed with teachers school problems, such as lack of facilities and Gym, also slides about school work days have been shown to Minister.

Mr. Steponavicjius was deeply impressed and didn’t scrimp on compliments to the school and its teachers. The meeting was at warm and friendly atmosphere.

On April, 1, 2009, ORT Photo Contest begins its work.  It has the following nominations: the photo, the slide show and the poster.

Preparatory stage of the contest is to be conducted by teachers of ORT Centre from April, 1, till May, 22, 2009.

At this time participants are offered to prepare photowork based on the materials collected during the trips till 2009, and also to collect and to process the new material on the trip to Belarus on April, 19-27, 2009.

All works of participants should be presented for Jury till May, 22, 2009 and be sent to rd@ort.ru (with a subject "photo contest").

Contest’s results will be published till June, 1, 2009. Winners and the teachers supervising their work, will be awarded by the diplomas and the gifts from ORT in the CIS and Baltic States. The best works will be presented on a site of ORT in CIS.

Article devoted to activity of ORT Moldova has been published in leading Russian-speaking mass-media of Moldova Republic on March, 24th, 2009.

There the positive assessment of ORT work on promotion and popularisation of technology education not only in ORT educational institutions, but also in in educational system of Moldova as a whole and positive responses from the side the Head of Central Administrative Board of Education, Youth and Sports of Kishinev and the Adviser of the Kishinev Municipal Council are given.

As a subject caused the publication was the Kishinev City Olympic Games of Computer Science "INFO_OFIS" which is traditionally takes place at the ORT Lyceum named by B.Z.Gertzel.

The Olympic Games are organised by the Public Institution "Educational Resources and Technology Training" in Мoldova Republic (ORT Moldova) and passes under the aegis and with the financial support of Miron Shor Foundation.

On the photo: President of ORT Moldova Mr Ilan Shor, Director of ORT Technology Centre in Kishinev Mr Vitaly Kirillov,  Chief Expert in Computer Science of Central Department of Education of Kishinev Mrs Svetlana Golubeva and  Director General  of of Central Department of Education of Kishinev Mrs Tatyana Nagnibeda-Tverdohleb hand over the Olympic Games diplomas

Links for publications:

"Nezavisimaya Moldova" newspaper ("Independent Moldova")

RIA "Novosti"

Article was also published in the printed version of "Nezavisimaya Moldova" (Circulation 11 200 )

During the period March, 19-22, 2009, ORT-St.-Petersburg participated at the International Forum «The Senior Generation» which annually took place in “Lenexpo” under support of St.-Petersburg Administration.

ORT participated in such event for the first time. The training course « Personal Computer for Aged People» which is the authorial development of "ORT-St.-Petersburg» experts, was submitted to consideration of visitors of an exhibition.

Actuality of this course was estimated by organisers of the forum  in the full extent: despite high prices of exhibition places at a forum, the biggest and the most convenient stand in the whole pavilion had been provided for ORT Computer Lab free of charge.

Workshop at the ORT Computer Class

Certainly, it is impossible to train the person being incompetent with the personal computer before during the one hour workshop. ORT experts put before themselves simpler, but no less important task: to show aged people that they can master their computer skills and use PC in their everyday life.

Really, diffidence stopped many of them just before the beginning of workshops: whether it will be possible to keep a mouse in the hands; whether they would be able to remember how to turn on the computer; whether they could understand what the teacher would say - all these questions often sounded near the ORT mount. Besides, many of those coming to the exhibition had a negative experience of explanations of bases of computer literacy by children, grandchildren and younger friends.

In interview given to correspondents of several TV channels and the radio stations accredited at the forum participants of workshops underlined with gratitude professional skills of ORT teachers, their ability to make simple and clear the facilities so difficult for pensioners, their willingness to inspire the audience self-assurance. The plot about what had happened at the ORT mount was shown on air of “Vesti” news program on "Russia" TV channel. 

Thus the pensioners who had come these days to ORT mount, really need computer: for working with memoirs, mailing with children living apart, for grandchildren’s breeding, scientific and literary works’ formatting.

Vice-governor of St.-Petersburg Mrs Ludmila Kostkina at the ORT mount (ORT-St.-Petersburg Director Marina Sorokina on the right)

Workshops provoked interest not only by ordinary visitors of the exhibition, but by representatives of the official delegation participating in solemn opening ceremony of the forums well.

In her speech at ceremony of official opening of the Forum the Vice-governor of St.-Petersburg Mrs Ludmila Kostkina underlined that «There is a new direction of work in the City: training programs for pensioners... The focus on the computer with all the possibilities which it gives could become one of new forms of leisure of aged persons...»

During visiting of ORT mount Mrs Kostkina especially noted educational initiatives of experts of ORT-St.-Petersburg. Also she accepted with pleasure a computer album «Jews of Petersburg. Three centuries of history» as a gift from the ORT-St. –Petersburg Director Mrs Marina Sorokina.

Forum organisers delivered to Marina Sorokina the Diploma of Participation and expressed the hope that ORT again will take part in the Forum next year. But the best award for ORT employees were the happy faces of pensioners who had understood that they can be successful with a difficult from their opinion facilities and hastened to register for the further training on ORT courses.

«It is early to dismiss us», - one of the participants has told after the workshop.

The team of students of Odessa ORT School no. 94 won the 1^st  place on the regional ICT Olympic Games  

On March, 13 on the basis of the Odessa  ORT Technology Centre the annual ICT Olympic Games already become traditional among School students of Odessa and the Odessa region passed. This year there 12 teams arrived on the Olympic Games. Each of them had become the winner of the preliminary stage and had passed selection round before these competitions.

The best students of the senior grades  entered into a line-up of  ORT School no. 94: Bella Engonga (11 grade), Pavel Gelebjan (10 grade) and Sasha Brodsky (8 grade).

There was a challenge children faced on working out the documents of the certain travel company which employees they became for the period of the Olympic Games, including site creation, search of the ciphered information in the Internet, working out of logo and documentation preparation. It took 3 hours for students to make all tasks and to present and defence the work brightly.

We congratulate the students and their supervisor Mr Igor Kot with a victory!

On March, 7, 2009 in the Centre of Education of the Jewish Agency for Israel in Belarus Republic celebrating Bath-Mitzvah and the Bar-Mitzvah celebration for 21 students of  7 «Е» grade of  Secondary School no.132 in Minsk (ORT School named by Bialik) took place.

Director of ORT Russia presented CD-ROMs to children

There were present at the ceremony: Consul of the State Israel in Belarus Republic Mr Asaf Bracha; ORT Russia National Director Mr Viatcheslav Leshchiner; the Head of Representative of the Jewish Agency for Israel in Belarus Republic Mr. Igor Gitelman; the Israeli Envoy at ORT School named by Bialik Mrs. Miriam Milstein; Principal Mrs. Alla Garus; teachers, parents and relatives of students.

Also there were 6 representatives of the Jewish Community of Atlanta. The teacher of Atlanta’s Jewish school delivered a salutatory speech and gave to children the best respects from Atlanta’s students and presented the gifts, made by their hands.

Mr. Leshchiner also congratulated children with this significant day and has handed over them CD-ROMs «Aleph-Beth about Israel», produced by the team of «ORT-St.-Petersburg".

Visitors and parents said words of severance to children entering the adult life, wished them a health, success and good luck and lighted candles. Then the carrying out of a roll of a Torah followed and the Rabbi Grigory Abramowitz ran the ceremony. Students went to a roll of a Torah and read it under the supervision of Rabbi who finished his part of ceremony by blessing.

Children demonstrated the songs, dances and the small Purimspiel performance.

The atmosphere was solemn and easy at the same time. At the nearby room parents prepared sweet refreshments for children and visitors. The holiday provoked genuine interest and active participation of parents, relatives, teachers and guests.

Flyer of the VTC "ORT-Career" in St.-Petersburg

On March, 3, 2009 ORT-St.-Petersburg took part in annual Fair of Vacancies of the enterprises of Petrogradskiy District of St.-Petersburg.

More than two hundred people visited the fair organised by the Centre of Employment for the population of Petrogradskiy District under support of Committee of Labour and Employment for the population of St.-Petersburg.

The presentation of syllabuses of ORT-St.-Petersburg was conducted during the fair operating time: courses of Computer Literacy, Web-design and English language. At the ORT mount specialists of the Centres acquainted visitors of fair with training conditions, carried out consultations under the programs’ content, schedule and prices.

Also new ORT projects were supposed to attention of fair’s visitors such as «School of Career» for students and graduates of Universities and the program «Information Technology for Beginning Entrepreneurs» (GET-IT) carried out in cooperation with Hewlett-Packard corporation.

Besides this, ORT specialists discussed the possibility of joint projects with other fair’s participants: representatives of the large enterprises of the District, Colleges and Universities of St.-Petersburg.

In  Vocational Training Centre "ORT-Career" in St.-Petersburg practical seminar within the frames of the program on information technology for beginning entrepreneurs realised jointly with Hewlett-Packard (GET-IT) took place on February, 22, 2009.

The seminar was devoted to such actual issues for entrepreneurs like these: what is necessary for a successful site creation; how to raise its citation and rating; how to involve visitors and to analyse a site overall performance; how to create own site with the minimum financial expenses and span time.

The primary task which organizers set was to show the simple and accessible technologies, allowing creating web sites without special knowledge in the field of programming.

Despite the day off the theme, being interesting and demanded, and possibility to receive advices of experts and skilled specialists involved more than 20 persons to the Centre’s laboratory.

The audience was inhomogeneous both on age, and on an operational experience, also base knowledge of the seminar’s participants differed essentially: students and business persons, housewives and representatives of mass-media, beginners-users and skilled programmers. But during training each listener could find something new, interesting and useful.

The interactive mode of study when listeners were constantly involved in discussions, work in groups became one of distinctive features of the seminar. Practical tasks, joint discussion of their performance and results allowed participants exchanging experience, expressing opinions and finding independent solving of the problems set before them. That is the uniqueness of the program developed by Hewlett-Packard that students do not receive ready answers but independently pass their way of knowing and as a result find that decision that is appropriate to them in the their individual circumstances.

The first part of the seminar was devoted not only to fast and effective web sites’ building, but to the issues of branding and promotion as well. This theme appeared to be the most interesting to audience and caused many questions. Participants got acquainted with the basic tools of optimisation and site promotion, have learnt the principles of working of the basic search systems. Lecture on topic «Ways of an Estimation of Efficiency of Sites by Means of the Analytical Program and Processing of the Statistical Data Received» became a pleasant bonus.

At the end of training participants were handed over with the certificates.

Atmosphere of creativity, active interest which was promoted by tutors helped listeners to lick a problem and to take pleasure of interesting and fruitful work.

The next seminar of the program is to be at the end of March.

From February, 24 till February, 27 on the basis of Vocational Training Centre "ORT-Career" in Yekaterinburg a design team “Gallery of masters” which had been organised by the Professionally Oriented Resource Centre of Development of Vocational Training of Sverdlovsk area in sphere of art producing (PRC AP) was trained.

During 4 days managers and teachers of educational institutions of initial and secondary vocational training developed business ideas of creation of units of professionally oriented business incubator on the basis of the educational institutions.

Nowadays when the number of students is reduced sharply, material resources of institutions became outdated, creation and development of business structures on the basis of initial and secondary vocational training will allow providing additional financial flows, organising business practice for students and preparing the future young experts for the organisation of their own business.

For training of design team the materials of the course «Information Technology for Beginning Entrepreneurs» (HP-MEA-I) been added with materials on business to planning and discussion of the purposes and content of “Gallery of masters” project were used.

Representatives of initial and secondary vocational training institutions and experts of PRC AP were trained by the specialists of Vocational Training Centre "ORT-Career" and advisers of Regional Foundation of Support of Women Business. According the results of courses the «on-line» questioning had been organised which demonstrated the high efficiency and actuality of the trainings.

Educational seminar “Studying the Bases of  Robotics at ORT Schools” for teachers of ORT schools and centres has begun its work on February, 23, 2009 on the basis of ORT Technology Centre in Dnepropetrovsk (Ukraine). Twenty two teachers from eleven cities of Moldova, Russia, Ukraine and Estonia take part in  the seminar.

Main objectives of the seminar are: studying and practical using of NXT construction sets (Lego MindStorms); development of the base technique of teaching Robotics; creation of preconditions for improvement of teaching of a course on bases of Robotics or its initial introduction into the training program (on the basis of using Lego Education); studying of experience of organisation and functioning of optional courses of Robotics; introduction of Olympic Games system on Robotics.

The seminar was opened by the Director of ORT Russia Dr Viatcheslav Leshchiner. Then within the limits of a round table participants of the seminar discussed the issues connected with teaching of the given course at  ORT schools. Among the topic for discussion the following should be underlined: deterioration and obsolescence of the available equipment ("Robolab", RCX); a lack of hours in curriculum; taking into account the age and gender features of students at the training organisation.

Seminar was visited by the representatives of the press centre of the site of Dnepropetrovsk Jewish Community who have told about seminar in their news.

Prefect of North-Eastern Administrative District Mrs. raber wrote at Guestbook (on the left side - College's Director Dr. Mironenko)

The great interest of visitors and participants of Board was provoked by tour on a new building. Students with pleasure and pride demonstrated possibilities of audiences, laboratories, studios and the halls of college equipped wiht advanced interactive, multimedia and technology facilities were the real hosts of this holiday. Photosession has been made in photographic studios and visitors with pleasure received a photocollage for memory of this significant event. The greatest impression has been made by visiting of a multipurpose hall of the College created within the frames of the Program "Personnel" in which «The City of Masters» has been demonstrated. Students of Faculty of Restaurant business created surprising compositions from vegetables and fruit, chocolate and caramel just in visitors’ presence. Creation process was displayed on the demonstration screens. Young designers demonstrated the work  of  digital embroider device, and representatives of faculty of Commerce demonstrated the art of celebratory packing. There is a great work ahead:  start of all educational laboratories, connection the Internet and the Intranet, an accomplishment of premises  and, of course, the main hope is for extension building in which the necessary workshops and studios, laboratories and offices should take places.

are pilot colleges of the future was stated by many participants of the Board.

The first records in the new Guest Book were congratulation and wishes of good luck from representatives of three social spheres — the government, education and business. Mrs Raber has written with satisfaction: “Hurrah, we were building, building and, at last, have constructed our HOUSE!!! Let the love and pleasure of creativity always reign in it”.  Mr Ivanov, in his turn, addressed: “My congratulations! With time and patience the leaf of mulberry becomes satin! Good luck!” The Head of Building Company no 212 Mr V.Pozdnyakov has written with warmth: “I transfer you this vessel which you should fill with soul and sense. Good luck and successes for many years! ".

During the period February, 12-13 at the “Atlas-Park” hotel in Moscow the Hp Digital Forum was organised where were 50 participants of the realised by Hewlett-Packard Corporation (HP) invited. Among them there were 10 managers and teachers of joint projects of HP and World ORT.

There were Vice-President of HP, Managing Director of HP Russia Mr Owen Kemp; HP Business Development Mr Karel Vavruska; HP Labs Open Innovation Office Mr Igor Belousov; Head of HP Learning Centre Mr Vladimir Overchenko and HP Corporate Marketing Mrs Irina Efremova presented. 

Within the frames of separate meetings Deputy Director of ORT in the CIS and Baltic States Mr Sergey Gorinskiy supervised the section devoted to the GET-IT program realisation.

Training at the HP-ORT DCC Centre in Slavutych 

Within the frames of the Forum preparing HP Corporation organised the contest of projects. According the reviewing of the reports for the 2008 Mrs Larisa Saliy, Director of the HP-ORT DCC Centre in Slavutych (Ukraine) was recognised as The Best Manager.  

Mrs Saliy described her impressions of the Forum: “This meeting has gathered the considerable quantity of participants, among whom representatives of schools, hospitals, universities, charitable foundations from Yakutsk up to a small Ukrainian Slavutych. Participation in such action gives wonderful opportunity to meet colleagues and partners, to exchange news and to work in creative and inspiring atmosphere effectively again. My award is an appreciation of work of all the staff of the Centre. For 5 years of work much was completed, much of that even was completed very well. Our centre plays the important role in ordinary life of small Slavutych. And this award is a serious case for our townspeople - visitors and students of Digital Community Centre – to be proud. Unfortunately, the project DCC HP-ORT is finished. All obligations are carried out by the participants of the project. But the Centre, I hope, will not stop its functioning. We will participate in other projects, in particular, in НР projects connected with a business education for youth. And, certainly, we will continue our nowadays educational activity, to solve the problems put before us and to aspire to new achievements!”

Seminar on Transfer of Technology at the MAP HP-ORT Centre in Samara

The high appreciation from the side of the Ministry of Economic Development, Investment and Trade of the Samara region was received by activity of the HP-ORT MAP Centre. On February, 6th, 2009 on behalf of the Minister of Economic Development, Investment and Trade of the Samara region Mr. G.R.Hasaev to Managing Director НР Russia Mr Owen Kemp,  Director of ORT Russia  Mr. Viatcheslav Leshchiner and the Director of the ORT Centre in Samara Mr. Alexander Fradkov the official letter was sent in which it is told: “Two-year experience of functioning of the НР-ORT MAP Centre on the basis of the Regional Centre of Innovations and Transfer of Technologies in Samara region has shown the efficiency of the chosen way. There were more than 500 students according the programs “Commercialization of results of scientific and technical activity”, “Participant of youth innovative competition (“CLEVER PERSON”)”,”Creation and development of the  Centres of Transfer of Technologies and Competence Points”,"START",”Training and retraining of the faculty in the field of innovative business” and others trained there. The experience accumulated there was reflected in articles and theses stated in Russian and the foreign mass media, was represented at the Russian and foreign exhibitions, has been marked by diplomas and awards. On the basis of the above-stated, and considering the modern tendencies of economic development as well, I look forward for the further expansion of your cooperation with the Samara region in the field of preparation of entrepreneurs, increasing Centre’s activity on the basis of modern innovative technologies”.

In December 2008 the new Mobile Multimedia Computer Lab was provided to ORT School “Mishpahteinu” in Kazan, which has won the Hewlett-Packard grant in terms of the program «Transforming teaching and learning through technology». The cooperation of ORT and HP made this event happened.

In Bulletin of HP Global Citizenship (January-February 2009) the interview with the Deputy Director of ORT in the CIS and Baltic States was published  (Discovering the success of GET-IT technology, through first hand experience)

February, 8, 2009 on central Moscow TV channel the plot about School television studio at the Moscow Centre of Education no.1311 (ORT "Techiya") has been shown. The plot was rather short, only five minutes of broadcasting time. But as the Director of the ORT Technology Centre at the Centre of Education no. 1311 Andrey Semenov wrote: «Whether you really know what such a standard five-minute documentary plot means? It means departure on object and the whole working day for a film team of three persons. It means the subsequent viewing of the whole material and drawing up of editorial script. It means computer editing, submitting a plot to editor and correction of errors. In general, it takes for a week of work almost …». All these subtleties are well-known for the students of the Centre of Education no. 1311 who are studying at the TV Studio of the ORT Technology Centre under the supervision of professional director Leonid Glikin.

There are some times in a year television releases about thirty five minutes long devoted to the Jewish holidays, important events and school life in  school open air. These releases include creative projects of students as well. And that is the most important thing, these releases are thought up, played, filmed, sounded and edited by students themselves. The Head of Studio Leonid Glikin told: “Our School TV is the indispensable participant of many festivals of children's and youthful creativity. For five years of its functioning the quantity of prizes of winners of various prestigious contests and competitions has exceeded two ten. And the quantity of laureate diplomas and certificates of honour is difficult for counting up. We hope that the School TV already became the first step on a way to awards of the most prestigious international festivals for some students of our school. Give a time to do it! For now, there are awards, maybe, not so prestigious, as "Oscar", but as not less significant for us. Sunday 5 minute plot in the program «Moscow week» on TVC channel became such "intermediate" award for the whole school and, of course, for School TV Studio participants. This plot became recognition of our activity. It is pleasant for us that our achievements had been noticed and had been somehow estimated … in general. Especially pleasantly that we did not hear about “allowances” concerning young age in this plot. Phrase that our School TV works seriously and it would be desirable to tell “adult-like” run through the plot. It means that the right direction of work was chosen!”

On February, 6, 2009 the team of the Secondary School no. 12, ORT "Mishpahteinu" has won first place for the best banner at the District competition of Young Traffic Policemen. The banner has been made by students of the 6^th grade the day before, at the Technology lesson.

On January, 27th, 2009 the Israeli cultural centre at the Embassy of the State of Israel in Ukraine, International Solomon University and Kharkov ORT Technology Centre under patronage of the Kharkov Mayor presented an action-and-exhibition «Never Again! » in municipal gallery (authors of the exhibition – Alexander Elkin and Alexander Vinokur). Solemn opening had taken place with the participation of the mayor, representatives of the Kharkov regional and city administration, consuls of Israel, Poland and Russia in Kharkov, heads of the Kharkov Jewish organisations.

The exhibition «Never Again! » is a non-standard attempt to come closer to comprehension and understanding of Catastrophe as an unprecedented Drama in the history of the Jewish people. Creative symbiosis of art tools:  the text, photos and graphics – has allowed to recreate a tragical Album of Memory of the Polish Jewry’s life, which was the most numerous Jewish community to the Second World War and the most suffered in days of the Holocaust. In each work presented the counterpoint of the dry historic facts and voices of eyewitnesses of these events, modern views of monuments of the Tragedy and emotional author's interpretation which supplements them is twisted. Last pages of an album remain empty and should not be filled «Never Again! » …

The main aim of the exhibition is to remind, first of all, to young generation about the terrible moments of our history, about tragedy of the whole people, constantly.

«We are obliged to make all the possible that the idea of this exhibition –«Never Again! »– has been realised. It is impossible to let one people to kill other ones again. It is impossible to let those terrible minutes, hours, days and weeks which were suffered by the same people as we are», – the Mayor Michael Dobkin noted.

Authors of the project prepared the exposition in multimedia version on CD. Each interested person can copy electronic Album of Memory asking organisers of action.

This info is prepared on the basis of article: Never Again! (On official site of the Eastern-Ukrainian Branch of International Solomon University)

Internet publications:

• Never Again! (Official server of Kharkov Municipality, Mayor and Executive Committee) – in Russian;
• Exhibition, devoted to the Victims of Holocaust was opened in Kharkov (official site of Kharkov regional administration) – in Ukrainian;
• Exhibition devoted to the International Day of Memory of the Victims of Holocaust was opened in Kharkov (Agency of TV News of Kharkov)- in Russian;
• Photo, Graphics, Text. Exhibition, devoted to the Holocaust was opened in Kharkov (“Media-Port” Agency) – in Russian;

On January, 25, 2009, the memorandum of cooperation has been signed between Secondary School no. 1299 (Moscow ORT Technology School) and UNESCO Department “Society of knowledge and new information technology”. After signing the memorandum, the School has received the certificate, testifying that Department’s branch is opened on the basis of the School. From the Department’s side memorandum and the certificate has been signed by Prof. V.Kinelev, Former Minister of Education of the Russian Federation, Moscow-WAO Education Advisor and Director of the UNESCO IITE.

ORT Technology Centre at the Kazan Secondary School no. 12, ORT "Mishpahteinu" received the gratitude letter from the District Department of Education for its achievement in development innovative education and promotion IT competence among the teaching community of other schools.

Some of the world’s leading experts in nanotechnology have been brought to London for the seventh annual World ORT Hatter Technology Seminar – Nanotechnology and Material Science: From Research to Classroom.

The Hatter Seminar’s 18 participants – science and technology teachers and other educators from Israel, Italy, South Africa, Lithuania, Russia, the Czech Republic, Mexico, Argentina, USA, France and Ukraine – experienced  lectures, master-classes and presentations.  

Sign of Honour

Odessa Specialised General ORT School no. 94 was awarded by the Sign of Honour “For the valuable contribution to Ukrainian science and education development” within the frames of public action “Flagship of Contemporary Ukrainian Education” organised by the Ministry of Science and Education of Ukraine.

Children presented to the guests their handmade works.

Every December before the winter holidays office employees of different companies and organisations have to think about the gifts for business partners. As usual the choice is not wide and original.

This year ORT Russia decided not to present standard gifts and to give to all their friends the possibility to make a miracle, act of kindness.  

December 12, 2008 jointly with Vice-president HP, Managing director of HP Russia Mr Owen Kemp and HP Business Development Director Mr Karel Vavruska, Deputy Director of ORT Russia Sergey Gorinskiy and 8 teachers of HP-ORT “GET-IT” Centres visited Boarding School for Deaf Children no. 2 in Tula.   

December 13, 2007, a year ago, HP and ORT Russia opened HP-ORT “GET-IT” Centre at this School. GET-IT is one of HP’s flagship social investment initiatives and helps young unemployed people and graduates – aged 16 to 25 – acquire the business and IT skills to enter professional life or to create their own businesses. GET-IT helps young graduates to find or create a job thanks to a new kind of “know-how” — business IT skills that combine the basics of entrepreneurship with practical, hands-on experience in technology.  ORT actively participates at this program and now 6 centres are opened (Volgograd, Yekaterinburg, Moscow, Tambov, Tula and St Petersburg).

During this year teachers and students of the Boarding School made great success in study GET-IT program, but they want to achieve much. Besides this many of them have special needs that allow them to work with computer only with using some additional high-tech equipment.

Representatives of HP Company presented to Boarding School the equipment that allows working with computer without using hands.  

ORT Russia decided to spend its “gift budget” for video camera, tripod and cassettes for these children. During the visit ORT delegation got acquainted with the special features of realisation the projects for the children with special needs and presented the gifts on behalf of ORT Russia.

New equipment will allow these children to study modern video technology and to use them in their future professional activity, and so it will provide them with more wide choice of their future specialty and improve their social adaptation possibilities. 

Seminars participants have a conversation with Director of Boarding School Mr Alexander Ustinov

During the period December, 11-13, 2008 on the base of Tula ORT-Keshernet Centre working seminar for teachers of HP-ORT “GET-IT” project was organised. There were 9 representative from Moscow, St Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Tula, Tambov and Kineshma participated.  

Seminar’s program included as detailed analysis of the content of T-Tools program so the discussion of the future prospects of project. There were the representative of HP company participated: Vice-president of HP, Managing Director of HP Russia Mr Owen Christopher Kemp and Director of Business Development of HP Mr Karel Vavruska.

Within the frames of seminar its participants visited Tula Boarding School for Deaf Children where the GET-IT project is been implementing since 2007, and got acquainted with the distinctive features of the project realisation for training children with special needs. On behalf of ORT they gave to the students of Boarding School the present: video camera, tripod and cassettes.

Representatives of HP Company presented to Boarding School the equipment that allows working with computer without using hands. 

Student of 8th grade Dmitriy Kozachkov

8^th grade student of Odessa Specialised General ORT School no. 94 Dmitriy Kozachkov received the Odessa Major’s award for high achievement in education and participation in various contests and Olympiads.

The new Mobile Multimedia Computer Lab was provided to ORT School in Kazan, which has won the Hewlett-Packard grant in terms of the program «Transforming teaching and learning through technology». The cooperation of ORT and HP made this event happened. The lab consists of 10 laptops, multimedia projector, multi-functional device, 4 PDA HP iPAQ, Wi-Fi access point and a software.  In December 2008 the equipment was delivered. It is planning to organize the official inauguration ceremony at the beginning of the 2009.

Secondary school no. 274 ORT "Yerushalaim" became the winner of District stage of Festival «For Cultural Capital the Culture the World», devoted to ideas and principles of tolerance which was held on November, 19.

Students were preparing for festival since May. Free trainings, lectures, excursions were carried out for them. Preparation was organised by the International Centre of Promotion of Arts and the St.-Petersburg House of Nationalities. School ORT "Yerushalaim" prepared for competition actively. From November, 1^st  till November, 10^th  the tour of contest of drawings within the frames of preparation for festival "Tolerance" devoted to the 130 years from the date of a birth of Janosh Korchak among the students of  5-9 grades was organised at school. At the District stage of the Festival the vocal ensemble of school has acted with a fine Jewish song and won the 1^st place.

Two articles appeared in the St.-Petersburg mass-media: the Municipal bulletin of the Kirovskiy District and the Petrovsky Courier on 8.12.2008.

On November, 11th on the basis of the Yekaterinburg Vocational Training Centre "ORT-Career" and with active participation of its specialists the presentation of the All-Russia project «Creation and Development of Socially-Pedagogical Communities in Internet» (project resources are placed http://openclass.ru/ and http://wiki.iot.ru/).

Teachers of high schools, school psychologists, teachers of additional education, social teachers from different educational institutions of Sverdlovsk area got acquainted with network resources of the project, mastered social services and shared ideas of real and network interaction within the community. According to experts of the “ORT-Career” VTC, teachers of ORT schools can participate in this interesting project or having analysed its experience and idea to make network interactions of ORT centres more active.

Two of the ORT family’s leading colleges have signed an agreement tailor made to ensure that the best education and training is available to ORT students regardless of national borders.

The agreement between ORT Strasbourg and the Moscow ORT Technology College is a demonstration of the benefits of belonging to an international organisation in a period of globalisation.

Under this preliminary agreement, Moscow ORT Technology College will share its considerable expertise in teaching fashion design with ORT Strasbourg, which has just started a BTS diploma course in the subject that allows graduates to continue their studies at a Masters level in university. The diploma builds on the success of the one-year foundation course in design launched by ORT Strasbourg two years ago.

Twelve years after joining the ORT network, Moscow ORT Technology College is recognised as offering the best vocational training in fashion design in Russia.

“I am very happy to sign this agreement and look forward to hosting teachers from Moscow at Strasbourg and sending our teachers to Moscow to learn their techniques,” said ORT Strasbourg Principal Claude Sabbah (pictured second from left with, from left, ORT Lyon Director Michel Benoilid, Moscow ORT Technology College Director Dr Yuriy Mironenko and ORT Russia Director Dr Slava Leschiner).

ORT Russia Director Dr Slava Leschiner said that ORT Strasbourg’s dormitory facilities meant that Russian students will have the opportunity of staying there for a semester or even a year.

“We have also discussed the possibility of undertaking joint projects using distance learning technology because the Moscow college hosts the ORT Lawson Vocational Training Centre, which has a lot of experience in setting up distance learning projects,” Dr Leschiner said.

To start with, the two colleges are looking at short term student and staff exchanges and the cultivation of professional contacts in areas such as curriculum design and training programmes.

“I am delighted with this development,” Dr Leschiner said. “The Moscow ORT Technology College is at the stage in its development where it has a lot of experience that it can share with the whole ORT network throughout the world. And in return, the direct contacts which the College makes with other ORT institutions enrich it very much.”

The agreement was signed last week when Mr Sabbah and his then deputy Michel Benoilid visited Moscow. During their brief stay in the Russian capital, they toured the College, spoke to students and staff, and experienced a student fashion show.

Mr Sabbah was impressed by what he saw and noted that the teaching, classes, workshops and equipment were the same as in Strasbourg – a compatibility which should facilitate the development of closer ties.

“The new design courses at Strasbourg are expected to double their enrolment over the next year or so and linking with Moscow will further enhance their attractiveness to potential students,” Mr Sabbah said.

The Moscow ORT Technology College’s students regularly win city- and nationwide fashion contests and enjoy master classes with internationally renowned Russian couturiers including Viatcheslav Zaitsev and Valentin Yudashkin.

Couturier students not only learn the basics of making and modelling of clothes, textiles, drawing and graphics they can also pursue higher level qualifications in Computer Aided Design (CAD), textile drawing and painting.

The College has 1,400 full time students enrolled in five faculties: advertising technology, fashion design, economics, hospitality and marketing.

ORT Strasbourg has 450 students at school and university level. Post high school courses offered include international trade and commerce, computer sciences and a special two-year course to prepare students for France’s top engineering schools. It is also the first private college in France to offer a three-year bachelor degree course in collaboration with a university – the Licence Professionel des Metiers de l’Optique et de la Vision for opticians.

Festival of Excellence in Teaching ICT and Technology started on the 3^rd of November 2008 in Slavutych (Ukraine) on the site of the HP-ORT Digital Community Centre. Representatives of the 11 schools from Russia, Ukraine, Moldova and Lithuania participated their.  The Festival was opened by Dr. Leschiner (ORT Russia) with handing over the first prize to T. Ivashkova,   the 2008 year Beatrice Wand-Polak Foundation winner. Tatiana Ivaskova, a Math teacher from 'Levi Yitzchak Schneerson' Ohr Avner School # 144 in Dnipropetrovs’k, was nominated to Beatrice Wand-Polak Award as the best teacher, the winner of Year Teacher 2007 in ORT CIS and Baltic States. The Festival activities included greetings of David Benish, the head of ORT CIS.

Festival of Excellence in Teaching ICT and Technology is one of the three major events of the year 2008 in terms of “Teacher Training Project - 2”.  According to the project 3 events are organized annually, up to this year one of which was traditional contest “ORT Year Teacher”.   

This year this contest was a part of Festival of Excellence in Teaching ICT and Technology.

The Festival activities included

• Deputy ORT Russia S.Gorinsky's  speaking on International Cooperation Projects of  ORT CIS;
• Director of ORT Technology Centre at the Moscow ORT Technology School P.Yakushkin's presentation of the new educational software «Chronoliner»;
• Senior Expert of R&D Department A.Pakhomova shared with the present her personal experience of participating in the All-Ukrainian Year Teacher 2007;
• Senior Experts of R&D M.Buharkina and A.Pakhomova presented The Digital Library on Instructions of ICT Teaching and provided a short master-class on its usage;
• Senior Expert of R&D M.Bukharkina spoke about the Teacher Training Program, its goals and strategies.

The Festival implied presentations, master-classes, sharing experiences, round tables and the contest which consisted of two parts:

• Power Point  presentation of a class;
• Demonstration of this class real time.

List of Jury members:

• Marina Bukharkina, Senior Expert of R&D, Moscow, Russia
• Tatyana Ivashkova,  Maths Teacher, winner of the last year contest, Dnipropetrovs’k, Ukraine
• Anna Pakhomova, Senior Expert of R&D, Odessa, Ukraine

Jury estimated the participants’ work academically. As different from the last years others participants made the rating of the presentations and classes as well.   

The Contest Jury chose 6 candidates:

Anatoly Shperkh (ORT Technology Centre at the Secondary School “Beit-Sefer Menachem”, St. Petersburg), Alena Belomenova (ORT Technology Lyceum by B. Herzel, Chisinau), Nataliya Goshkador (The ORT Technology Centre at the 'Levi Yitzchak Schneerson' Ohr Avner School no. 144, Dnipropetrovs’k), Yuriy Peresyolkov (ORT Technology Centre at the Kharkov Technological Lyceum no. 9),  Igor Kot (Secondary School no. 94, ORT, Odessa), Nataliya Fomenko (Secondary School no. 42, ORT “Geser”, Samara).

The work of the Jury was to define three best performances and rate them from 1-3. It was not easy because of different teaching styles and variety of methods applied. Finally the Jury announced the winners. They are:

• 1 place – Nataliya Goshkador (The ORT Technology Centre at the 'Levi Yitzchak Schneerson' Ohr Avner School no. 144, Dnipropetrovs’k);
• 2 place – Nataliya Fomenko (Secondary School no. 42, ORT “Geser”, Samara).
• 3 place – Anatoly Shperkh (ORT Technology Centre at the Secondary School “Beit-Sefer Menachem”, St. Petersburg).

All winners got presents: a notebook (first prize), and digital photo frame (second and third).

From October, 30th to November, 1st, 2008, Resource Centre "ORT-St.-Petersburg" took part in Fair of social projects and programs of the non-profit (non-government) organisations (NGO) of the city named «Petersburgers to Petersburg». Fair has been organised by Open Company «RESTEC Events Management» and the Centre of Development of Non-profit Organisations (Centre RNO) under support of Committee of the Youth Policy and Interaction with Public Associations and Committee of Labour and Social Protection of the Population of the Government of St.-Petersburg. The given action continues tradition of the large city ones, aimed to show the contribution of organisations of the voluntary sector to public life and social policy of Petersburg, which are organised by Centre RNO annually since 2001.

At 100 stands of the most active Petersburg NGO the visitors of the exhibition – colleagues from others NGO, representatives of business and local authorities, Petersburg citizens – had an opportunity to get acquainted with services and projects of these organisations. At Centre "ORT-St.-Petersburg" stand new educational projects of the Centre (computer courses for aged persons, the project "School of Career", and others) were presented. Besides, possibility to receive consultation and to discuss possibility of joint projects was provided. Specialists of the Centre took part in round tables and discussions as well.

On October, 24th, 2008   ORT Vocational Training Centre in Yekaterinburg has taken part in the Forum of a micro-enterprise of Sverdlovsk area «STARTUP-2008». The forum was organised in Yekaterinburg for the first time and its main objective were providing people of Sverdlovsk area by assistance in establishing and development of their business, access to the useful practical information, necessary knowledge and contacts.

Within the frames of the Forum «STARTUP-2008» exhibitions «Infrastructure of Development of Business of Sverdlovsk area» and «Services for Micro Enterprise », seminars, consultations, master classes and many other actions were organised, the program of establishing of business contacts Business Network Event was presented also.

Director of the ORT VTC Mrs. Galina Brusnitsina, Director of Regional Foundation of Women Entrepreneurship Support Mrs. Valentina Samsonova and the students of Ural State Pedagogical University, the partner of the Centre within the frames of project HP GET-IT realisation, presented the main directions of the Centre’s activity, program GET-IT in particular, and “Club for Beginning Entrepreneurs» which is to be opened on the basis of the Centre in November.

The ORT Vocational Training Centre (ORT VTC) in Yekaterinburg the first time became for the participant of the regional project «Day of Career» taken place in Yekaterinburg on October, 23rd, 2008

“Day of Career” is the project widely known in all regions, cities and high schools in the Russian Federation and abroad as well. Since 1995 it is annually organised in Yekaterinburg and every year thousand young people receive the information on working conditions in the companies and tens companies could take on highly skilled employees and young experts.

ORT VTC became the organiser of work of the information kiosk where the laptops had been received by the Centre within the frames of the joint project with Hewlett Packard were established. Computers worked during all action, providing visitors’ access to the information on employers of the region, recommendations on resume writing, job interview passing and other useful information.

Besides it, volunteers of the ORT Centre - partners of the project from the Ural State Pedagogical University - acquainted visitors with the program «Graduate Entrepreneurship Training through Information Technologies» (GET-IT) and suggested to become listeners of HP-ORT GET-IT Centre.

The strides made by the ORT educational network in the Former Soviet Union over the past 18 years provide a taste of things to come for Israeli schools participating in World ORT’s Kadima Mada (Science Journey) programme.

A group of 28 Kadima Mada school principals savoured the prospect of further technological leaps and educational bounds during a weekend spent at the award winning ORT de Gunzburg School in St Petersburg.

They had gathered for the second World ORT seminar for Kadima Mada principals, an opportunity for participants to deepen their appreciation for the pedagogical potential of the advanced technology which World ORT has been providing them as well as to create stronger bonds with each other and with ORT professionals internationally.

“This seminar has made new connections between the Israeli and Russian principals which I hope will lead to a greater sense of partnership and the instituting of joint projects between their respective school – especially student exchanges,” said Avi Ganon, who is currently Deputy Head of the World ORT Representative Office in Israel as well as World ORT Representative in Russia, Belarus and Central Asia.

World ORT’s Kadima Mada programme has already seen significant investments made in providing more than 30 high school campuses in underprivileged communities with, among other things, high-tech science laboratories, state-of-the-art facilities for teachers, “smart” classes with interactive whiteboards and teacher training. The schools are now among the best equipped in Israel and the morale among both teachers and students has risen accordingly.

“The improvements World ORT has been able to make in the Israeli schools in partnership with the Ministry of Education and local municipalities have been extraordinary,” Mr Ganon said. “But the Kadima Mada schools are catching up with our schools in Russia. The Israeli principals were surprised by the level of technology and technological expertise they found in Russia. The fact that ORT Russia schools have gone through this process of modernisation in recent years means that the Israelis can learn from their experience and see how they can implement that model in their own country.”

Last weekend’s seminar featured special presentations designed to help the Israelis gain insight into what the Russian model consists of. ORT Russia National Director Dr Slava Leshchiner and ORT de Gunzburg Deputy Principal Gregory Vodopyan discussed with the visitors the modern school ICT environment in Russia using ORT de Gunzburg as a case study.

The Israelis were also divided into two groups for panel discussions with four principals from ORT CIS schools – Svetlana Klimina of the ORT Herzl Technology Lyceum in Kishinev, Moldova; Yuri Kinkov of the ORT Kiev Technology Lyceum, Ukraine; Dr Marina Moiseeva of the ORT Moscow Technology School; and Janna Kuzmina of the ORT Jerusalem School in St Petersburg – on exploring partnership in Jewish education between Israel and the diaspora. 

The seminar also offered insights into St Petersburg’s education system by Elena Spasskaya, Deputy Director of the city’s Academy of Post-Diploma Education for Teachers; an analysis of Russian education reform by Professor Yefim Kogan, a former Minister of Education of the Samara Region and now a member of the ORT Russia Board of Directors; overviews of World ORT activities past, present and projected in Israel and around the world; and a workshop on educational leadership and initiating change led by the Head of the World ORT Representative Office in Israel, Rony Kalinsky, and Hillel Hilman, Principal of the Kadoorie Youth Village in the Lower Galilee.

Together with stimulating leisure activities, it was a busy weekend which made a deep impression on participants.

“I saw in the de Gunzburg School educational methods of the future,” said Itay Levi, of the Rodman High School in Kiryat Yam. “I was highly impressed by what I learned of World ORT, by the dreams that have come true. The seminar has energised me.”

Dr Shoshana Morchnik, of the Shikma High School in Yad Mordechai, said: “The seminar highlighted once again the complexity and flexibility of World ORT activities. Our goals in Israel differ from those of our colleagues in Russia but we must think together about mutual goals and ways in which we can develop programmes.”

Rajah Gadban, Principal of the high school in the Druze town of Horfesh, said: “In 35 years teaching I have never been involved in such a pleasant experience brining together Jewish and non-Jewish head teachers. World ORT managed to organise a great group and this seminar expressed the power of World ORT which is seen every day in our school. I hope that these seminars continue.”

Concluding the seminar, World ORT Director General Robert Singer emphasised that the most important people in the room were the principals and that it was World ORT’s privilege to help them.

October, 14, 2008 Hewlett-Packard (HP) and ORT Russia opened НР-ORT GET-IT Centre for beginning entrepreneurs on the base of Vocational Training Centre “ORT-Career” in St. Petersburg. Instructional basis for its activity became the unique GET-IT (Graduate Entrepreneurship Training through IT) Program developed by HP.

GET-IT is one of HP’s flagship social investment initiatives and helps young unemployed people and graduates – aged 16 to 25 – acquire the business and IT skills to enter professional life or to create their own businesses. GET-IT helps young graduates to find or create a job thanks to a new kind of “know-how” — business IT skills that combine the basics of entrepreneurship with practical, hands-on experience in technology.  Centre’s capacity is up to 250 students per year. Lessons are conducted in computer labs of Resource Centre of ICT “ORT-SPb”. Mobile class provided by HP allows organising out-of-door trainings.    

There were Vice-president of HP and HP Russia Managing Director Mr. Owen Kemp, HP Business Development Director Mr. Karel Vavruska and ORT Russia National Director Mr. Viatcheslav Leshchiner welcomed the guests. Also there were Executive Director of St. Petersburg Foundation for SME Development Mr. Maxim Balanev, Honorary Chief of the International Youth Diplomacy League Mr. Babek Asadov, representatives of Employment Centre, City Labour Registry Office, St. Petersburg  Institute of Social and Community Workers, teachers of economical and technological colleges of the city, presented.

From the ORT side there were: Deputy Director of ORT Russia Mr. Sergey Gorinskiy, Director of НР-ORT GET-IT Centre in Yekaterinburg Mrs. Galina Brusnitsyna, Director of Resource Centre of IT “ORT-SPb” Mrs. Marina Sorokina, Manager of ORT-Career Project in St. Petersburg Mrs. Anna Hodorovskaya, Teacher of ORT Technology Centre at the Secondary School “Beit-Sefer Menakhem” Mr. Anatoly Shperh.

After the tour of the Centre and presentation of the current educational programs guests participated at the open lesson and discussed the issues of development and using of modern educational technologies of business and IT training.

In 2007 the new microenterprise acceleration program was started by the HP Corporation.

The aim of the GET-IT program (Graduate Entrepreneurship Training through IT) is the expanding of new technologies among the graduates and unemployed youth in order to promote their future professional effectiveness.

ORT Russia actively participated at this program. In 2007-2008 academic year ORT began realization of the program in Moscow, Yekaterinburg, Volgograd, Tula and Tambov. The 6th centre in St.Petersburg is to be opened.  

The main feature of the ORT participation in this program is the high attention paid to such groups of population that have difficulties at the labor market.

So in Volgograd, Yekaterinburg and Tambov GET-IT program was included in to the ORT-Career and ORT-KesheNet Projects that already provided thousands of women with the basic IT knowledge. Moscow ORT Technology College accumulated the great experience in vocational training of IT using for deaf children. This experience is very useful for teachers of Tula Boarding School for Deaf Children.    

These unique developments of cooperation between HP Corporation and ORT had been presented at the contest for HP Award 2008.

In order to promote youth entrepreneurship amongst HP GET-IT partners, HP offered the HP GET-IT Award to be launched first time at the HP GET-IT Annual Conference taking place in Brussels, on the 18th to the 19th of September 2008.

HP constituted an evaluation committee responsible to review the applications.  Candidates filled-in an application form and prepared a poster. The HP evaluation committee shortlisted the most successful candidates. Shortlisted candidates were informed of their selection, directly by HP. They were required to present their application during the HP GET-IT Annual Conference, on the 18th of September 2008.After the shortlisted candidate’s presentation on the 18th of September 2008, each person presented at the HP GET-IT Annual Conference was invited to vote (one vote per person). The HP evaluation committee was responsible to count the votes.

The successful candidates were announced on the 19th of September 2008.

ORT Russia poster

The first prize was awarded to the Network For Training Entrepreneurship – NFTE Belgium.  

During the academic year there were 450 young people trained the most part of those had not been able to graduate the school before. 92% of them finished their secondary education, 7% opened their own business, 42% found new job and 23% decided to continue their education.   Teachers from NFTE Belgium had a brilliant opportunity to invite their graduates and to make wonderfully emotional presentation of their project.  

First prize awarding

ORT Russia’s Project, presented at the conference by Deputy Director of ORT Russia Sergey Gorinskiy and Head of IT Department Mikhail Libkin. On the base of reporting materials from Volgograd, Yekaterinburg, Moscow, Tambov and Tula the poster, presentation and handouts full of the real life success stories had been demonstrated and provoked the great interest of all the participants of the conference. ORT Russia project “Breaking Digital Divide: Business and IT skills for underserved groups of population” was awarded by the second prize.     

At the ORT Russia poster

Jeanette Weisschuh, Head of Global Citizenship, Europe, the Middle East and Africa Hewlett-Packard Corporation (left), Sergey Gorinskiy, Deputy Director of ORT Russia (centre), Daniela Opp, Manager, Social Investment and Economic Development, Europe, the Middle East and Africa Hewlett-Packard Corporation (right).

September 9, 2008, the visit of Director-General of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel visited Moscow ORT Centre of Education (Centre of Education no. 1311 "Techiya). He had a tour on school while visited Museum of Jewish Family, ORT Science and Technology Centre. In Media hall of ORT Centre he could see a video film made by students: animated cartoon “King Solomon and the Bee” and educational film “Jewish Calendar”. During the visit distinguished guest was speaking with students and teachers. He was enjoyed by the visit and said that he would like to provide support to this school. He is to tell about this visit on the next meeting at the Israel Government and to give the warm assessment to the results of the Heftsiba project and to ORT activity in the CIS countries.

On July, 9th, 2008 Vice-President HP of Corporate Marketing and Global Citizenship in Europe, Middle East and Africa Mrs. Gaby Zedlmayer and Manager of Corporate Marketing НР in Russia Irina Efremova visited Technology College no. 14 (Moscow ORT Technology College). 

Visit has been devoted to investigation of the process of realization HP program "GET-IT” (Graduate Entrepreneurship Training through IT) which provides training for emergent entrepreneurs on IT. GET-IT (Graduate Entrepreneurship Training on IT) is part of HP´s global Microenterprise Development Program and is a training initiative for young or unemployed or graduates between the age of 16 and 25 in underserved communities with good economic growth potential.

On March, 4, 2008 within the frames of project realized by Hewlett Packard jointly with World ORT the Opening Ceremony of the HP-ORT "GET-IT" Centre on the basis of Moscow ORT Technology College took place. Its objective is to advance the use of technology, to increase its access, to build the capacity for the use of information and communications technologies within the College students’ community and to promote the development of their Entrepreneurship and Microenterprise skills.

At a meeting the Deputy Director General of ORT CIS Mr.Sergey Gorinsky, Director of Technology College Mr. Yury Mironenko, Director of the VTC ORT Mr. Igor Pavlov, Chair of Economic Department of College Mrs. Tamara Levykina and the Head of PR Department of ORT Russia Mrs. Irina Silaeva also were present.

Mr. Jury Mironenko told about the achievements reached by college during the period of realization of GET-IT program. This academic year the course as an obligatory component has been introduced in the curriculum of training of students of Economic Faculty. 31 this year graduates used the received knowledge in preparation of their degree works, many of them already could begin their own business. It is planned, that next academic year this course will be adapted for students of Faculty of Restaurant Business, however, as an optional course for persons interested in own small enterprise opening after the finishing College. Besides next year teachers of economic disciplines of vocational training schools of Moscow will be trained on the base of College.

Chair of Economic Department of College Mrs.Tamara Levykina has acquainted guests with the students’ works made with use of those knowledge and skills they had received during training on the GET-IT program. The 3^rd year student of Economic Faculty assisting at the presentation Andrey Sivbo presented his own development of advertising products and also those ones prepared by other students such as business-plans of the organization of the small business enterprise.

Visitors highly estimated students’ achievements and expressed gratitude for College’s administrations and staff for their contribution of program GET-IT realization.

In conclusion of visit VTC ORT Director Mr.Igor Pavlov  presented the project of distance vocational training for children of special needs (with problems of hearing) carried out by ORT, and outlined possible prospects of cooperation between ORT and НР in the field of distance training for children with special needs (seriously ill patients and invalids). During the conversation Mrs. Gaby Zedlmayer and Mr. Sergey Gorinsky discussed the further possible directions of joint work of ORT and НР.

ORT Vocational Training Centre Lawson ORT-Career Programme in St. Petersburg develops ints activity successfully. 

On July, 1, 2008, within the frames of joint project of ORT-St. Petersburg and charity organization “Hesed Abraham” the  Computer Literacy classes for aged people began at the “ORT-Career” VTC. For 3-weeks courses 8 students are to get knowledge about the PC, to learn how to work with Windows, create text files, use flash, CD and DVD and communicate by Skype and e-mail.

In July, 1, 2008 HP Business Development Director Karel Vavruska visited “ORT-Career” VTC in St. Petersburg and discussed with its Director Marina Sorokina future prospects of possible cooperation. Mr. Vavruska expressed his admiration to professional level of teaching provided by ORT specialists and noted, that Hewlett Packard Company pleased by the results of cooperation with ORT and is looking for expand the future cooperation.

Estonia’s only Jewish school has formally affiliated with World ORT. The Tallinn Jewish School’s signing of the memorandum of partnership means that every non-religious Jewish school in the Former Soviet Union is now part of the World ORT network.

World ORT’s Representative in Russia, Belarus and Central Asia, Avi Ganon (pictured, left), signed the document with the school’s principal, Mikhail Beilinson (pictured, right), and the city’s Director of Education Services, Meelis Kond (pictured, centre), June 17, 2008.

“The success of our schools in other parts of the Former Soviet Union persuaded Mr Beilinson that his 200 students would benefit by his school joining the network,” Mr Ganon said. “Naturally, we agree. And we are very happy to welcome the school into the World ORT family.”

You could see the information about Tallinn Jewish School here:

http://www.jkool.tln.edu.ee

On June, 16, 2008 the official opening the of the ORT Vocational Training Centre

Lawson ORT-Career Programme took place in St.-Petersburg. The Centre was opened at the St. Petersburg Jewish Community House (YESOD).

There were the Heads of the Jewish Organisations of the city and representatives of the city public presented.

Director of ORT Russia, Belarus and Central Asia Avi Ganon and Director of ORT St. Petersburg Marina Sorokina solemnly cut the honourable ribbon and have opened the plague at the input in the Centre. Avi Ganon has hung up the mezuzah.

The basic directions of the Centre’s activity were described. Visitors could see the open lesson for the first students of the Centre. The presentation of the ORT - St. Petersburg project "Aleph-Bet About Israel" devoted to the 60-th Anniversary of the State of Israel also took place.

At the end of ceremony the first students of the Centre were handed over with the ORT certificates, beta-version of the disk "Aleph-Bet About Israel" and leaflets about activity and projects of the Centre.

Afternoon presentations of the programs of the Centre for all comers, courses listing and consultations were organised.  

Students of the Moscow Technology College no. 14 (ORT Technology College) Maxim Katush and Artem Goroshko became winners in nomination "Photo" of at the 19^th Festival of Children's Creativity “Nadejda” ("Hope") of students of educational establishments of the City of Moscow.

On May, 5, 2008 in Concert Hall "Russia" in "Luzniki" the Final Gala Concert of winners of the 19^th Festival of Children's Creativity “Nadejda” ("Hope") took place.

Annually the Department of Education under the auspices of the Government of Moscow organises the 19^th Festival of Children's Creativity “Nadejda” ("Hope") of students of educational establishments of the city of Moscow purposed for creativity development and its role in is art and aesthetic education of persons with the limited opportunities of health increasing.

Over 10 thousand children took part in reviews and competitions of the 19^th Festival of Children's Creativity.

By results of the District selective tours there were children's teams and individuals from 250 educational establishments with total 2.893 persons declared on the City stage of competition.

Students of the Moscow Technology College no. 14 (ORT Technology College) Maxim Katush and Artem Goroshko became winners in nomination “Photo”.

The victory of children is especially pleasant because before entering the College they studied in the Boarding School no. 52 for children with problems of hearing and they passed Distance learning courses of Computer Graphics, Animation, Photo and Design under supervision of ORT-VTC specialists Valentin Kotz and Natalia Ilicheva. These courses defined their choice and after school they entered ORT Technology College and now they study in general groups!

On May 22, 2008 Memorial plaque devoted to first ORT school in the city was opened. The plaque is installed on the building where school was located from 1896 until 1917. Jewish vocational school “Trud” was established by ORT in 1882, it was the first vocational school in the whole South of Russian Empire.

The installation of the plaque was a result of joint project of ORT Ukraine and Israeli Cultural Center in Odessa. Center has a program of commemoration important for Jewish history places in the city. The first plaque was installed several years ago in the building where the first mayor of Tel Aviv Meir Dizengoff was born. ORT plaque is the sixth in the city Jewish memorial plaque.

On the ceremony of plaque opening First Secretary of Israeli Embassy in Ukraine Mrs. Alla Oshmiansky, Head of the Odessa regional administration Mr. Nikolay Skorik, Deputy Major of Odessa Mr. Alexander Prokopenko , JAFI representative in Odessa Mrs. Jaffiq Zarko and ORT Ukraine director Dr. Slava Leshchiner spoke. It was a big audience of former and current ORT Odessa students, representatives of Odessa Jewish community, employees of National Savings bank which is located in this building now, neighbors. The event was filmed by 3 local TV stations and covered by city press.

The building is located on Basarnaja st, 17. Just around the corner of it on Marazlievskaya st ,60 current ORT Odessa school is located. School was opened in 1995 and now provides high class Jewish and General education for 400 students of age 6-17. For junior high and high school students ORT Odessa provides wide selection of Technology and Vocational courses focused on modern Information and Communication Technologies and robotics.

29 teachers and experts have taken part in International Congress "BAMA" on the topic "Jewish Education in Russian-Speaking Communities of the World” which took place from May, 5^th till May, 7th, 2008 in Jerusalem. The congress has been devoted to 40^th anniversary of the beginning of struggle of Jews of Soviet Union for repatriation and to the 60^th anniversary of Independence of the State of Israel.

At plenary sessions of the Congress Deputies of the Knesset July Edelstein and Zeev Elkin, the Representative of the Ministry of Education of the State of Israel Johanan Ben Jaakov, Minister of Finance of the State of Israel Meshulam Naari and the Director of the Institute "Yad Ben Tsvi" Ilan Ezrahi, the Director General of Jewish Agency Moshe Vigdor and the Chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel Zeev Belsky and others acted. Participants of the Congress took part in Official Ceremony in Givat ha-Tahmoshet, devoted to Day of Killed in Wars of Israel.

On sections within the frames of the program of the Congress problems and tasks of the modern Jewish education in Russian-speaking communities of the countries of former Soviet Union, USA and Germany were discussed.

On section "Jewish School" (the supervisor was Grigory Lipman, Principal of the Centre of Education no. 1311 ORT "Techiya") the issues connected with the organisation of teaching of subjects of the Jewish cycle at the Jewish schools of the CIS and the Baltics, the maintenance of curriculum and techniques of teaching were discussed. Within the frames of work of this section the Project Manager of the Centre "ORT-St.Petersburg" Tatyana Smurova has made presentation of the multimedia educational programs developed last years of ORT Russia. The presentation has provoked interest from principals and teachers of the Jewish schools, discussion of opportunities of implementation of ORT developments at the lessons of history and tradition of Jewish people was conducted. The new training program «Aleph-Bet about Israel» creation of which now comes to the end in the Centre "ORT-St.Petersburg" has caused participants’ especial interest.

On May, 18th, 2008 (3 p.m. - 10 p.m.) the festival on open air under the name «Travel to Israel", dated by Day of Independence of the State Israel, took place in park Ostankino.

This action has been organized at support of the City Government and the Embassy of the State of Israel in the Russian Federation. As organizers of action the World Congress of Russian-speaking Jewry and the Jewish Culture Centre on Nikitskaya acted. World ORT alongside with American Jewish Distributive Committee "Joint", Federation of the Jewish Communities of Russia and the Student's Jewish Organization of Gilel-Russia was the official partner of action.

More than five thousand moscovites and the visitors of the City participated in the celebration.

Well-known Russian singers and actors and the Israeli stars took part in the concert.

Guests of the festival could see the dramatized show on open air «Travel to Israel «directed by the Art Director of theatre «U Nikitskikh Vorot», the National Actor of Russia Mark Rozovskiy.

At the Park’s territory the conceptual platforms, presented culture and history of Israel, were established. The game children's zone of the festival worked here, moscovites could test Israeli meals.

Near to a concert platform the exhibition hall devoted to the Jewish organizations of Moscow was established. The World ORT stand has provoked the great interest of guests of festival; special attention was paid to the information about ORT’s role in establishing and development of the State of Israel, and to those parts of the stand which described the activity of ORT educational establishments in Moscow.

Many questions were asked by those visitors of the exhibition who went to the celebration together with children. Young visitors were interested with photos of students of ORT schools, especially by those of them which are devoted to Technology lessons and to the Jewish holidays.

ORT specialists provided the technical assistance and support in carrying out the press conference of the Ambassador and other officials who were present on action.

The Centre "ORT de Gunzburg, St. Petersburg" participated in the city actions, devoted to the celebrating of the 60^th Anniversary of Independence of the State of Israel.

Thanks to four Jewish organisations of city: the Centre "ORT de Gunzburg, St. Petersburg ", the Jewish Agency, the Israeli Cultural Centre in St. Petersburg, the Russian Jewish Congress the actions dated for celebrating of the 60^th  Anniversary of Independence of the State of Israel had been organised, such as:

• Exhibition of works of the Petersburg artists «Jerusalem is the Sacred Earth» (Centre "ORT-St.-Petersburg" prepared the illustrated catalogue of works of the artists presented at an exhibition);

• Photo contest "Israel by my eyes". Exhibition of the best works in the Russian Ethnographic museum is ahead;

• Competition of children's creativity «Israel by eyes of children ";

• Creation of the interactive multimedia program "The Aleph-Bet about Israel" is in the final stage. The project was initiated by the Centre "ORT de Gunzburg, St. Petersburg ", and realized at financial and expert support of ORT, ICC in St. Petersburg and the Jewish Agency. The program acquaints with the Hebrew alphabet, with symbolic of the State of Israel and with the major concepts and outstanding persons of history of establishing the country.

• The celebratory Gala-Concert devoted the 60^th Anniversary of Independence of the State of Israel which has passed on May, 15th, 2008 on one of the largest concert hall of the city "The Ice Palace".

Before the beginning of the concert in the hall of «The Ice Palace" the Centre "ORT-St. Petersburg" took part in the exhibition of the Jewish organisations of the city. At specially equipped stand the PR-materials showing basic directions of ORT activity and projects in St.Petersburg were presented. This concert was the one of the most mass actions, devoted to the 60^th Anniversary of Israel, in Russia. About 8 thousand people come there. Israel and Russian stars acted on the stage of “The Ice Palace”.

From the stage of the huge "The Ice Palace» words of gratitude to "ORT-St. Petersburg" for the help in organisation of days of Israel in the city sounded for so great audience.

On May, 14th, 2008 in the cultural-entertaining center "Pyramid" the celebratory ceremony dated for the 10th anniversary of the Kazan secondary school no. 12 ORT “Mishpahteinu" took place.

There are 431 students trained at the School with ethnocultural classes (with Jewish component of education). Besides subjects of the state curriculum, they study Hebrew, and Traditions and History of Jewish people as well.

According to School’s Principal Olga Trupp few official ceremonies which are ever passed in Kazan, could brag of the similar high level of representation. As Guests of honour of the celebration there were: the Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the State Israel in Russia Mrs. Anna Azari; the Adviser of the President of Tatarstan Republic, Director of Department of External Relations of the President of Tatarstan Republic Mr.Timur Akulov; Mayor of Kazan Mr.Ilsur Metshin; the Deputy Minister of Education of Tatarstan Republic Mrs.Ludmila Ngumanova; Head  of the Jewish Agency for Israel in Russia Mr. Chaim Ben-Yakov; the Head of Department of Education of Kazan Mr. Ilsur Hadiullin; Head of Administration of Vahitovskiy Distirct Mr. Ruslan Shakirov; the Deputy Head of Administration of Vahitovskiy Distirct  Mrs. Alsu Asadullina; Head of  Department of Education of the Vahitovskiy District Mrs. Minzailya Zakirova; Director of  ORT Russia Mr. Avi Ganon; President of the Tatarstan Jewish Community Mr. Mikhail Skoblionok; Director of the Moscow Center of  Education no. 1311 ORT "Techia" Mr. Grigory Lipman and others.

For visitors the concert in which more than 300 participants had been involved was prepared. Program includes the State Orchestra of Ethnic Musical Instruments of Tatarstan Republic, and Music Group "Simkha", Music Group "Shtrikh", a Military Orchestra of Tank School and many other leading creative collectives of the Republic.

As Deputy Minister of Education of Tatarstan Republic Mrs.Ludmila Nugumanova has noticed: "Each student of this School is talented", and a distinctive feature of the concert, accounted for 2 hours, was a participation of the student of school in each professional performance. So, for example, the trumpeter has been involved in performance of a military orchestra of tank school - the grant-aided student of Mayor of Kazan and the student of the School. Not only students, but also members of their families and graduates of school took part in the concert.

There many warm words to school staff have been told. Mayor of Kazan Mr. Ilsur Metshin has emphasized, that for 10 years of the existence the school has deserved reputation of one of the best in Republic and the City: "Within the premises of your school the spirit of family atmosphere and aura of friendship, kindness, mutual respect between teachers, students and parents are created".

In honour of the anniversary the School has received the gifts:

• the mobile class and Wi-Fi from Mayor of the City
• the equipment for one lab of the School from the Head of Vahitovskiy District of Kazan
• Notebook from the Ministry of Education of Tatarstan Republic
• Furniture for one lab of school from the City Department of Educaiotn
• the School bus will be paid on equal by World ORT and the Tatarstan Jewish Community on behalf of its President Mr. Mikhail Skoblionok.

Mayor of Kazan Mr. Ilsur Metshin has assured, that in coming summer the design documentation for new building of the School that in ecologically pure area of the city will be constructed.

In her interview Principal Olga Troupe has thanked Administration of the City for their regardful and sensitive attitude for School staff, for their help and support, and has expressed the gratitude to World ORT and Tatarstan Jewish Community.

Celebratory ceremony became significant event in the city. In the evening on May, 14th, 2008 in the popular program "City" of local TV the big plot, devoted to this event has been shown.

 On the 15th of May  the Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the State Israel in Russia Mrs. Anna Azari, Director of  ORT Russia Mr. Avi Ganon; President of the Tatarstan Jewish Community Mr. Mikhail Skoblionok met with the President of Tatarstan Republic Mr. Mintimer Shaimiev. There were several interesting issuers conserning culture, business and scientific relationship. Mrs. Azari highlighted that one of the reason for her visit to Tatarstan was the anniversary of ORT "Mishpahteinu" School.

After that Mrs. Azari participated at the live TV program "Tatarinform" where she spoke about the School's anniversary as one reason of her visit as well.

News about the visit of Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the State Israel in Russia Mrs. Anna Azari to Tatrstan Republic and about her meeting wiht the President of Tatarstan Republic was published on the official web-site of President.

Teachers of ORT schools became winners of the grant of President of the Russian Federation within the frames of the Priority National Project "Education"

The premium of the President of the Russian Federation of 100 000 roubles will be received by Simona Fleisher, the teacher of the Secondary School no. 42, ORT "Geser" (Samara). Simona is a teacher of initial grades, the Children's Jewish Literature, Culture and Traditions of Jewish people, the teacher-organizer of the Jewish Sunday school in Secondary School no. 42, ORT "Geser" (Samara).

As a result of competitive tendering Simona was included into the list of the best teachers of the Samara area in 2008. Simona is already the second teacher of the Secondary School no. 42, ORT "Geser» who has received this premium. In 2007 Irina Pogodina, the teacher of Computer Science and Information Technologies, also had been recognized by one of the best teachers of the Samara area.

Thus, there are in two basic directions - information technologies and culture and traditions of Jewish people the best teachers of the Samara area work at the School.

Grigory Vodopyan, the Deputy Director of School no. 550 (the project "ORT de Gunzburg", "Shorashim") and the Centre " ORT de Gunzburg" (St.Petersburg) was included into the number of the best teachers of general educational establishments of the city and also has received the premium of the President of the Russian Federation in 100 000 roubles within the frames of the Priority National Project "Education".

In 2006 teacher of Information Technologies of School no. 550 (the project "ORT de Gunzburg", "Shorashim") Olga Tuzova became the owner of this premium, and in 2007 the Deputy Director of School no. 550 (the project "ORT de Gunzburg", "Shorashim") and a teacher of Foreign Languages Irina Lukina did.

Also the teacher of Chemistry of School no. 12 "ORT-Mishpahteinu” (Kazan) Valentina Grigorieva will receive the premium of the President of the Russian Federation of 100 000 roubles. Last academic year the Chemistry Lab supervised by Valentine had won the first place in the city competition.

In 2006 this premium was received by the teacher of Technology Tatyana Kornishina, and in 2007 by the teacher of initial grades Marina Cheremisova.

St. Petersburg School no. 274 (ORT "Yerushalaim") was included into the number of the winners among the schools introducing innovative educational programs within the frames of the National Priority Project "Education" and received the grant in 1 million roubles.

" Last year we so were close to a victory, but we hadn’t just the 100-th parts of marks to enter into number of those schools which have received 1 million roubles within the frames of the National Project "Education " - the Principal of School no. 274 Jeanne Kuzmina said, - " but we did not despair, and, taking into consideration all the mistakes and defects at submission of documents and this year we have won all!!!!”.

"It is very pleasant to realize, that the School no. 274 is one of the best innovative schools not only in district, but in the city as well, thanks to our long cooperation with ORT. It would be desirable to tell, - Jeanne Kuzmina continued, - that in the documents submitted on competition of this grant in full reflected the ORT’s experience of introduction of Information Technologies, victories of our pupils on ORT contests, participation of our teachers in ORT seminars of various levels, and all the ORT does for our School. So it is possible to say that this victory is our common of School no. 274 and ORT ".

Since 2003 ORT cooperates with School no. 274 ("Yerushalaim") within the frames of the project "Heftsiba" and in 2005 ORT Technology Centre within the frames of the project «Regeneration 2004 was opened at school.

In 2007 St. Petersburg School no. 550 (the project "ORT de Gunzburg", “Shorashim”) had won this prestigious grant for introduction of innovative educational programs.

April, 13-14, in Dnipropetrovs’k (Ukraine) on the base of ORT Technology Centre at the ORT Technology Centre at the 'Levi Yitzchak Schneerson' Ohr Avner School no. 144 Olympiad-Contest on the Bases of Robotics among the students of ORT Schools and Lyceums of Ukraine and Moldova was held. Teams of 5 schools participated there:

•  Jewish Gymnasium ORT "Aleph" (Zaporojie, Ukraine)
• ORT Technology Centre at the 'Levi Yitzchak Schneerson' Ohr Avner School no. 144 (Dnipropetrovs’k, Ukraine)
• Secondary School no. 94, ORT (Odessa, Ukraine)
• ORT Technology Centre at the Kharkov Technological Lyceum no. 9 (Kharkov, Ukraine)
• ORT Technology Lyceum by B. Herzel (Chisinau, Moldova)

Teams were formed according the results of intra-school competitions. The panel of judges included Viatcheslav Leschiner, Director of ORT Ukraine, Leonid Ganapolskiy, Principal of   the 'Levi Yitzchak Schneerson' Ohr Avner School no. 144 (Dnipropetrovs’k, Ukraine), Anna Pakhomova, Senior Expert of R&D Department of ORT CIS, Natalia Gashkador, Technology teacher of 'Levi Yitzchak Schneerson' Ohr Avner School no. 144 (Dnipropetrovs’k, Ukraine).

Preparation of tasks for a final phase of competitions, assessment criteria and technical support of Olympiad was carried out by employees of the Dnipropetrovs’k ORT Technology Centre.

In the first day of competitions (on April, 13th) 2 test tasks have been offered to participants. 1st test round of Olympiad "Abrupt road" are the competitions on passage of lines. Participants had brought ready models on competitions. During competition the model should for the shortest time, moving on a black line of a trajectory (not crossed width 1.8 sm), and reach from start point to finish one. Each command had 2 test attempts. Time, quantity of passed turns and effectiveness were considered.

2nd test round was "Guide": for the shortest time the model, operated by the participant by means of the gauge of contact, should pass on a line, limited by two black lines.

Then the creative task "Traffic controller" was offered to participants of Olympiad: they should design the working model of the traffic controller who is carrying out various functions.

The task was estimated separately. The most interesting model was constructed by students from Zaporojie and they had received the first prize Encyclopaedia "Techniques" of publishing houses "Avanta".

At the end of the long day of competitions there was the surprise for children - visiting 4D cinema.

The second day of Olympiad (on April, 14th) has begun with the 3rd test round of Olympiad – "Railway crossing": participants faced the problem of creation the traffic light with a barrier which rises with the certain interval. Thus if the barrier was lowered, 2 bulbs burned and the musical signal sounded, and if it was lifted bulbs did not burn. There were 6 seconds given for each condition. Besides it was necessary to design the moving model equipped by the gauge of light exposure. The model stopped if the barrier was lowered and started to move if it was lifted.

In the 4th task under the name "Dump" the model which was being outside foam plate, should deliver the can to the aperture cut out in a plate and to dump it down.

In the 5th task "Pure road" it was necessary for 1 minute to push out for the limited area chess pieces as much as possible. The model began movement, being forward wheels on white area, and back ones on outside area and moved, reacting on gauges of light exposure only. All tasks of Olympiad have been incorporated by a united topic "Safety of traffic".

The 1^st place was won by the team from Dnipropetrovs’k which was leaders during all stages. Winners have received a gift – a designer Pervorobot NXT (9797-Base set). The team from Zaporojie received the 2^nd one. The 3^rd one was won by the team from Chisinau. A prize for 2nd and 3rd places were the designers Pervorobot NXT (9648 Resource set).

All participants of Olympiad received diplomas and personal prizes (USB for 1 GB). Both participants of competitions and judges had a great pleasure from bright and dynamical competitions, shared valuable practical experience and hoped that this Olympiad will become annual for ORT schools.

First day was devoted to the teaching practice in initial school. Ah the end of the day the round table was organised within the frames of which teachers had a chance to share their instructional findings.

The second day was devoted to the ICT using in another subject teaching such as Maths, Geography, out-of-class and project activity.  Tutor of the program “Educating for Future” Susanna Hachatryan (ORT Technology Centre at the “Levi Yitzchak Schneerson’ Ohr Avner School” no. 144) told  about the practice-oriented methods of teaching Computer Literacy used in tutors’ work on this program.

During the third day of the seminar participants got acquainted with the general issues of Informatics teaching: Andrey Michurin (ORT Technology Lyceum by B.Herzel) “Recommendations on ICT using in teaching aids preparing”, Alyona Belomenova “NetMeeting on Informatics lessons” (ORT Technology Lyceum by B.Herzel), etc.   Afternoon the city tour for Chernigov was organised for the seminar’s participants.

The topic of the fourth day was the Web-design and Computer Graphics teaching practice. The last day was devoted to the using of Moodle facilities in teaching process. 

М.Buharkina (Senior Expert, R&D, ORT CIS)

Press-release

March 4, 2008, the opening ceremony of the ORT Technology Centres at the Jewish Agency for Israel in Belarus Republic took place.  

There were participated:

• Igor Gitelman, Head of Jewish Agency for Israel in Belarus 
• Gennady Akselrod, Envoy of Israel Ministry of Education
• Avi Ganon, World ORT Representative in Russia, Belarus and Central Asia
• Anatoly Greenberg, ORT Representative in Belarus
•  Frants Karziuk, Director ORT Technology Centre

The honorary right to unveil the plague and to cut the ribbon was delivered to Igor Gitelman, Head of Jewish Agency for Israel in Belarus and to Avi Ganon, World ORT Representative in Russia, Belarus and Central Asia.

So within the frames of opening the partner organisations discussed the further directions of future cooperation.

Also March 4, 2008 the opening ceremony of ORT Technology Centre at the Israeli cultural Centre took place.  

There were participated: 

•   Igal Koifman, First Secretary of the Embassy of the State of Israel in the Belarus Republic
• Natalia Koifman, Director of Israeli Cultural Centre
• Avi Ganon, World ORT Representative in Russia, Belarus and Central Asia
• Anatoly Greenberg, ORT Representative in Belarus
• Frants Karziuk, Director ORT Technology Centre

Igal Koifman, First Secretary of the Embassy of the State of Israel in the Belarus Republic and Avi Ganon, World ORT Representative in Russia, Belarus and Central Asia unveiled the plague.

March 5, 2008 there was the opening ceremony of the ORT Technology Centre at the JCC “Emunah”.

There were presented:

• Yoni Leifer, Head of American Jewish Distribution Committee “Joint” Representative Office in Belarus
• Sofia Filkova, Director of JCC “Emunah”
• Representative of Jewish Community of Atlanta
• Avi Ganon, World ORT Representative in Russia, Belarus and Central Asia
• Anatoly Greenberg, ORT Representative in Belarus
• Frants Karziuk, Director ORT Technology Centre

There were Carol Cooper, representative of Jewish Community of Atlanta and Avi Ganon, World ORT Representative in Russia, Belarus and Central Asia cutting the ribbon.

Also the opening ceremony of ORT Technology Centre at the Secondary School # 132 (ORT Bialik School) was held.

There were participated:

• Alla Garus, Principal of  the Secondary School # 132 (ORT Bialik School)
• Avi Ganon, World ORT Representative in Russia, Belarus and Central Asia
• Anatoly Greenberg, ORT Representative in Belarus
•  Frants Karziuk, Director ORT Technology Centre
• Miriam Milstein, Envoy of Israel Ministry of Education
• Teachers of the Secondary School # 132 (ORT Bialik School)

Alla Garus, Principal of  the Secondary School # 132 (ORT Bialik School), Avi Ganon, World ORT Representative in Russia, Belarus and Central Asia and Anatoly Greenberg, ORT Representative in Belarus participated at the solemn unveiling the plague and cutting the ribbon.

On March, 4, 2008 the Opening Ceremony of the HP-ORT "GET-IT" Centre on the basis of Moscow ORT Technology College took place.

The project is realized by Hewlett Packard jointly with World ORT within the frames of global НР program GET-IT (Graduate Entrepreneurship Training through IT) which provides training for emergent entrepreneurs on IT.

GET-IT (Graduate Entrepreneurship Training on IT) is part of HP´s global Microenterprise Development Program and is a training initiative for young or unemployed or graduates between the age of 16 and 25 in underserved communities with good economic growth potential.

Participating organisations received a grant that comprises a guidance course for the trainers of the organisation, the curriculum materials to be able to deliver the courses, as well as the technological devices needed to carry out this business-related training.

The objective of the new program is to advance the use of technology, to increase its access, to build the capacity for the use of information and communications technologies in the communities and to promote the development of Entrepreneurship and Microenterprise skills within communities.

There were participating:

• Owen Kemp, Vice President and Managing Director, HP Russia.
• Karel Vavruska, Business Development Director, HP
• Irina Efremova, Corporate Marketing Manager, HP Russia.
• Marina Tyschenko, Director on State Authorities and Public Organisations Communications, HP Russia
• Sergey Gorinskiy, Deputy Director of ORT CIS
• Yuriy Mironenko, Director of Moscow ORT Technology College
• Tamara Levykina,  Chair of Economic Department of Moscow ORT Technology College
• Igor Pavlov, Director of ORT VTC, Moscow
• Representatives of Ministry of Science and Education of Russian Federation and Department of Education of Moscow.
• Journalists
• Graduates of Moscow ORT Technology College
• Specialists of Moscow ORT Technology College and ORT VTC, Moscow

After the solemn ceremony, where the honorary right to unveil the memory plague and to cut the ribbon had been given to the representatives of the partner organizations: to Owen Kemp, Vice-President and Managing Director НР Russia, and to Sergey Gorinskiy, Deputy Director of ORT CIS, visitors were shown the elements of open lesson on business-planning for students of Economic Department.

Under the guidance of Tamara Levykina, Chair of Economic Department of Moscow ORT Technology College and using the equipment had been given by Hewlett Packard students demonstrated the elements of business-plan of a small photo studio development.

In his complimentary speech addressed to students Owen Kemp, Vice-President and Managing Director НР Russia gave a very high assessment of their knowledge and skills on entrepreneurship.

On February, 19th, 2008 sessions of section "National Traditions in Education and Development" within the frames of Workshop Conference "Building of the Intercultural Competence of School Students in a Context of Historical Development" passed at the "ORT-Mishpahteinu" School in Kazan. Section was opened by the Head of "ORT-Mishpahteinu" Olga Trupp. Pop-group "Sevivon" sang Jewish songs on Hebrew. There were some presentations demonstrated to the participants of the Conference. They visited Hebrew lessons and lessons on Jewish History and Traditions as well.

Semen Vainer, Irina Silaeva (Shemyakina)

In February, 2008 there was the presentation of the project of ORT Virtual School of Jewish education for disabled children organized at the Minsk ORT Technology Center for participants of the charitable program "Raduga" of Jewish Charity Organization "Hesed-Rachamim". Within the frames of demonstration of the provided by ORT Virtual School opportunities and first lessons of distance learning courses 18 more persons expressed their wish to take part in the project.

The project is carried out by ORT Russia in collaboration with State educational centre “Training Technologies” (under Moscow Department of Education) and non-commercial organization “Regional Center for Modeling of Activity of Schools with Jewish Ethno-Cultural Component of Education”.

For the moment 42 disabled children from Moscow (Russia) and Minsk (Byelorussia) are students of distance Jewish courses.

• Owen Kemp, vice-president of Hewlett-Packard, Director General of HP in Russia;
• Karel Vavruska, Director of Business Development in HP;
• Irina Efremova,  Corporate PR Manager of HP;
• Igor Labanov, HP Representative in Volga Region; 
• Avi Ganon, Director of World ORT Representation in CIS;
• Alexander Fradkov, Director ORT Samara;
• Svetlana Kosyreva, Principal, school #42;
• Samara Region Ministry and Science representatives;
• ORT Samara Center specialists, teachers and students of school #42.

ORT-KesherNet Computer Center in Volgograd was officially opened on the 29th of September 2002.

In 2007 in the Centre  started the second stage of the program for women on training computer literacy. In terms of this program the Center trained 570 individuals. Project ORT-Keshernet really helps middle-aged people to adjust to fluctuations of the labour market,  to become more independent in the financial  aspects of life. For women in their forties a program like KesherNet Project gives a chance to provide  essentials for their families.

On the 13th of December a new HP-ORT Computer Center was opened in the premises of the Tula Vocational Boarding School for  Deaf Students and Students with Special Needs #2 – the only educational institution of this kind in Russia.  New Center was started  in terms of the GET-IT Program designed  for new entrepreneurs. Cooperation between ORT,   Tula Vocational Boarding School for  Deaf Students #2 and Hewlett Packard Corporation brought this project to life. New set of notebooks and “T-Tools” courseware developed by HP expands the possibility of the Center giving students with special needs a possibility to obtain skills and knowledge for  finding jobs in small businesses. The opening ceremony was broadcast on local TV  "Vesti Тula"

 Officials present at the ceremony:

 During  last 60 years  thousands of students graduated from  School. It used to have more than 400 students who lived and attended classes there but now School has the budget and can house only 130. Now it is the only educational institution in Russia focused on children with specials needs from low income socially underserved families.    Students are provided with free  meals, accommodation, medical service, psychological support. Experienced tutors train them carefully into the professions of metal workers, shoemakers, tailors. And now they will have a chance to become ICT specialists. "Kids who hear only silence deserve to communicate with their peers around the world", said A.Ustiniv.

GET-IT is part of HP's global Microenterprise Development Program and is a training initiative for young or unemployed or graduates between the age of 16 and 25 in underserved communities with good economic growth potential.

Participating organizations receive a grant that comprises a guidance course for the trainers of the organization, the curriculum materials to be able to deliver the courses, as well as the technological devices needed to carry out this business-related training.  

The objective of the new program is to advance the use of technology, to increase its access, to build the capacity for the use of information and communications technologies in the communities and to promote the development of Entrepreneurship and Microenterprise skills within underserved communities.

Photo description: Sergey Gorinskiy, Owen Kemp, Alexander Ustinov are on tour in school museum. 

It was for the second year that students of ORT school #550 (ORT-Gunsburg Project) took part in  the World Robot Olympiad as a part of all-Russian team, which is already a success for the young students from middle school. During the period of 17-18 September  2007 four school mates Egor Suvorov, Sergey Vlasov, Bogdan Onischuk and Boris Sanin  headed by their Computer Science teacher  Sergey Filippov participated in the World Robot Olympiad that took place in Taipei of Taiwan this year. Our brave  teenagers competed with teams from 18 countries. 

The action took place on 12 battlegrounds. The total number of  contest participants  reached the figure of 116 people. All-Russian team participated in three categories:  primary, secondary and high school  divisions. 

Opportunities are relatively thin on the ground in the small towns of Rybnitsa and Beltsy, less than two hours from the Moldovan capital of Kishinev.

Moldova is one of the poorest countries in Europe with a GDP per capita of $2,000 and nearly one-third of the population living below the poverty line. For the 3,000 Jews who live in and around Rybnitsa and Beltsy, it can be difficult to find decently paid, stable employment.

Both Rybnitsa and Beltsy received computers from the JDC but did not have sufficient local expertise to exploit them fully. World ORT, which has unparalleled experience in delivering career-oriented training in the region, has, therefore, provided curricula and course materials as well as the vital link to the hub of the programme at the Jack Lawson VTC in Moscow.

Following completion of a course, trainees sit an on-line exam set by experts in Moscow, passing of which entitles graduates to a prestigious ORT Moldova certificate.

 On November 22, 2007 new GET-IT training centre was officially opened in Tambov, Russia. This is the result of cooperation between World ORT, Hewlett-Packard, Microenterprise Acceleration Institute and Project Kesher.

GET-IT (Graduate Entrepreneurship Training on IT) is part of HP´s global Microenterprise Development Program and is a training initiative for young or unemployed or graduates between the age of 16 and 25 in underserved communities with good economic growth potential. Participating organisations will receive a grant that comprises a guidance course for the trainers of the organisation, the curriculum materials to be able to deliver the courses, as well as the technological devices needed to carry out this business-related training.   

 Founded in 1989, Project Kesher one of the fastest growing women's advocacy and human rights organizations in CIS.  Project Kesher in Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Byelorussia and Kazakhstan currently has women's groups in 155+ communities and multi-faith/multi-national women's coalitions in 80+ of those communities.
ORT-KesherNet, a joint project of World ORT and Project Kesher is improving the economic conditions of its graduates. The project has established a network of 15 ORT-KesherNet computer centres to provide professional retraining in IT (information technology) with the aim of creating new employment opportunities for unemployed and underemployed women in the CIS. In addition to job skills, these centres provide women with personal support, introductory leadership trainings and job placement services.

Irina,  43 y.o.,  beginning enterpriser:
Irina came to Tambov to visit with her sister after very difficult divorce with her husband, loss of home and job and complications in  relationship with her son.  She seemed to be totally broken and there is nothing to hope for. Nevertheless her close and relatives helped her to overcome all the hardships and she tried herself in a completely different area – design and tailoring of the curtains. Her curtains looked nice and people liked them. First clients showed up and many asked her to design the entire room. Irina realized that she needed the help of the software specialist.  But this service was too expensive for the business on a start-up and she decided to learn to use professional software for interior design herself.  She signed up to an ICT Literacy course and had bought a new PC. Irina plans to proceed with studying new software after she finished the course.
 

Press release.