Author: Infojuht

From 8 to 12 December, our school hosted expromt concerts. Each class had the opportunity to step on stage and perform their own song.The performances were truly varied: from calm lyrical compositions to bright and exciting numbers. Some classes made costumes, others added dance elements to the song – giving each performance its own character and mood.

Improvised concerts filled the school with a warm and creative atmosphere. We thank all the performers and their class teachers for their contribution to creating a festive atmosphere and bringing a real New Year spirit to the school.

Yevgenia Zovmer

This week saw a rather unexpected exchange of New Year greetings between TTRK students and students from Kharkiv School for Children with Special Needs No 12. It all started when former Kharkiv resident Anželika Ibrahimova, who now lives in Lithuania, took part in an Erasmus+ education project in October 2025, where she got to know a project participant from Estonia – TTRK teacher Igor Kalakauskas. On the eve of New Year and Christmas, Anželika appealed to everyone she had met in Tallinn (representatives of seven countries) to support the students of this school.

Those who have been following the situation regarding Russia’s attack on Ukraine know that almost every night there are rocket and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities. The city of Kharkiv, just thirty kilometres from the Russian border, is no exception. School No. 12 was attacked by Russia in July 2022, and the building suffered significant damage as a result of that bombing, as well as subsequent attacks. This did not, however, prevent the school, which, incidentally, is attended by visually impaired children, from functioning.

In addition, Anželika Ibrahimova is the founder and leader of Asteriks, a Kharkiv-based youth volunteering organisation for high school and university students. The members of “Asterix” help children with disabilities in boarding schools in Kharkiv and the region. Special School No. 12 is one of the boarding schools whose students were unable to evacuate, many staying in the city on the frontline.

Igor Kalakauskas, with the support of 3rd grade teachers Alla Vares, Olesya Ofitserova and Ella Polovinchyuk, recorded a New Year’s Eve performance by TTRK 3rd grade students for the 3rd and 4th graders of Kharkiv School on 4 December. This video clip was published on Youtube and a link was sent to Ukraine. 8. On 5 December, those who were approached by our Year 3 students (and these were personal appeals to each of the 15 students) saw the video and couldn’t help but respond. 9. On 1 December, TTRK students saw a video map of Kharkov sent in response.

For ethical reasons, we do not consider it appropriate to provide a direct link to both videos, but only provide screenshots. However, we feel it is necessary to note that the spontaneous exchange of congratulations was intended to create what is commonly referred to as empathy in Estonian schoolchildren. We know that many of those who watched these videos could not hold back tears – so sincere were the children’s emotions in these videos.

We are all familiar, to one degree or another, with the horrors of a war that has been going on for almost four years. But we often forget that it did not only affect the military, but also ordinary people. It hit children particularly hard, who lost loved ones and were forced to leave their homes. In our school, children of Ukrainian refugees are enrolled in almost every class. Therefore, the story of this video exchange can be seen as a lesson in humanity.

We would like to express our gratitude not only to the teachers and students of TTRK, but also to the parents of our students who helped the children to find the right words.

On the 9th of December, a group of several dozen 5th-8th graders, together with four teachers and three parents, made an unforgettable field trip to the Finnish capital Helsinki. The whole expedition was organised by history teacher Igor Kalakauskas.

To go to Helsinki is to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of modern European culture with its unique architecture. The young excursionists saw the famous cathedral in Senate Square, the unusual monument to the composer Jean Sibelius and the rock-cut Temple Church, and visited a Christmas market. Each sight was a vivid illustration of history, geography, music and art lessons.

One of the most memorable and “tasty” moments of the programme was the visit to the guest centre of the world-famous company Fazer. Here, theory met practice in the sweetest way! The young people not only learned about the history of the legendary Finnish brand, but also got a closer look at the process of creating masterpieces of confectionery. The visit culminated in a tasting session, where everyone could appreciate the subtle flavours of chocolate, the variety of caramel and even try traditional Finnish liquorice. The pleasure was boundless!

But there was no need to be bored on the way back. Igor Kalakauskas had prepared a quiz on Finnish history and customs for the young travellers. The youngsters recalled the names of the country’s prominent historical figures, important dates and events, actively competing in their erudition. It was a great way to consolidate the new knowledge acquired during the day.

Photo by Inna Rüü, Maria Leosk, Irma Grigorjeva, Igor Kalakauskas

236. The school’s birthday was a lively and energetic day. The week of celebrations started on 18 November during third period with a quiz prepared by Igor Kalakauskas. Each class had the opportunity to participate and test their knowledge of the school.

On 20 November, during the second half of the lesson, we watched a film made by students from Years 8 and 9 . The videos were random questions for teachers to answer, and the students wished the school and teachers all the best – success, new achievements, victories and curious students. It was a heartfelt moment shared by students from different grades. After the third lesson, there was a dance break which, as always, put everyone in a positive mood.

On 21 November, concerts of the “Brassical” ensemble took place. Three concerts were held at the school, each one unique, and each student enjoyed the performance. The concerts added to the festivities of the day, bringing the school family together and providing unforgettable emotions for all. We sang, danced and laughed together. On the same day, three musical quizzes took place on the first floor during the third to fifth periods – sometimes we guessed the song immediately , sometimes we sang the melody with the whole group to remember the name of the song. The school was decorated for the birthday: several photo walls were installed, our “Wishing Tree” came to life, with wishes appearing on its branches – good, funny, short and very heartfelt. It was a pleasure to see how everyone found a way to leave a little wish for the school and to share what our school values. Congratulations TTRK!

On 18 November, TTRK hosted a quiz dedicated to the school’s birthday, which is celebrated this Friday, although it is actually on 24 November. The questions for the quiz were prepared by Igor Kalakauskas, History and Social Studies teacher.

Similar quizzes dedicated to the school’s anniversary have been organised at the school for more than a decade. But the number of participants – 516 – is a record. The record can be explained by the fact that this year the quiz decided to use a different format: in the third lesson, almost all the students and even one teacher – Lyubov Syrtlanova – answered the questions (she scored 20 out of 18 points).

This year, students had the opportunity to answer in both Russian and Estonian. Admittedly, three classes dropped out of the competition, but six students in class 10 C managed to answer all the questions correctly, which is a phenomenal result in itself – one can only admire such an immersion in school life and its history. Prizes will be awarded to the most successful participants shortly. Thank you to everyone for taking part!

Men’s Day was held at our school on 19 November. The PE and Maths departments prepared an exciting series of activities for the students. The students did chin-ups, pressed a lever while lying down, threw balls in a basketball hoop, took part in a quiz with Kahoot and showed good mental arithmetic skills.

Thanks to Oleg Zaharov, Viktoria Podgornõh and Jelena Korju for organising and running the sports and knowledge-based activities, and to all the students who found the opportunity and the desire to take part in the event.

On 20 November, a recognition ceremony was held in the school hall. The best results were marked with mementos and a well-deserved round of applause.

Yevgenia Zovmer

How to distinguish truth from falsehood in the never-ending news feed? Who creates and publishes fake news and why? These questions, more topical than ever, were the central theme of a field trip to the Museum of Freedom, conducted on 20 November by history teacher Igor Kalakauskas for three eighth-grade students from our school.

For the students, this was in many ways their first exposure to the complex world of information warfare and manipulation. For it is not until the next year, in ninth grade, that they will begin to explore in depth the events of the 20th century, which have been largely shaped by today’s media and propaganda tools. This excursion was an important preliminary step, allowing them to take a look behind the scenes of history and to understand the mechanisms that influence our consciousness today.In the framework of the educational project “Strategies of misinformation through the generations”, Nikolai Ostašov, the museum’s guide, offered the eighth-graders not just a lecture, but a lively and active dialogue. Together with the guide, the children observed how technologies – from radio and television to the internet and social media – have changed the way propaganda and disinformation are spread over the last hundred years.

Of particular interest was the discussion on how the same fake news could be understood differently by our grandmothers, grandfathers and today’s teenagers. Students reflected on the ethical side of manipulation and the importance of maintaining critical thinking in order to appreciate and defend fragile concepts such as national sovereignty and democratic freedoms.

An important part of the visit was a practical lesson: guests were not just given permission, but offered the chance to use their smartphones! Guided by a museum educator, they learned a simple but very effective strategy for analysing information. In the future, this practical tool could help to check the credibility of sources, recognise the tricks of fake news creators and identify deepfakes – highly realistic videos created using artificial intelligence.

The tour became not just a history lesson, but a real training in digital literacy and media hygiene. One would like to believe that the knowledge and skills acquired will become a trusted shield for our students in today’s information landscape, helping them to be not just consumers of information, but literate and responsible evaluators of it.

On 12 November, the 4th floor celebrated St. Martin’s Day. Mardipäev is a holiday in the Estonian national calendar. The children and teachers were able to experience the authentic, fun and lively atmosphere of Mardtmas. Folk dancing, singing, puzzles, sweets, smiles and humour are the keywords of today’s event. Thank you to the lovely Beardies (2.b and 2.a) for cheering us up and introducing us to the traditions of the festive day, and a big thank you to the “hosts” (1.a, 1.c, 2.a) for their warm welcome and very active participation!

Mart throws in a seedcorn,
in front of the stove an eggcorn,
in the back corner a dovecorn,
in the four corners a maidencorn,
on the floor a boycorn.

Children are looking forward to Kadri Day and the Kadri Run!

On Wednesday, 12 November, our 11th grade students visited the Tallinn Mines Harbour Fortress together with teacher Tiit Terik as part of a lesson on national defence. Almost 300 students of national defence studies were given an overview of the various opportunities for service in the navy.

“So that young people can see with their own eyes, touch with their own hands and hear with their own ears, we invite them to visit us. In this way, personal connections are made and knowledge is gained, which can be used as a basis for making a well-considered decision about the future,” said Lieutenant Aleksander Espenberg.

Students boarded minesweepers and patrol boats, tried on coastguard equipment, learned about the activities of the Tucson service and combat service, and got an insight into military service.

“The most exciting thing was the visit to the ship – I saw the armament and even the grill on board, and learned that conscripts can also become cooks,” he said. Mia Kertu Zujev from Tallinn 21st School shared her impressions.

The Navy organises open days twice a year, mainly in spring and autumn.

Yevgenia Zovmer

On November 15, the dance ensemble Neposedõ participated in the celebration of the 8th birthday of the Estonian Dance Education Association, which brought together the dance education community from all over Estonia. During the day there was a dance education conference and a gala performance, where over 200 dancers from 20 dance schools and studios took to the stage.

Our dancers were part of the production “Well done, well done – whether alone, in pairs or in a group”, written and directed by Yuri Näel. The gala production is a collaborative project with CPPM postgraduate students focusing on the process of young people creating together.

During October and November, our dancers worked with choreographers Edward Skaines (Australia) and Juuli Hyttinen (Finland) and our partners Polly Dance Theatre – exploring, researching and creating together. The result of this collaboration was presented on stage in a gala performance.

The production was performed by our dancers Milana Nikolaeva, Anna Lõssenko, Sofia Troitskaya, Elina Kuznets, Kristina Kitter, Inesa Kriščiunaite, Katrina Kitter, Amelia Baranova, Sofia Pokatilova and Darja Konovalova.

Neposedõ is proud to have been part of this inspiring event and thanks its dancers for their energy, talent and openness to new experiences!

Liina Baranova