Lord Byron School (Gyumri)

Infobox School
name = Lord Byron School #20
native_name = (Lang-hy|Լորդ Բայրոնի անվան թիվ 20 միջնակարգ դպրոց )

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city = Gyumri
province = Shirak
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country = Armenia
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specialist = English
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head_label = Head (since 1992)
head = Grigor J. Harutunyan
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opened = 1990
founded = 1950
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Lord Byron School #20 (Lang-hy|Լորդ Բայրոնի անվան թիվ 20 միջնակարգ դպրոց ) was founded in 1988 in Gyumri (formerly Leninakan) following the Spitak earthquake that devastated the city, by funds provided by the British Government as well as donations raised by the British people. A carved stone cross called a Khatchkar was placed in a British school by the Armenian government in thanks for the rebuilding of this school following the 1988 earthquake. [http://www.stmarytoronto.com/html/eng_britankhatchkar.htm Hucknall - the only two khatchkar town in Western Europe] , St Mary Armenian Church, Toronto, accessed 25 September 2008]

History

The school was originally built in 1950 and was named after the Armenian playwright Gabriel Soundukyan. [http://gyumri20.schools.am/history.htm History of Gyumri 20 School] ] The 1988 earthquake not only devastated buildings but the people as well. The quake occurred at 11:41 local time when most people were either at work or at school. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/december/10/newsid_2544000/2544077.stm On This Day] , BBC, accessed 30 September 2008]

Unusually the Soviet premier Mikhail Gorbachev asked for international assistance from the world in general. Despite this the media did criticise the government for having no contingency plans in place. The final death toll from the quake was 25,000 and the school lost over 40 students and staff.

The school was opened by then United Kingdom Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher on 10 June 1990 on her first trip to the Soviet Union. [http://www.armenianembassy.org.uk/armenia-uk-bilateral.htm Armenian Embassy] , accessed 30 September 2008] Since then there has been support from Armenians living abroad. A new boiler-house was constructed and a playground were paid for by the Armenian General Benevolent Union. [http://www.agbu.am/index.php?p=agbuarm Armenian General Benevolent Union] , accessed 30 September 2008]

After the building a partnership was established between Lord Byron School and a school near to Byron's resting place near Nottingham. As a symbol of thanks the government arranged for a khatchkar (traditional Armenian carved stone cross) to be placed in the British school's playground.

Layout

The design for the school was made by British architects. In fact not only was the design British but all the materials and the furniture and all the labour required to construct the school was exported from the United Kingdom. There are basically six low rise buildings and each of them was assigned a role. The six buildings were arranged in a two by three grid and the main entrance approached one of the two central buildings. Behing the central building was the craft and dining building. To the left of the administration building was a primary building and behind that a gym. To the right was a building for language study and behind that a combined building for maths and science. [http://gyumri20.schools.am/images/maket3.jpgLayout of the school] , before 1992, accessed 30 September 2008]

Curriculum

From the outset the Lord Byron school had a building dedicated to the study of languages and the school specializes in the study of English in particular. Since the school has been formed however the school is also known for its use of computers and for its access to the Internet.

Every January 22nd the school celebrates Byron Day.

Partnerships

*Canajoharie Central School, Canajoharie, New York [ [http://www.projectharmony.org/scp/partnerships/2005-2006/ASCP/WCrankshaw/index.html Project Harmony] , accessed 30 September 2008]
*Holgate School near Nottingham. This partnership arose because of Lord Byron. He was a famous British poet who had shown an affection for Armenian culture when he was a guest of the Mekhitarist Order in Saint Lazarus Island, Venice. A partnership was formed between Lord Byron School and Holgate School, another secondary school which was close to Byron's final resting place in Hucknall [http://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/your/Deep-admiration-for-the-late.4346608.jp Obituary] , Hucknall Dispatch, accessed 30 September 2008]

References