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Russian Teacher Finds Our Classes "Relaxed"

Nadezhda "Nadya" Perepoylkina poses with Readfield fifth graders who hold items she brought from Russia. Nadya met teacher Mary Ellen Miner four years ago on Miner's trip to Russia as part of the Waterville/Kotlas Sister City exchange. Miner said seeing and tasting the Atlantic Ocean was Nadya's biggest thrill during her 11 day visit, as she had never before seen an ocean. Click the photo to enlarge it.

By Mary Ellen Miner

In March, Manchester, Readfield and Wayne elementary students enjoyed a visit from Nadezhda Perepoylkina, who teaches English at Arkhangelsk Medical College in Russia. Nadya was in the U.S. for 11 days under the Waterville, Maine/Kotlas, Russia sister city exchange program. Nadya spoke and sang to our students, shared Russian art and home items, and taught students to make Russian rag dolls.

Nadya said teachers and students in Union 42 are friendly, kind people who are always ready to explain and help. She found our classes small, relaxed and comfortable, without the strict discipline and stress common in Russian schools. She especially admired the numerous art exhibits in our halls, the brightly decorated classrooms and the wide variety of materials and equipment available to teachers.

This article and photograph originally appeared in the April 2007 edition of Chalkboard, the newsletter of the Maranacook Area School System. They are used here by permission of the author, a part-time teacher of gifted and talented students in grades K-5 in Manchester, Readfield, and Wayne, Me. Mary Ellen was Nadya's host during her visit.

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