The premises of the Jaunpiebalga Music and Art School were full of people. The parish seniors responded to the invitation to stay at the school, see how and what the children learn, listen to the students’ concert.
Director Aija Sila and her associates came up with the idea of inviting seniors when considering how to encourage new residents to work together. “Seniors have free time, their own opinion about what should be done in the parish, what is necessary. They are ready to act,” says A. Sila and adds that the years of the pandemic have alienated people, in order for them to come together again, everyone must be personally addressed and interested.
The Jaunpiebalga School of Music and Art has been operating in the renovated building since 2015. Everyone had a chance to see it at the opening, and also a few more times. However, every year something changes and is added, so you can always see something new here.
“I am in the school building for the first time. I remember it as a doctorate, there was also an ambulance, two more apartments upstairs. I can’t even say where what was then, everything is different now,” reveals Maija Kažociņa and emphasizes: “So that the children learn, everything is provided here. Beautiful building and facilities. My children were still studying in the old school, which was set up in a former kindergarten.”
Ida Bērziņa, having walked around the premises, also admits that it is difficult to understand what used to be where. “It’s spacious, cozy here. I remember how we came here to Dr. Rasma Salmiņa, who lived on the first floor. She taught us white jobs,” says the new resident.
Aija Balode expressed her admiration for how an old house could be remodeled so well: “Besides, it’s the most beautiful building, I can finally see the rooms.” But Anita Zariņa emphasized that she has been to the school several times and there is always something new and different.
Seniors who visited the Jaunpiebalga Music and Art School for the first time called it both the Jaunpiebalga light palace and the old building with miracles. More than one reminded how important it is for the school to have an aesthetic environment where children like to stay. “I have paid taxes all my life. This is my first time at school and I can see where my taxes have been spent,” Valda Spolīte is pleased.
The former director of the Jaunpiebalga Music School, Sarma Petrovska, revealed that she would really like to stay in the old building of the music school, now in a private house. She remembered that when the school opened in the kindergarten building, the kindergarten staff came and marveled at how the premises had transformed.
“A lot changes over the years. We accept it, get used to it. But the memories remain,” says S. Petrovska.
Not a single senior watched carefully how the children drew in class, some were interested in whether adults were also active in the school. Everyone who wanted could try a job: make a ring for himself, sit at the loom.
After the resounding concert, where wind instruments, violinists and also the vocal ensemble “Žagariņi” and the individual performers showed their skills, Cēsi council member Laimis Šāvės told the seniors why local residents should become more active themselves, form interest groups, and what opportunities this opens up. Dace Bišere-Valdemiere, head of the administration of the Jaunpiebalga association, told everyone how to contact the administration, how to solve everyday problems.
“We live in Jaunpiebalga, each of us must answer the question of what we need, not me. Every initiative and opinion is important,” said A. Sila and was pleased with the visit of half a hundred seniors to the school. Years ago, the pensioners’ club “Harmonija” was active in the parish, a meeting at the School of Music and Art encouraged them to come together again, to get involved in shaping the public life of the parish.
“Only we can create and improve our everyday life in the parish. It is necessary to undertake to do. The more clusters of different interests there are, where opinions and ideas are exchanged, the stronger our community will be. Today and tomorrow of Jaunpiebalga will not be created by others,” reminded A. Sila.
While enjoying the nice afternoon and the treat of like-minded community members, the school building was filled with the songs sung by the seniors, laughter, memories, and on the way home, it was repeatedly said: “So how long can you sit at home? See you!”
In order to identify the needs of the residents of Jaunpiebalga and the possible solutions to the problems, the members of the Jaunpiebalga Community Development Association conduct a survey of residents, which also includes questions about what goods, services, cultural events are missing in Jaunpiebalga, which should be improved, developed or implemented (in terms of improvement, lifelong learning, healthy lifestyle, availability of information, etc.).
“Short-term goals are necessary, but the future is built in the long term. Our foundation is the one invested by previous generations. We will not leave an empty space,” A. Sila assured.
2023-04-29 00:00:13
#school #ready #work