THE HISTORY OF OUR SCHOOL

1866 - The first schoolhouse was built in Zagórnik. It was sponsored by the local administration of a commune council. The school was situated next to the village castle and consisted of one classroom. Józef Nowak was the first teacher. The school was a branch of a bigger institution in Inwałd.

1884/85 - An independent coeducational school was formed. It consisted of about one hundred pupils.

1909 - It was decided to build a new schoolhouse as the number of pupils increased to 170. The corner-stone was consecrated by Józef Caputa, a priest from Inwałd. The new building consisted of two classrooms and a flat for a headmaster.

1914-18 - During the First World War the school was incessantly opened. The level of learning decreased because of the low frequency of pupils.

1918/19 - During the teachers' meeting inaugurating the first day of a school year a new task was assigned: how not only to teach but also to bring up children.

1924/25 - School Superintendent's Office in Kraków transformed the school in four-class institution.

1935/36 - Parents' commitee was founded as well as Pupils' Government. Pupils prepared six performances; proceeds were used for school aims.

1939/40 - Because of the Second World War a new school year started on 9th October.

1940-44 - During the Nazi occupation the school worked at intervals, which lasted even a few months. At that time teachers taught basic skills such as reading and writing. The Nazi Army destroyed the library, books and other school equipment. After the war it turned out that some books had been hidden by the inhabitants of Zagórnik. The school consisted of 230 pupils, who were not only from Zagórnik but also from Andrychów and its neighbourhood.

1945 - A few days after the liberation, on 10th February 1945, the school was reopened. All the classrooms as well as the old schoolhouse situated next to the chapel were redecorated.

1950/51 - On the occassion of the month of Polish-Russian friendship the school was given a radio set "Pionier". On 8th March the pupils prepared a performance entitled "Kate's Wedding" which was shown to the village inhabitants.

1955/56 - Pupils took part in the action of pulling up weeds and helped in potato lifting on a collective farm "Konstytucja" in Zagórnik.

1958/59 - Proceeds from the school performances were appropriated for buying a TV set.

1966/67 - A decision to build a new school was made.

1968/69 - The first truck of air bricks was delivered to the building site of a new school.

1969/70 - The building of our new school was being built. The works were carried out by a company from Wadowice. Parents' committee organized a New Year's Eve Party. Its income was appropriated for building a roadway to school and a fence round the building.

1970/71 - The school building was completed. Teachers, parents and pupils cleaned up, furnished and arranged the classrooms. In August the Minister of Education Wit Drapich had a meeting with teachers. On 1st September 1970 pupils started classes in a new schoolhouse.

1975/76 - Teacher's House was opened by a school superintendent Zdzisław Rabicki. Parents' Committee made a fence round the building.

1981/82 - Schools started working for 5 days a week with free Saturdays. Changing situation in politics had an influence on schools.

1986/87 - The first computer was sponsored by Village Youth Union at Mr Marek Sławik's suggestion.

1989/90 - A ceremony of giving the name of Ludwik Zamenhof to our school was in preparation. Proceeds from New Year's Eve Party were appropriated for buying a standard. A commemorating plate was designed by a school graduate Janusz Smaza. Voluntary pupils were taught Esperanto. The ceremony of giving the name to school took place on 3rd June.

1990/91 - Religious education was introduced in schools. Two new marks were introduced as an assessment of pupils' work. A wire broadcasting centre was opened at school. For the first time the school celebrated the Patron's Day. Different kind of competitions were organized. Pupils had an opportunity to check their knowledge about Ludwik Zamenhof and Esperanto. Esperanto was taught by Mrs Maria Matejko.

1993/94 - The Town Council of Andrychów started financing school. English was introduced as a school subject.

1997/98 - On 3rd October 1997 the school was visited by a bishop Janusz Zimniak. Class 6 went out to take part in "green school' in Porąbka.

1998/99 - Preparations for introducing a new educational reform were in progress. The Town Council of Andrychów decided to devide the existing school into a primary school and a gymnasium. In May pupils from class 8 wrote special competence tests in Polish and Maths, which results were to enable them to go to secondary schools. At the end of the school year some of the pupils were conferred a title of a "Pattern Pupil".

1999/2000 - An educational reform was introduced with forming both the primary school and the gymnasium. In September class 4 went out to take part in a "green school" in Kołobrzeg.