, in which all students, their parents, teachers, former students and many others take part. The students of the fourth forms star here. Our ball is very much alike American "Prom" you might know from American TV serials, except our prom is not after but before the school-leaving exams. Each fourth former is decorated with a sash, there are some toasts and speeches, a solo for students and their form teacher. The graduates to be also get some money. Sometimes quite a lot. 
But they must struggle for it. The visitors standing on the balconies are throwing down coins , students pick them up (usually sweep them with brooms or catch them into large sheets) Sometimes it is quite a fight , because there are three classes on the parquet Careless students are sometimes hit by a flying coin but nobody has ever been seriously injured or even killed and so the tradition goes on. The collected money is used to cover the expenses of the big party, which is held immediately after the exams. The party is less formal and more relaxed than the ball. The photos show both the ball and the party. Guess which is which. How do you celebrate your exams ?
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Another special event (though regular) are the graduation (school-leaving, final) exams which are held at the |
end of May and the beginning of June. A special commission lead by a teacher from another school examine students in four subjects, two of which are given (compulsory), two are optional, selected by the students according to their interests or needs. So for example a student from a chemistry form has to take exams in Czech language and his major chemistry subject and further he can choose another chemistry subject and the fourth exam can be in mathematics, physics or a foreign language. Some subjects are written and oral, some are only oral. A student must cope with all four exams in a day. If anybody fails ( a poor fellow !) and it happens quite often he/she has two more opportunities to sit for the exams in the following months.
Exam fever |
 Everything is O.K. Both sides are satisfied |
 Under the fire |
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When the graduation exams are over, the best graduates of the year are awarded by the headmaster. Their names will be remembered for ever. |
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During the school year there are also some popular extra-curricular activities such as cycling and rafting weekends for ardent outdoor sportsmen. 
Visits to the theatres, concerts or exhibitions are organized several times a year. 
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In 1998 a trip to pre-Xmas London was realized. 
Every year in June pupils go on trips all around the country. |
One week before the exams start students stay at home and work hard to pass . On the last day of their stay at school there is a tradition which is called "The Last Bell". The parting fourth formers always prepare some student jokes, they sing and drink and are dressed in eccentric clothes. Not much school work is done on such a day. It is a good-bye day and everyone is in a good mood.
At the famous royal castle Křivoklát. |
In front of the second largest cathedral in our country in Kutná Hora.
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 Our classmate is trying to work in the oldest glassworks. | |
| Twice a year the so called Sport Days are organized. In the autumn football and volleyball matches, in June track and field competitions | |
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Non-sporting students prefer another activity . The tournament in Scrabble.
In winter first-formers go skiing to the mountains. |
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Senior students (third form) go on field trips and work in factories, laboratories and research institutes for two weeks in June to get some practical knowledge and skills.
 Waterworks |
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We are involved in the international programmes GLOBE and SOCRATES. First meeting in Prague, December 1997 |
 First meeting in Prague, December 1997. |
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We have also had long-term links with Starkenburg Gymnasium in Heppenheim (Germany) and regular exchanges occur between our schools. | |
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