ALA rīko skolotāju konferenci Vašingtonā

Amanda Jātniece | 

No 6. līdz 8. martam Vašingtonas ev. lut. draudzes skolas telpās Merilandē notiks ikgadējā Amerikas latviešu apvienības (ALA) Izglītības nozares skolotāju konference.

Aicinājums uz konferenci skan šādi: “Gaidām skolotājus, kā arī bērnu vecākus no visām ASV latviešu skolām, lai kopīgi varam pārrunāt mērķus, programmas un metodiku, un lai iepazītos ar mūsu kolēģiem citās skolās!”

Vašingtonas skolas skolotāji piedāvā naktsmājas saviem kolēģiem no citiem štatiem, kā arī transportu uz un no lidostām. Skolas saime arī gādās par maltītēm. Skolotājiem, kas piedalīsies konferencē, uzdota mājas darbu lapa ar lūgumu līdzi paņemt savas skolas tukšu skolnieku liecības lapu un no savas klases vienu stundu plānu, ieskaitot papildus materiālus, kurus domāts lietot uzdevuma izpildīšanai. Dienas kārtība paredzēta sekojoša:

6. martā (piektdienas vakarā)

  • Iepazīšanās vakars no 7:30-10.00.

7. martā (sestdien)

  • 8:30-9:00 Kafija.
  • 9:00-10:30 Čikāgas pilnā laika latviešu pirmskolas “Stariņš” vadītājas Gintas Kārkliņas priekšlasījums par latviešu valodas veidošanu un veicināšanu pirmskolas vecuma bērnos.
  • 10:30-10:45 Prāta atsvaidzināšana: ātra pastaiga.
  • 11:00-12.15 Pārrunas skolotāju puduriņos – sadalāmies grupiņās pa mācību vecumiem un/vai priekšmetiem.
  • 12:30-1:00 Pusdienas.
  • 1:15-1:45 Pārskats un pārrunas par ALAs mācību programmu.
  • 1:45-3:00 Mančesteras latviešu skolas pārzines Daces Micānes-Zālītes priekšlasījums par folkloras programmas izveidošanu un ietilpināšanu latviski un angliski runājošo klasēs.
  • 3:00-3:15 Prāta atsvaidzināšana: ātra pastaiga.
  • 3:30-5:15 “Liecības un līmeņi” – ko sagaidām, ko un kā vērtējam. Lūdzam no katras skolas vienam dalībniekam pasniegt īsu pārskatu par savas skolas liecību un atzīmju polisi. Būsim gatavi arī pārrunāt, kā sadalām klases, un pēc kādiem standartiem vērtējam skolnieku sekmes.
  • 5:15-6:00 Otrais puduriņš: sanākam atkal pa grupām un turpinām sarunas, balstoties uz pēcpusdienā pārrunātiem tematiem.
  • 6:15 Vakariņas
  • Pēc vakariņām lasīšanas akcijas skolās un 2009. gada lasīšanas akcija pieaugušajiem. Pārrunas par to, kas katrā skolā sekmējies ar lasīšanas projektiem; kāpēc veicinām lasīšanas akciju pieaugušajiem. ALAs Apgāda grāmatu galda apskate un saviesīgs vakars.

8. martā (svētdienas rītā)

  • 9:15 Kafija. Seko Vašingtonas skolas apskate un tikšanās ar klasēm un vecākiem.
  • 11:00 Dievkalpojums māc. Anitas Vārsbergas Pāžas vadībā.
  • Ap 12:15 Noslēgums.

Sīkākai informācijai, un lai pieteiktos skolotāju semināram, lūdzu sazināties ar Vašingtonas skolas pārzini Dainu Block, BlockdainA@aol.com vai +1 (301) 260-1958.

Yin and yang unite in Zigrīdas kalpi

Daina Grosa | 

The recent fusion of two groups with youthful Australian Latvian musical talent has resulted in a new sound: Zigrīdas kalpi.

First there was Zigrīda ansamblis, a female kokle ensemble from Brisbane with a fresh approach to the ancient Latvian zither. A few years later in 2006 a group of Aussie-Latvian guys started creating their own original sound in Adelaide and the result was Kalna kalpi.

Says group member Tija Lodiņa of the synergy of the new configuration: “Zigrīda and Kalna kalpi play quite different music. KK have a very traditional, almost a pagan-meets-karavīru-dziesmas, whereas Zigrīda is more post-folk with world music influences. I think that what we bring to the table as individuals is amplified exponentially when we are together—we bounce ideas off each other, take small ideas and run with them until they become something big. And what keeps us going is a shared passion for creating music that we enjoy listening to.”

Zigrīdas kalpi’s first public performance came during the 52nd Latvian Arts Festival (Austrālijas latviešu Kultūras dienas) in Sydney at the end of December, a concert that was well received by the audience. Plans for the group include a performance at the National Folk Festival in Canberra from April 9-13. The festival is also scheduled to be the venue for the release of the combined group’s first compact disc.

Regarding other plans, Lodiņa continues: “We are all excited about the future, but are also realistic about what we can achieve with the restrictions we have, like day jobs, tertiary study and the fact that we live in different states. All of us feel that Zigrīdas kalpi is something really special to be a part of right now. If other opportunities present themselves we will definitely look at them as a group. If nothing else comes up, the ride—already—has been more than worth it.”

More information about Zigrīda ansamblis is available on the band’s Web site, while some details about Kalni kalpi may be found on the group’s MySpace page.

Daina Gross is editor of Latvians Online. An Australian-Latvian she is also a migration researcher at the University of Latvia, PhD from the University of Sussex, formerly a member of the board of the World Federation of Free Latvians, author and translator/ editor/ proofreader from Latvian into English of an eclectic mix of publications of different genres.

Latvia’s ice hockey team qualifies for Olympics

Andris Straumanis | 

Latvia’s ice hockey team, which in the past few days won all three of its qualification round games in Rīga, will be one of 12 squads competing in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Latvia defeated Hungary, Ukraine and Italy to earn the coveted spot. The Olympics are scheduled to start Feb. 12, 2010. Latvia will face Russia, the Czech Republic and Slovakia in preliminary round games, according to the International Ice Hockey Federation.

The Latvians won 4-1 over Italy on Feb. 8 in a qualification game played in Arēna Rīga, according to a game summary reported by the IIHF.

The Latvians got on the scoreboard first. Ģirts Ankipāns, with an assist from Jānis Sprukts, scored at 8 minutes 48 seconds into the first period. At 10:01, Mārtiņš Cipulis scored on a power play, aided by Kristaps Sotnieks and Aigars Cipruss.

Mārtiņš Karsums made it 3-0 on a short-handed goal at 14:25 into the second period. He was assisted by Sprukts.

Fifteen seconds into the final period, Italy’s Giulio Scandella scored on a power play with help from Christian Borgatello. The Latvians answered the effort at 2:59 when Lauris Dārziņš, helped by Sprukts and Ankipāns, made the final score 4-1.

Latvia’s goalkeeper Sergejs Naumovs stopped 30 of Italy’s 31 shots on goal, while Italy’s Thomas Tragust was kept busy trying to stop 46 Latvian shots, 42 of them successfully.

In a Feb. 5 game in Rīga, Latvia beat Hungary 7-3 and, the following day, skated past Ukraine 4-2.

During the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Latvia’s best showing was a surprise 3-3 tie with the United States. However, the team lost all other games and ended up last in the field of 12. Sweden won the gold medal.

Andris Straumanis is a special correspondent for and a co-founder of Latvians Online. From 2000–2012 he was editor of the website.