The Saint Sava Academy in Chicago, which has been keeping the flame of Serbian culture, tradition, and language alive among generations of Serbian children from the diaspora for 24 years, will mark the beginning of the new school year and the move to a new building with a Gala reception to be held on November 8th in the St. Regis hall in the city.
On this occasion, we spoke with Marina Dikanović and Tanja Sokolović, two ladies from the Event Organizing Committee, whose primary goal is to raise funds for the purchase of the new school building, but also to improve the conditions for the record number of children who enrolled in the Saint Sava Academy this year, a total of 205.
THE FIGHT FOR THE LARGEST SERBIAN SCHOOL IN AMERICA: Tanja Sokolović and Marina Dikanović
-So far, we have collected 1.5 million out of a total of 3.2 million dollars needed, and our wish is to finally announce soon that the school building has been completely paid off. In addition, the money will be used for repairs to the building, as well as for raising teachers’ salaries and solving some current issues, such as repairing the sports hall and acquiring modern teaching aids, Marina and Tanja point out.
The Saint Sava Academy is a private school founded in 2001 by members of the Serbian community from Chicago and the surrounding area, which has been operating under the patronage of the Cathedral Church of the Holy Resurrection since the first day, in whose courtyard it was located until recently.
– Public schools function differently, the state and local government provide money, and private schools, like ours, have to manage in other ways, with donations and sponsors who invest not only in their children but also in the children yet to come. Our Academy is blessed because it has existed for over 20 years thanks to parents who invest not only their money but also their time.
Year after year, the school grows and develops, so last year we moved from a container to a proper building, and this year over 200 students enrolled for the new school year, which is the largest number in history. But that is not the end, the number of students increases every year, and we rightly expect even more children next year, partly due to the fact that the school now has more to offer than it could before, our interlocutors proudly point out and add:
-We are proud when we see how this school is growing and how our children benefit more and more from it. That is the greatest satisfaction a person and a parent can have. It is also a big thing for the community, so we can’t wait to get together again and see how much more we can achieve together.
It is important to emphasize that the Saint Sava Academy is bilingual, that students start classes every day with one language and finish with the other, which makes it unique in America.
-This is the only such school in the country. The church under whose roof we are allows children and young people from our community to socialize, learn about the Serbian faith, history, and play folklore, and the Academy raises that knowledge to an even higher level, giving young people the opportunity to stay in touch with our Serbian tradition and language. We have a vision of what the school should be like in 5 and 10 years, and we are working hard on that, says Tanja Sokolović, and Marina Dikanović follows up on her words:
IN A HEALTHY BODY – A HEALTHY SPIRIT: The sports hall will be renovated with donation money
-I was born in America, and I am the child of parents who came from Serbia. And when I see my child, who is now in the second grade, speaking Serbian fluently, I am very happy and proud, because they have the opportunity to learn something that I did not. Also, it should be pointed out that our school programs are excellent, which is evidenced by the fact that my children had excellent results in the public schools they continued their education in after leaving the Academy. This also speaks to how much our teachers, who are paid much less than those in public schools, approach their work with a lot of passion and energy, as well as knowledge.
THE CHURCH AS A ROOF AND A HOME: With the elder of the Holy Resurrection Church, Father Darko Spasojević
To the question of how much the fact that the Academy has moved to new premises motivates parents to enroll their children in greater numbers, both emphasize:
-Very much so. The number of students, which increases every year, speaks for itself. By moving to nicer, more pleasant premises, children feel better, and parents feel safer and more ready to enroll them in the Academy. And it is very important that these parents see that we use all the money collected at these Galas of ours to improve the conditions for our children.
SCHOOL AS A THEATER: The drama section also successfully operates at the Academy
That is all the more reason, as they point out, to invite people to come to the Gala on November 8th, to enjoy the dinner and an exceptional cultural program and support them in their goals.
-The progress we have made in recent years can only continue with the help of the community that will recognize what we are doing here. We want to invite other people, from all over America, from New York, Miami, to support us, because everyone has someone in Chicago. A Serbian school was recently opened not far from us, in Lyons, and also in Canada, and we will contact them and offer our help, because we believe that it is our duty to help each other and one day build a network of Serbian schools across the continent that will be interconnected and grow and develop together.
SPIRIT AND INTELLECT: Academy students with priests at the liturgy in the Holy Resurrection Church
The two ladies underline that their goal is to ensure constant growth and progress, and that their children have the same learning conditions as children in the best public and private schools.
–We want them to be able to compete with others, if not be even better, at school competitions and later, when they enroll in high schools and colleges. We are not only thinking about the children who attend the Academy today, but we have a vision of how to provide even better conditions than we have now for the children who will be here in 10 years. Also, it is important to add that we strive to provide our children with healthy, organic food at school, which I don’t believe they have in any public school in Chicago. A healthy mind grows in a healthy body, that is very important, and we do not forget that.
LIKE AT HOME: Students are provided with hot meals every day
To explain their vision, they point to the example of the greatest Serbian and world athlete of all time, Novak Đoković.
-It’s like looking at a picture of little Novak Đoković 30 years ago and now. And then you wonder how he achieved all that? With hard work, teamwork, improvement, constant competition with others… That is the mindset we are trying to establish in our Academy to ensure constant growth and progress.
IN SCHOOL, CHILDREN ALSO DISCOVER THEIR TALENTS: Music education classes
The school, they further say, is open to other children besides Serbian children.
-We currently have a few little Russians, Georgians, but we would like to see more children who are not Serbian. We believe that this would only enrich it. Although enrollment for this school year is officially over, the doors are still open for all students who would like to join, provided that there is still physical space for new students in certain departments. And we invite all interested parents to check this on the school website: www.stsavaacademy.org where they will find all contacts.
FAITH, TRADITION, LANGUAGE: Children remain connected to their genes and origin
As for the Gala event itself on November 8th, Marina and Tanja emphasize that they, along with others, have done a lot to make that evening truly unforgettable.
-We have prepared a diverse program, a lot of cultural and entertainment content, great speakers, along with, of course, live music and top-notch food, and there will be a few big surprises. The ticket price is $500, which covers dinner and the program, and the largest part of that money will go to the needs of the Saint Sava Academy.
FRESH AIR AND SOCIALIZING: Sports is an aspect of children’s development that they insist on at the Academy
Also, we offer interested companies, families, and individuals to rent tables and bring their friends, families, and business partners. Those who rent Platinum tables will receive a plaque with their name in the school building and thus be eternally remembered as a benefactor of the Academy. For all those who want to relax that evening, we have also provided shuttle transport that will bring them to the Gala and then take them home, they conclude at the end of our conversation.
KNOWLEDGE, TRADITION, HISTORY, AND CULTURE, ALL IN ONE PLACE: St. Sava Academy
Author: Antonije Kovačević Photo: Antonije Kovačević / Akademija Sveti Sava