About School

Jakob Gogebashvili School is a general education institution, which was established in 2009. The
school is located in an ecologically healthy, beautiful environment, twenty minutes drive from
the center of Tbilisi. The vision of the school is based on Georgian, Orthodox, traditional values,
which successfully combine with modern achievements and challenges. The name of the school
is based on the merits of the greatest tutor of Georgian Education, Jacob Gogebashvili. The sign
of the school is violet and its color is purple. The mission of the Jacob Gogebashvili School is to
raise a healthy, literate, tolerant and successful person in a caring, creative and safe
environment based on Christian values. The school is staffed by the people who want to live as
one family, one community of values, who also share a flawless knowledge of their own work
and desire to raise worthy children of their homeland. The second half of the school is devoted
to homework, cognitive and sports circles. “ I consider this to be the beginning of a very great
work and I all the participants. Faith, joy, sobriety, good deeds, forgiveness should be
introduced in the school. Here we should try to connect three links : family, church and school.
The talent of every child should be revealed here…… I congratulate everyone, I pray for this
school and I will be glad if you accept me as one of the students….” His holiness and Beatitude ,
Catholicos – Patriarch of the entire Georgia, Archbishop of Mtskheta – Tbilisi, Metropolitan of
Bichvinta and Tskhum – Abkhazia, Ilia II. Excerpt from the speech of his Holiness at the opening
of the school.

Admission Rules for students

Student enrollment in school is based on parental adjustment. Admitting a student to school is

a two – way process. Before enrolling a student in a school, the parent is notified of the
agreement, as well as the school regulations and confirms by signing the consent to the
educational, legal, disciplinary or other conditions of the school.
Grades I – IV : Admission of students to the preparatory group and the first four grades of
primary education is based on an interview with the directorate and the submission of student
documents to the school. After the interview, the parent is notified of the student’s enrollment
in the school or an appropriate recommendation is issued. The documents to be submitted to
the preparatory group and the first grade are:

1. A notarized copy of the student’s birth certificate ( it is mandatory for a citizen of

Georgia to submit a person number )
2. Two photos of the student ( size: 3x4)
3. Copy of parents’ ID cards and contact information.
4. Parent statement on behalf of the principal about enrolling the child in school.
5. Health certificate

In case of transfer from another school, the following documents are also added:

 Student’s personal file

 Evaluation sheet
 Description

All three documents must be certified with the seal of the institution and the signature of the
competent person. In case of passing to V – XI grades the student is obliged to pass the test in
the following subjects:

 Georgian
 Mathematics
 Russian
 English

In case of successful completion of the test , an interview with the Admissions Committee is
scheduled. After the interview the parent is notified of the student’s enrollment in the school
or an appropriate recommendation is issued.
Employees
The teaching team of “ Jacob Gogebashvili School “ is staffed with highly qualified,
experienced specialists. Many of them have undergone a teacher training and retraining
program, are textbook and curriculum authors, associate professors, visiting lecturers and
more. Each teacher has many years of experience in teaching at school, student relations and
knowledge.

Ketevan Dondua
School principal

In November 2020 , Ketevan Dondua was appointed principal of the Jacob Gogebashvili School.

Ketevan was educated at the Tbilisi School of Business and Marketing in International Economic
Relations, as well as graduated from the German State University ( Economics ) and the
Academy of Management ( Human Resource Management ) . For years she worked in leading
positions in various foreign and Georgian companies.

Fluent in Georgian, English, Russian and German. She is mother of 3 sons . ketevan has been
one of the active parents of our school for years.
Teaching programs

Academic Education
Direction of academic education

The aim of the educational – academic direction is to form a unique program through the
synthesis of the existing Georgian, national educational systems. This program will equip the
student with universal and fundamental knowledge, make him/her competitive in the
international labor and education system and, at the same time, lay the foundation for the
formation of his/her national consciousness.

The direction of academic education is based on the standard developed by the Ministry of
Education and Science of Georgia and the national curriculum. The training is conducted with
certified textbooks, as well as additional audio, video materials and literature. Above the
standard, the school offers students an intensive and in-depth teaching course. In the
afternoon homework is completed at the school and, if necessary additional individual lessons
are scheduled.

The assessment system allows the teacher to determine the student’s level of knowledge,
achievement and backwardness, determine the cause and plan appropriate activities. The
school has an electronic journal for constant involvement of parents in the learning process and
for their child’s attendance. The head of academic department are Ms Salome Chkheidze and
Ms Nino Gvilava.
Spiritual upbringing

The direction of spiritual and moral upbringing

The existence of a theological field in the school serves the spiritual, intellectual, creative,
healthy development and perfection of the students. The main goal of the theological block is
to make the student aware of the Orthodox, as well as to bring the student to faith under the
guidance of a teacher and to increase the love of God and neighbor. The school teaches divine
law, history of religion, Georgian polyphonic chants. Under the guidance of the teacher, the
student is involved in the theological process, which includes: helping the teacher during the
service, baking the sacraments, making a church candle, confessing or receiving Holy
Communion.

An integral part of the school is the Church of St. Ekvtime the Godman (Takaishvili) in Kiketi.
October 11, 2010. The church of St. Ekvtime was consecrated . On this day, the first liturgy was
performed at the Church of St. Ekvtime in Kiketi, and the prayer was led by the Catholicos-
Patriarch of All Georgia, His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II.

Metropolitan Shio Mujiri and Ioane Gamrekeli, as well as the head of the church, dean Andria
Jagmaidze, conducted the Divine Liturgy in the newly consecrated church.

Many congregants attended the blessing of the church, including the founder of the church
Levan Vasadze with his family, employees of the "Iakob Gogebashvili School", students,
parents, other invited guests and the habitants of Kiketi.

The temple was built over 3 years. The main church is named after St. Ekvtime the Godman
(Takaishvili). There are also two equestrian churches in the church: named after St. Ekvtime
the Confessor (Kereselidze) and St. Dimitri Kipiani.
As Levan Vasadze noted, the church was built in the name of three saints of recent history:
one of them has saved national treasure, the second - a hymn, and the third - the dignity of
the Georgian nation.

Before the service, His Holiness addressed the parish with a sermon. The saint commanded
in his sermon that it was time to build and time to destroy. "We witnessed the time when
Georgians were destroying temples and the time when they were building. Our past tells us
that Georgians were protecting temples and monasteries from enemies, because the Christian
faith is our savior. If it were not for it, Georgians would not be on earth." - said the patriarch.

Ilia II blessed the gathered pilgrims and all of Georgia. His Holiness commemorated the icon
of the Holy Trinity to the temple.

Sports and a healthy lifestyle

The vision of the school is aimed at the physical health of the adolescent, the establishment of a
healthy lifestyle. For this purpose, the school operates a sports field, which is distinguished by a
variety of sports: rugby, football, volleyball, tennis, swimming, karate. The synthesis of athletic
and team sports forms a complex and sequential program that provides for the formation and
development of the body's energy possession skills. Each morning begins with a small
invigorating workout for students on the couches. The sports direction is headed by Mr. Zurab
Kurdadze
Rugby Club "Junkers" was founded in Kiketi in 2012. The club was named in honor of the
cadets who, in 1921, on the outskirts of Kojor-Tabakhmela, put up a decent resistance to the
Red Army and excelled in iron discipline, great dedication and a high level of training.

The "Junkers" are the fastest growing rugby club: in 2015 the club was represented only by age
teams. During the 2015-2016 rugby season, the club participated in the Georgian Regional
(Second) League for the first time; After a successful season in the Regional League, in 2016-
2017 the "Junkers" won the right to play in the First League and after just two seasons in the
Regional League took the place in the "Big 10". The "Junkers" became the first rugby club to be
promoted so quickly in the major leagues, which in itself is a unique result. Today the club is
facing new challenges, which means the Georgian championship and a worthy participation in
the European arena.

At the core of the club's players are loyal players brought up by the "Junkers", most of whom
have not played for another club. The "Junkers" are represented in the Georgian national team,
U20 and seven-man teams, where they periodically participate in international matches.
Players, along with the club, are constantly involved in social campaigns and planned activities.

Till now:

 A great team manages at least 18 games.

 Under 19 - 12 games
 Under 17 - 12 games
 Adults under the age of 15 participate in rugby festivals on a weekly basis.
 The club tries its best to ensure the interest of the younger generation in rugby in
different regions and their involvement on behalf of our club, including: in Tsavkisi,
Shindisi, Tabakhmela and Kojori.
 The „Junkers” have been involved in various social campaigns with team endeavour
for years.
  Every summer (July-August) summer gatherings are held for the players of the
"Junkers" in the small town of Kiketi, during which the players prepare for the 19, 17
and the men's team championship.

Life fundamental skills

Life fundamental skills direction

In order to develop practical work skills for adolescents and to involve them in activities useful
to the community, a field of labor activity was established at the school, known as a life skills
program. Baking bread and baked goods in the oven and bakery, making dairy products,
gardening, viticulture, school exterior and interior, church cleaning, making church products
(communion bread, candle), arranging school buses, cooking, activities, farming, etc. enable
students get involved in the daily life and activities of the school. Up to twelve teams
participate in the work on a daily basis, where students from different classes are united and
perform the work provided in the schedule under the supervision of the senior supervisor. For
the proper performance of each activity, the school allocates appropriate equipment,
appropriate clothing and sets appropriate safety rules. According to the already established
tradition, their parents and relatives take an active part in the labor activities of the school
together with the students. According to a pre-defined schedule, each student's parent
(relative, family member) is required to visit the school once a month with their child's team to
participate in activities planned for that day. Ms. Tina Kvrivishvili is in charge of labor activities
at the school.
Preparatory group

In order to promote the multi-directional development of the preschool child, to better

prepare him for school, a preparatory group operates in the school. The preparatory group
program includes a one-year course, which aims to:

- Development of the child's thinking and creative skills;

- Develop the ability to observe events and facts, personal qualities (concentration,
organization, responsibility);

- Formation and development of various linguistic aspects (correct speech, phonetic culture);

- Enriching the vocabulary and developing elementary knowledge about the environment and
society of which he is a part;

- Developing a positive attitude towards the learning process;

- Formation of elementary mathematical ideas, study of native and one of the foreign language
(English) elements;

- Teaching elements of music, rhythm, choreography;

- Familiarity with the elementary levels of certain fields of fine arts.

The program of the preparatory group aims to activate the child's ability to think independently
and help him to "maintain the emerging interests", to strengthen social, cultural, hygienic skills.
The course focuses on teaching preschool children in the form of conversations, exercises,
didactic and other games, labor, subject-practical action, observation of events, interaction with
the environment, musical and moving motor education and fun. The training content includes:
educational, developmental and upbringing tasks.

School uniform

Iakob Gogebashvili School pays great attention to dress etiquette and discipline, therefore the
school has its own school uniform, which is mandatory for all students of the school.
School uniform for boys:

White shirt, blue pants, blue jacket, blue vest and white t-shirt.

School uniform for girls:

White shirt, girl dress, for older girls - bottom skirt, blue jacket, blue t-shirt.

Shoes :

It is mandatory for students at school to wear plain black, navy blue or dark black shoes.

Additional information:

Girls' pantyhose or leggings should be black or navy blue.

At school, students can have comfortable shoes to wear during school hours and store in the
school wardrobe during the weeks. This is especially convenient in winter - therefore the
child will not have to be in the school building with boots or winter shoes during the school
day. The student must have appropriate sports shoes with him / her for sports activities.

We do not recommend enrolling a student in school with the following attributes: bead, eye-
catching earring, ring. Girls' hair clips, please, be plain, in one tone and match the school
colors.

Please write the student's first and last name on each attribute of your child's uniform. This
will avoid the hassle of losing, finding, messing up, and repurchasing clothing items.

Jackets should be ordered from the following online stores:

School infrastructure

Bus

School bus

Transportation of students is provided by comfortable school-owned Hyundai and Toyota

buses, equipped with modern, state-of-the-art features and operated by experienced drivers.
Each bus is equipped with a monitor and DVD equipment, which allows students to relax on the
road and watch cognitive, animated films. Students are monitored by class leaders as they
travel, and all students are required to wear seat belts while traveling

Our canteen

Special attention is paid to the nutrition of students at the Iakob Gogebashvili School. Breakfast,
lunch and dinner are provided for students. In a canteen that meets modern standards, students
are provided with healthy food. All dishes are made on the spot, from ecologically clean product.
Students are involved in the process of making the product, therefore, a certain place on the
menu is devoted to the products created with their participation (toast and shoti bread, baked
goods, cottage cheese, cheese, yogurt, etc.). All international hygienic-sanitary norms are
observed in the kitchen and dining room. The menu is compiled by nutritionists and is constantly
monitored by the school doctor.

Doctor’s office

Iakob Gogebashvili School has a school doctor's office, which is equipped with all the necessary
modern medical equipment. The presence of a doctor's office at the school is of particular
importance, given the location of the school outside the city. Children are routinely subjected to
mandatory medical examinations. The school doctor ensures the smooth and successful
performance of all the tasks in the school from the medical point of view, as well as supervises
the protection of the medical, hygienic-sanitary process of the school. School doctor: Mr.
Malkhaz Sanadiradze. Nurse: Ms. Nino Khomasuridze.

Interested parents can apply to the school doctor for a medical consultation.

School Psychologist

The school's psychological service is headed by Ms. Lela Mujiri, an experienced child
psychologist, who conducts a systematic professional development course with teachers on
“Systematic Training for Effective Teaching (STET)” during the school year. The program
addresses the main issues of modern pedagogy:

- Understand problem behavior and its management strategies

- Effective communication skills

- Classroom dynamics

- Overcoming learning difficulties

- Discuss current problem cases and outline ways to solve them.

The second phase of the school psychologist service involves testing students to study learning
difficulties and making appropriate recommendations to teachers. Interested parents can
consult a school psychologist for advice.

safety

safety
Special attention is paid to safety and order in the school. The area is equipped with the latest
security, perimeter, fire and external video surveillance systems. Professional security staff
provide 24-hour security for students, staff and the area - both during the ongoing learning
process and at scheduled school events. Strangers are allowed to move on the school territory
only with the prior consent of the directorate and the security service, through special cards:
green card - for visitors, red card - for special visitors. Leaving the school premises on time or
leaving the school by non-school transport is allowed only with the prior notification of the
directorate and the security service and their permission.

Other services