ZPSH - Winter Pushchino school

This article was written a few years ago for another website. But we moved it here because that site is no longer supported, and it would be a pity if it disappeared. ZPSH is the Winter Pushchinsky School, the pearl of our city. It's not easy, but she lives, develops, and pleases everyone who is related to her.

[ April 10, 2023 ]

The Winter Pushchino School is such a small miracle, a fairy tale for children and adults, students, teachers, counselors, and even for parents.ents. It has been held in Pushchino for more than 30 years, every year during spring break. At one time, the PSA was held during the winter holidays, then it was moved to the spring holidays, but the name remained "winter".

Back in 1990 the school was created by an employee of the Scientific Research Center of the USSR Academy of Sciences (now IMPB RAS) Natalia Lunina, who, together with her friends and colleagues, decided to "organize her children's holidays in the best possible way." They created it in the image and likeness of the Krasnoyarsk Summer School, KLSH, Galoshes. And they did it so well that the school began to live and develop... And for 33 years now, it has been one of the best schools of its kind.

From 2001 to 2017, the director of the school was a wonderful man, head of the Laboratory of Applied Mathematics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, lecturer at MIPT, Doctor of Physics and Mathematics. Sciences Mikhail Abramovich Roitberg. The fact that he did it for children in and out of high school, it was invaluable. Many years ago, two smart kids went to his institute, who needed something more serious than a regular school. He tinkered with them, gave them scientific assignments. They were infinitely happy and grateful to him, and one day they decided to ask why he was doing this, why was he spending so much of his time and effort on them? And Mikhail Abramovich told them that as a child he had a very good teacher who did a lot for him. One day he asked the teacher the same question, and the answer was: "I'm doing this so that you can grow up, become a big, smart and good person, and someday help a child who really needs it. And so that one day this child will come to you and ask: "Why are you doing all this for me?"

Mikhail Abramovich died in 2017. But his PO lives on. Despite all the misfortunes, tragedies, cataclysms - in the country, in the city, in the world... She is still young, interesting and delightful, and she still has her own extraordinary atmosphere.

How can I explain in a short article what a PSA is?

The PSA consists of about 25 teachers and counselors, and 55 students (this season). The teachers are mostly young, smart, kind, with sparkling eyes. But there are no less beautiful adults - with the same burning eyes! :) Among the teachers and counselors, there are many former students of the Secondary School who, having become students or researchers, take vacations, come to Pushchino and return for a week to conduct their course and share with the children what they themselves are interested in and like.

ZPSH is author's courses in various fields of science: biology, psychology, physics, IT, history, literature, linguistics... Here are the names of some of this season's courses: "Neuromagic", "Genetics in Cats for beginners", "Colorful drool", "Incredibly beautiful tasks", "Why are jeans blue?"quot;, "The Five Keys of Soviet Architecture", "Arabica from Jahilia to Adunis", "Soviet Orientalism", "Network Design: The Complexity and Simplicity of the World Wide Web from the programmer's point of view", "Forest Kingdom — anthill", "We are writing a computer game".

The SSE is a free choice of courses for each student according to their interests. On Sunday, the first day of school, you run around the classrooms, listen to teachers who briefly present their courses in 10 minutes, and choose who you like best? You can choose only two courses - one of two "tapes" (or three - in years when courses are conducted in three tapes). And then from Monday to Friday you go to your courses, and (if you choose correctly) you enjoy.

The PSA is a "mammoth lecture" every day. Mammoth is a reputable scientist who is invited to school to tell something interesting about his science - biology, astronomy, mathematics... Mammoths sometimes find it very difficult to distinguish teachers from children. Because at mammoth lectures, the hall is usually crowded, it's interesting for everyone there, and it's almost impossible to distinguish a teacher from a student of yesterday from a student of today... This year, one mammoth was happily talking about the cool questions the students asked him after the lecture, and suddenly he heard: "It wasn't the students, it was the teachers:)"

And then, after lunch, there's a game. Common to the whole school, every day has its own: "Acquaintance", "What? Where? When?", "Universal Scientific Tournament", "Maze"... "Maze" is when you run through "stations", and at each station some teacher asks you riddles that he has come up with for you. If you decide, you'll earn points, if you don't decide, you can end up in intensive care, and you'll have to work out your return to life there. And along the way, you still need to avoid getting caught by the minotaur, who can devour everything you earn. Children of all ages play together. Of course, the older ones usually win, but the kids have their own toddler questions.

And after the studio game, all kinds of, whatever you want - historical dancing, drawing, board games... The only problem is that you can't embrace the vast, you have to choose one thing, but you don't have the strength for everything. And then - sit-downs with a guitar, or a trip to admire the sunset... In a society with a maximum concentration of smart and pleasant people. Parents can only envy.

Well, it all ends with a Saturday conference. For each course, the students draw posters, hang them all over the school, and tell visiting guests - parents, their friends, and other teachers - what is so strange depicted on their posters, and what did they learn in their courses in 5 days? Saturday is a day when parents can also enjoy the atmosphere of the school.

It is very difficult to explain what a PSA is. But in a nutshell, it's still possible: ZPSH is happiness.>. This is the air that children need. To all those who come there as a student, and to those who return there as a teacher to give the children what they once received. And in return, get your piece of happiness again.

ZPSH is our science city Pushchino. Who was, is, and we believe there will be more.

I really want to share this piece of happiness with you. Let's share, here it is, enjoy:

Thanks to the leaders, organizers, teachers, counselors - to everyone who creates this fairy tale.
To the students who fill her with life!
The sponsors of the ZPS in 2023 are Skoltech for the money and Moscow State University for the site, without which this season could not have happened.

• 2023, April 02-08 - Annotations of courses
• 2024, April 07-13 - ZPSH Booklet
• 2025, April 16-12 - ZPSH Booklet
• 2026, April 05-11 - ZPSH Booklet

Annotations courses and studios for other years can be found on the website ZPSH. You can also find introductory assignments and apply to participate in the school. In early spring, closer to its opening.

ZPSH website - https://www.zpsh.ru
ZPSH VKontakte Group - https://vk.com/zpsh_ru

Great article about ZPSH in 2013 - «It doesn't hurt to think at all.» (also with Mikhail Abramovich Roitberg).