Gulbene County State Gymnasium (closed)

The beginnings of the school can be traced back to 1926. Over time, it has changed its name, but it has remained in the memory of the people of Gulbene and the surrounding area as a Gulbene business school and vocational school.

According to historical sources and the many publications dedicated to this school, Gulbene has not had a higher school for a long time than the old Gulbene parish school (founded in 1733) and the Jaungulbene Ministry school in Silta (founded in 1875). With the establishment of the Republic of Latvia, the people of Gulbene also began to think about the further education of their children.

And so in the autumn of 1926, studies began at a 3-year-old vocational school with trade and mechanics departments in the former Vecgulbene manor pub building. The pub building worked for two years in cramped, unsuitable conditions. It was about building a new school.

In September 1927, the foundation stone was laid for the building. The place for the school was chosen on the edge of the large Emze Park, in a secluded place. The school building (an architectural monument of national significance) was built according to the design of architect Indrikis Blankenburg and strongly resembles a classicist castle from the beginning of the 19th century with facades created in an orthodox classical manner. At the beginning of the new school year in the autumn of 1928, business students moved on to study in the new building. The commercial school had 4 classes from the beginning, later five, and the vocational school had a three-year course. In order to enter both departments of the school, a 6th grade primary school had to be completed. The competition for entering this school was usually very big. The high prestige of the school is also evidenced by the fact that the list of students includes not only Gulbene residents, but even long-distance riders. The number of students in a commercial school was usually around 180-200, in a vocational school around 80-100. Both schools had a single administration and in many subjects the same teachers. From the founding of the school until its closure, Jānis Rupais performed the duties of the director.

The construction of Skolas Street is also related to the construction of the commercial school building. The street also got its name from the school.

On October 17, 1944, Gulbene part-time secondary school started operating. In 1949, high school had its first graduation. In the 1960s, a new one was built next to the old building, where the 2nd eight-year school of Gulbene starts working, but in the old building, work begins in two languages. In 1974, two-stream work was abolished and now Gulbene Secondary School No. 1 already works in two buildings. Elmārs Kavacs, Velta Radiņa, Jānis Taube and Gatis Mezītis have worked here as directors.

This will continue until 1995, when Gulbene Gymnasium was separated. Students from 7th to 12th grade study here. Pupils in grades 7 and 10 are admitted on a competitive basis, regardless of their place of residence.

In 2008, Gulbene Gymnasium was granted the status of a state gymnasium.

Pupils take part in various subject olympiads and achieve good results.
Gulbene Gymnasium is involved in various international projects. From September 2008 to June 2010, Gulbene Gymnasium participates in the Comenius bilateral project "Different Languages, Common Values". Project participants will be given the opportunity to find out what is common and different in Austrian and Latvian culture, as well as to develop their organizational and communication skills during student group exchanges.

The gymnasium develops extracurricular activities aimed at developing students' intelligence, worldview, value orientation and emotional perception (discussion club, artistic amateur, school newspaper "Skats", sports activities, etc.).
The school hosts various traditional events - Autumn Ball, Christmas Ball, School Flag Festival, Courtyard Festival and Annual Ball.
The guiding principle of the gymnasium is a school for self-awareness, so that graduates go to life confidently about their knowledge, skills and abilities.

The school has more than 420 students and 38 teachers.
Director of Gulbene County State Gymnasium - Lidija Ķķķere.

4 educational programs can be acquired at Gulbene State Gymnasium:

  • second stage of basic education (grades 7-9),
  • general secondary education general education direction,
  • the humanitarian and social direction of general secondary education,
  • general secondary education in mathematics, science and technology.
  • The school is one of the 50 general education institutions in the country involved in the ESF project "Curriculum Development and Teacher Training in Science, Mathematics and Technology".
  • Graduates of Gulbene Gymnasium successfully enroll and study at universities.
  • The school has been involved in international projects with Denmark, Spain, Italy, Northern Ireland, Germany and Sweden.
  • The school is a regular participant in the international project EUROWEEK.
  • The school is proud of the dance group "Rūsiņš", the choir "Silver", the school theater studio, its athletes.
  • Pupils have great opportunities to play sports in the newly built sports complex and the well-equipped stadium.

Gulbene County State Gymnasium:
It is a school where we learn to know ourselves.
This is the school we study at:

  • BE together, live together, understand yourself and others, accept different views and form your own;
  • KNOW what is happening to us, around us, what are the regularities of nature and society;
  • DO things that would improve ourselves and our lives, make decisions that correspond to the real situation

The school is located in Gulbene, Skolas Street 10. As of August 1, 2020, Gulbene County State Gymnasium is being reorganized into Gulbene County Secondary School by the decision of Gulbene County Municipality.

The list of information sources can be found here .

See: www.gulbgymn.edu.lv
See: http://www.gulbenesdome.lv/lat/izglitiba/vispareja_izglitiba/?doc=277