Lord Byron School (Gyumri)

Lord Byron School №20 (Armenian: Լորդ Բայրոնի անվան թիվ 20 միջնակարգ դպրոց ) was founded in 1990 in Gyumri (formerly Leninakan) following the Spitak earthquake that devastated the city, by funds provided by the British Government as well as donations raised by the British people. A carved stone cross called a Khatchkar was placed in a British school by the Armenian government in thanks for the rebuilding of this school following the 1988 earthquake.^[3]

History

The school was built in 1950 and was named after the Armenian playwright Gabriel Soundukyan.^[1] The 1988 earthquake occurred at 11:41 local time when most people were either at work or at school.^[4]

The Soviet premier Mikhail Gorbachev asked for international assistance. The death toll from the quake was 25,000^[4] and the school lost over 40 students and staff.^[1]

The rebuilt school was opened by the United Kingdom Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher on 10 June 1990 on her first trip to the Soviet Union.^[2] Since then there has been support from Armenians living abroad. A new boiler-house was constructed and a playground were paid for by the Armenian General Benevolent Union.^[5]

After the building a partnership was established between Lord Byron School and a school near to Byron's resting place near Nottingham. As a symbol of thanks the government arranged for a khatchkar (traditional Armenian carved stone cross) to be placed in the British school's playground.

Layout

The original Khatchkar that was presented to the school which is now attached to the church in Hucknall where Byron is buried.

The design for the school was by British architects. The materials, furniture and the labour required to construct the school were exported from the United Kingdom. There are six low rise buildings, they were arranged in a two by three grid and the main entrance approached one of the two central buildings. Behind the central building is the craft and dining building. To the left of the administration building is a primary building and behind that a gym. To the right is a building for language study and behind that a combined building for maths and science.^[6]

Curriculum

Lord Byron school has a building dedicated to the study of languages and the school specializes in the study of English in particular.^[6]

Every January 22 the school celebrates Byron Day.

Partnerships

• Canajoharie Central School, Canajoharie, New York^[7]
• The Holgate Academy near Nottingham, UK. This partnership arose because of Lord Byron who was a famous British poet who had shown an affection for Armenian culture when he was a guest of the Mekhitarist Order in Saint Lazarus Island, Venice. A partnership was formed between Lord Byron School and Holgate, another secondary school which was close to Byron's final resting place in Hucknall^[8]

References

Coordinates: 40°48′36″N 43°51′00″E / 40.81000°N 43.85000°E / 40.81000; 43.85000

Gyumri
Places of worship	Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God Church of the Holy Saviour Surp Nshan Church Saint Gregory the Illuminator's Church Saint Jacob of Nisibis Church Saint Nikolai the Wondeworker Church Saint Arsenije Church Saint Alexandra the Martyr's Church Cathedral of the Holy Martyrs
Landmarks	Kumayri historic district Sev Berd Fortress Poloz Mukuch Beerhouse Mother Armenia Diocese of Shirak Vartanants Square Independence Square Charles Aznavour Square
Museums and culture	Aslamazyan Sisters House-Museum Dzitoghtsyan Museum of National Architecture Sergey Merkurov House-Museum House-Museum of Avetik Isahakyan House-Museum of Hovhannes Shiraz House-Museum of Mher Mkrtchyan Vardan Ajemian State Drama Theatre
Science and Education	Gyumri Technology Center Gyumri State Pedagogical Institute Progress University Gyumri Academy of Fine Art Lord Byron School
Sports and recreation	Gyumri City Stadium FC Shirak Gyumri Football Academy Gyumri Chess School October Cinema Gyumri Central park Victory Park
Transportation	Shirak Airport Gyumri Railway Station