Practical information

What it looks like at our school

Duhovka Elementary is located in Břevnov, in a quiet street Nad Kajetánkou with excellent transport accessibility. We are a school covering all grades of primary and middle school education (grades 1-9). There are 20 to 24 children in each class. The school includes an after-school centre with a school garden and playground and its own kitchen with a canteen.

The classrooms have an atypical design that supports effective learning according to Montessori pedagogy. They are divided into working and relaxation areas. The groups of children are age-mixed and the classrooms are named by colours. The children have a personal space in the classrooms and keep all their belongings at school. There is a small kitchen adjacent to each classroom where children and teachers prepare snacks from our school canteen.

In the 2023/2024 school year, we opened new classrooms for the children, including an art studio and lab in one, a study room and a living terrace. The project also includes the construction of our own gym designed for sports as well as social gatherings with parents and students.

Our day

Classes start at 8.30 am when the children gather on the carpet in the classroom to plan the day. The basic pedagogical concept of the school is the Montessori method. The length and content of the lessons are determined by the teacher, the school does not ring a bell to begin the day. The children address the teachers by their first names and behave informally.

Children are guided to understanding, logical thinking and comprehension of a problem. We prefer the freedom of children's expression to drill and mechanical memorization. Children learn to express themselves openly, to discuss, to argue, to respect the opinion and individuality of others, to work with error. We trust the children and we try to make the children trust us - they can drink at any time without asking, go to the toilet, ask anything, confide problems, raise objections and comments. The psychological well-being of the children is important to us.

Assessment is verbal in all grades and all subjects. The end-of-term letter assessment assesses the extent to which the prescribed outcomes have been achieved, the knowledge and skills demonstrated and observed as well as the child's behaviour. It focuses on the child’s motivation for further school work. For the purposes of the high school examinations, marks are then awarded alongside the verbal assessment.

Duhovka is made up of people

The school is a vivid organism made up of the personalities and cultural backgrounds of the children, parents, teachers and other staff. Teachers, assistants and the after-school centre teachers are native English and Czech speakers, with teaching qualifications and many with have years of experience. As a prerequisite for long-term employment at the school, teachers must have completed a Montessori course. Teachers have the required educational qulifications and above all exceptional personal qualities creating the necessary prerequisites for the successful application of the school philosophy and the entire Duhovka system. The school has a school psychologist and a special educator who help to solve current situations with children, teachers and parents.

The third side of the triangle is the parents of our children. Parents are welcome to visit the classroom throughout the year and to observe instruction. Special "observation days" are set aside each month to come and observe the classroom. Twice a year, "parent conferences" are held when the teachers of a given class meet individually with parents to discuss their children's performance. Benchmark tests provide additional information about the child's performance. We take advantage of the diversity of professions, backgrounds and interests of parents who can participate and assist in the running of the school. Collaboration with parents is a welcome and natural practice. The Parents' Association of Duhovka Elementary School has been established to support family and school cooperation.