💡 The sekretariat is the school office; there you ask about hours, plans and documents. Lessons usually start at eight; a lesson lasts forty-five minutes.
💡 Typical things: tornister (satchel), piórnik (pencil case), zeszyty (exercise books), strój na wf (PE kit), obuwie zmienne (indoor shoes).
💡 In primary school podręczniki (textbooks) are mostly free: they are issued at school; the plan lekcji (timetable) is posted in the classroom or given in the dziennik elektroniczny.
💡 Most Polish schools require obuwie zamienne (indoor shoes): street shoes are left in a locker in the szatnia (cloakroom); ask the class teacher which shoes are allowed.
💡 PE (WF) needs a strój sportowy (sports kit) and sports shoes; only a doctor can excuse a pupil, by issuing a zwolnienie lekarskie (medical certificate).
💡 Another person may collect the child only with a written upoważnienie do odbioru (authorisation to collect): it gives the name and often an ID number; without it the child will not be handed over.
💡 The dziennik elektroniczny (for example Librus, Vulcan) is an online register with grades, absences, messages and announcements; the school issues login and password or a code for parents.
💡 A message to the class teacher (wiadomość do wychowawcy) through the electronic register is the usual way; write briefly, using Pan/Pani, sign with the child's name and class.
💡 Uwaga is a teacher's remark in the register (positive or negative), pochwała praise, spóźnienie lateness, brak zadania missing homework.
💡 The login for the dziennik elektroniczny (e-register) is issued by the school or the class teacher; you change the password yourself afterwards; if it fails, write to the sekretariat (school office) or the class teacher.
💡 The register has sections zadania domowe (homework), oceny (marks), obecności (attendance), uwagi (remarks) and wiadomości (messages).
💡 A child's illness is reported at school on the first day: by phone, in the register or in writing; afterwards the parents' usprawiedliwienie (excuse) is needed.
💡 An usprawiedliwienie is an explanation of absence: write surname, class, dates, reason and signature; a doctor's note is needed if the school requires; the explanation can be sent through the register.
💡 Warn the class teacher in advance about planned absence, in writing or through the register; the parent explains an absence (usprawiedliwienie); agree on a longer absence with the class teacher.
💡 If a child feels unwell during a lesson the school phones the parents and asks them to pick the child up; keep your phone on and make sure the school has your current number.
💡 Wywiadówka (colloquial) or zebranie z rodzicami is a parents' meeting at school; they take place several times a year; the teacher tells about the class, grades and plans.
💡 In a Polish school grades run from jeden (1, unsatisfactory) to sześć (6, excellent): six is the best. This is the reverse of the German system. Dwa is weak, trzy satisfactory, cztery good, pięć very good.
💡 Useful words: pilny (diligent), uważny (attentive), trudności (difficulties), postępy (progress), wsparcie (support).
💡 The year ends with the zakończenie roku szkolnego (closing ceremony), where the świadectwo (report) is issued; a certificate z czerwonym paskiem (with a red stripe) is given for high marks and good behaviour.
💡 The lowest mark is niedostateczny (a one); it can be improved through a poprawa (resit); ask the teacher when and in what form.
💡 The świetlica is a school room for children after lessons; they do homework and play there; it is usually open until four to five p.m., and an application from parents is needed.
💡 Lunches (obiady) in the school canteen (stołówka) are usually paid per month or per day; they are ordered and paid for in advance; for families with low income there is a discount or help.
💡 You enrol a child in świetlica szkolna (after-school care) with a karta zgłoszenia (registration card): it states until what time the child stays and who collects them; places are often given first to children of working parents.
💡 If you will be late, phone the świetlica or the class teacher beforehand; the child stays with a teacher, but frequent lateness may end in a talk with the headteacher.
💡 For trips you pay a składka (contribution) to the class account or the Rada Rodziców; families with difficulties can get help from the school or municipality; ask the teacher.
💡 A zgoda rodzica is the parents' written consent for an outing; it states the place, date, cost and contact number; ask if anything is unclear.
💡 The rada rodziców (parents' council) collects a składka (contribution) for class and school needs; it is voluntary, the parents decide the amount themselves and the spending is accounted for.
💡 A trip of several days (zielona szkoła, a "green school") needs the zgoda rodziców (parents' consent), information about medicines and allergies and a phone number for the trip; ask what to bring.
💡 For pupils from abroad there is an oddział przygotowawczy (preparatory class) or dodatkowe lekcje języka polskiego (extra Polish lessons); the school or municipality organises them, ask at the office.
💡 The school usually asks for a record from the previous school (a report or certificate) and the child's ID; the class is chosen by age and knowledge.