New Horizons > December 2001

Arbor plantara iuxta rivos

(A tree planted by water)

Szentendre is a small town on the west bank of the River Danube, in Hungary. Until recently, children had to travel 20 kilometres to the capital Budapest to attend a secondary school. It is a three hour round trip by bus. Now, things are different.
In 1929, during the great depression, the Reformed Church parish of Szentendre built a school and boarding facilities for around 300 students. In 1950, the Communist regime expropriated the school without compensation. After the events of 1991, the Hungarian government offered the church compensation in the form of an abandoned firehouse, plus an adjoining piece of land.

The parish was greatly interested in once again having a school with a religious orientation but the firehouse was old and dilapidated. The electrical system needed replacing, 42 additional concrete pillars were needed to make the structure safe, and a new staircase had to be built. To accommodate more classrooms, some walls had to be knocked down and new ones put up. The building needed new plumbing and heating systems and toilet facilities, as well as windows and doors.

On 1 September 1999, the first phase of construction was finished and classes began. In the first year alone, the school received three times as many enrolment applications as the number of students it could accommodate. The number of applications each year continues to rise.

Even before the Reformed Church parish began planning and organising this ambitious project, they realised that external funding would be needed. The Hungarian government and the Danube Church District, as well as parish members themselves, helped with money or construction materials. Some even pledged part of the interest they earned on their savings. Money came from inside and outside the country.

In spite of all this, the church had to take out an ECLOF loan of HUF12 million (approx. US$49,500).
The main object of the school is to provide students with a religious education. Every Monday the week begins with a meditation in the church. There are two hours of religious instruction per week and each school day begins with singing, Bible reading and prayers. Besides the standard core curriculum, other subjects taught are foreign languages, computer training, art and music.

The school’s motto is based on Psalm 1 and is Arbor plantara iuxta rivos (“A tree planted by water”). A green tree – the tree of life – is on the school seal. Above the tree, there is a hand holding the quill pen of knowledge. Interestingly, a tree is also depicted in the seal of the state of Szentendre.

Five construction projects remain to be done: a library, dining room, gymnasium, supplementary classrooms, technical equipment and laboratories. The school planners and officials feel they have a long way to go to become a 21st century school but are pleased with progress so far. They say, “God was present and helped us. We believe that He guides the hearts of human beings and that He will continue to help us in our colossal work.”