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About Us
Who we are:

  • American-Russian Educational Center, Inc. (AREC) was established in 1994

  • In 1998 a non-profit educational organization 501(c )(3) status was awarded 

  • AREC is also active under DBA name of “Russian School Olympus” 

  • Russian School Olympus provides courses for children of 3 to 17 years old on Saturdays through the school year. 

 
Our goals:

  • We strive to help children understand their Russian roots – the spiritual soul of the Russian people – and give them the knowledge they need to be an essential part of the multicultural world.

 
We are not unique but...

  • AREC was the first one in Washington, DC to offer cultural education for the Russian community.

  • We are the largest Outside Language/Culture Study Russian School in the region.

  • In 2017, 2019 and again in 2021 Olympus was approved as eligible to recommend students to receive HS elective credit for successfully completing courses at the Russian Saturday school: their achievements are recorded on their Montgomery County Public Schools HS transcript.

  • The faculty of the school is highly professional with extensive teaching experience

  • Current enrollment: 200 students

  • 18 classes offer Russian of different levels.

  • 70% of students come from families where at least one parent speaks Russian.

  • 289 students of Olympus have successfully passed the NEWL/AP Russian Exam.

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School prorgams
Russian as foreign Language

  • For students that Russian is not a native language we offer Russian as a subject

  • In small groups formed for different ages, children have an opportunity to advance their knowledge in spoken Russian, develop writing abilities and learn more about Russian history and culture

  • Main emphasis is made on developing conversation skills, enlarging vocabulary, adding basic writing skills

 

Teaching through Drama

  • We stage three drama plays each year and produce them at our traditional Christmas, Spring and Graduation Matinees

NEWL/AP Russian Exam

  • Olympus was the first cultural school to introduce NEWL/AP Russian in the curriculum of a Saturday school in 2006

  • Olympus sponsored six teachers to take a week- long course and to become qualified to teach the Preparatory Course of the NEWL/AP Russian Exam

  • Our teachers created unique teaching methodology to prepare for this challenging examination

  • We are assisting American Councils for International Education in preparation of integrated tasks for NEWL/AP exams

  • Students get HS elective credit and Seal of Beliteracy in their diploma and 6 course credits in public US Universities for passing successfully NEWL/AP Russian graded 4 and above

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