Sveiki – Welcome
Welcome to the Kristjonas
Donelaitis Lithuanian School (KDLM) website. This Saturday day school
is for Washington, DC and its surrounding area. It is the school’s
51st year. Back in 1960 Father Znotinas taught seventeen
pupils the Lithuanian language, history, and geography in the
basement of St Peter’s Church in Washington’s Southwest area.
When the number of pupils increased, at the initiative of Mr.
Dambriunas, a meeting of the Lithuanian Community Organization was
called together. It was decided to form a Lithuanian Saturday
school. The first official location which the parents rented, was
open on February 11, 1961 in the old Latvian parish hall basement.
Thirteen students studied there. In 1964 the parents decided to name
the school the Kristijonas Donelaitis Lithuanian School, after the
Lithuanian writer who initiated fiction in Lithuania. In his main
work “Years” Donelaitis raised the issue of equality among
people, highly valued the work ethic, Lithuanian nationalism, and
indicated that nationalism was an ideal.
The KDLM Lithuanian
School has its traditional events including the Fall excursion, All
Saints Day Commemoration, Christmas toy building, Easter egg painting
and egg roll, Mardi Gras, February 16th Lithuanian
Independence Day, Freedom Defenders Day, March 11 Lithuanian
re-Declaration of Independence Day, Mother’s Day, Spring outing.
Students range from 1.5
years to 14 years of age and also adults. KDLM is a very active
school. The school and the Lithuanian community have one common goal
to teach our children the Lithuanian language, history, customs, and
traditions. We are very happy with the results; our school is
growing. Students and parents who come to KDLM find a pleasant
atmosphere and many friends.
You will find KDLM:
St. Elizabeth School
917 Montrose Rd
Rockville, MD 20852
School Principal: Ilona Verbusaitiene
director@kldmdc.org
