For Labour Valour,U/N 1949,Head Teacher,Primary Classes,High School #157,Leningrad

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Here an unnumbered Medal "For Labour Valour".

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Issued to Elizaveta Grigor'evna Gol'dshtejn on 14th February 1949.

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This was awarded for 15 years service to High School #157 in Leningrad (which is once again named Princess Eugenja Maximilianovna Oldenburg).

The 157 at the outbreak of the war had 24 classes and 880 students.

Gol'dshtejn was head of the elementary/primary section of the school, including throughout the entirety of the Blockade.

At the start of the war, the school temporarily suspended normal classes and housed the 8th Artillery Special School, who had been pushed up from Luga and were without a school building. On 8th February 1942 the Special School was evacuated and normal classes were resumed. From the outbreak of the war students of the school volunteered for service in the People's Militia, with many of the 15-17 year old males being thrown into battle, with many falling in combat.
During the shortages of the siege, teachers and students had to multi-task. With teachers repairing damage to the building, building stoves throughout the school and also trying to maintain normal classes, with students sent to scavenge for additional foodstuffs and firewood.

15 members of staff did not survive the war, the number of student is unknown but the school year of 1944-1945 saw only 10 graduates from the original student body.

The school set up an exhibition dedicated to its activity during the war in 1948, which has expanded over the years.

Gol'dshtejn is photographed in the main 1942-1943 display, but as for which one she is, I'm not sure (possibly third from left).