Native school unites the Ukrainian community in the new school year

Saturday, ten in the morning, is a day off for many, but this is the first educational day at native school of Ukrainian studies. The morning begins with a liturgy for children and parents and a blessing for the new school year.

Because of the war, many Ukrainians emigrated to Winnipeg, so this year the school expects to welcome more than 100 new students. This is twice as much as last year.

But this school year is exciting not only for newly arrived children, but also for newly arrived teachers. Nadiya is an elementary school teacher with twelve years of experience, who recently arrived in Canada. She calls her work a "call of the heart", and the main goal: to raise children's love for Ukrainian culture.

"When I got into a Ukrainian church and a Ukrainian school, I calmed down a little. Here the Ukrainian diaspora unites. I continue to carry out my mission: to teach the youth, growing generation about where they come from, to teach them to write, to teach them symbols, culture, and traditions," says Nadiya Shul.

Interested children, motivated teachers and caring parents. The only issue that remains unresolved is the rent of a room for conducting lessons. The principal of the school, Oksana Melnyk, tells us more.

"We are trying to sign an agreement with the Winnipeg School Division to rent a space for classes. They really want to cooperate with us, but we have to pay. Funds are the biggest problem, because it is not cheap, and we are a school that actually exists under the parish and depends on how many children will register and how many parents will be able to pay for tuition," says Oksana Melnyk.

The school is happy to welcome both Ukrainian students and children from English-speaking families, so the teachers make learning accessible and understandable for everyone.

"There are many new arrivals, and local families who are interested in registering their child in a Ukrainian school. Everyone here has a grandmother and grandfather from Ukraine, everyone remembers grandmother's cabbage rolls and pies, but Ukraine is not only about food. Ukraine is a glorious tradition and culture, and it is very important to multiply it. This is what this school exists for," adds the school director.

Victoria and the child emigrated to Canada several years ago, so the boy grew up in an English-speaking environment. But this year Igor wanted to join the Ukrainian school in order to become closer to the Ukrainian community.

"My child wants to communicate not only in English, as she is used to at school, but also to communicate with the Ukrainian community, Ukrainian children, in order to support the Ukrainian language and culture," says Victoria.

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