On September 1, many thousands of Ukrainian children started a new school year abroad. In neighboring Poland, the first bell rang for 1,385 students of Ukrainian schools in Warsaw, Krakow and Wroclaw. Secondary education in their native language became available for these children thanks to the “Unbreakable Ukraine” foundation . The correspondent of “Apostrophe” visited the celebrations of the school in Krakow and talked with children, teachers and parents.
Atmosphere
Young Ukrainians in Krakow had the opportunity to fully celebrate September 1. Although there was no usual line-up, there was no shortage of warmth, smiles and a sincere atmosphere. Formally dressed schoolchildren were invited to the assembly hall of the Stanislav Stashyts Mining and Metallurgical Academy, whose management provided an opportunity to hold the first bell celebration for students of the Unbreakable Ukraine Foundation school. In the hall of “Apostrophe” University, we managed to talk with the class teacher of the 10A class and the mathematics teacher.
“We are looking forward to our first lessons, getting to know each other – we don’t know each other yet, but I’m sure we’ll become friends, ” the class teacher tells “Apostrophe”.
“And these are my children ,” the teacher points to the smiling boys and girls in white shirts.
“It’s my first time at this school and I’m very glad that I got here. I want to make new friends here. I think everything will be good ,” says one of the tenth graders, Yaroslav.
Nazar, from the 11th grade, has an honorable mission – to carry the national flag of Ukraine, and his classmate Roman will carry second-grader Zhenya, who will ring the bell, announcing the beginning of the new school year.
“We studied at this school last year, ” the boys told Apostrophe. – I really liked it, the atmosphere was great. We are now rested after the holidays and have only the best hopes for our senior year.”.
Instead, Zhenya studied in the first grade at a Polish school in Bialystok, and now she is looking forward to lessons in her native language.
“I don’t know Polish very well,” the girl admitted.
Natalia is the mother of an 11th grader and a 4th grade student. She came to Poland with her children on March 6. At first, she took her children to a Polish school.
“The son studied at the lyceum, and the daughter at the primary school. We were very well received, we are grateful to Polish teachers, children and the whole country. But of course they wanted to go to their school, – Natalia shares with “Apostrophe”. – Even in the evening they were very worried, and already in the morning the mood was high. The children are very happy to go to Ukrainian school. They are looking forward to meeting the class and new friends. We expect that everything will be fine in Ukraine and we will return”.
Knowledge Day – without lessons
During the festive event, which, according to the director of the school Ms. Estella, was completely improvised, there was not just a family atmosphere, but the full awareness of everyone present that everyone who gathered in this hall is from Ukraine. Such cohesion and unity are very important in a foreign country, where we had to go because of the war.
“There will be no lessons today, today is a holiday for children and teachers,” Maryna Yusyn, head of the communications and fundraising department of the Unbreakable Ukraine Foundation, told Apostrophe. – The teachers made a video and want to show it to us. This is a surprise for us – we haven’t seen it, we don’t know what will be there. They did it until two in the morning”.
The video shows the life of the school from its opening to the last bell. Only a few months, but already so many memories, funny photos. The spring was full of events, extracurricular and extracurricular activities, and in the summer the school camp worked in six shifts.
We would like to add that from the International Children’s Fund UNICEF, the first graders received backpacks as a gift, which the school director advised to keep as a memory until the 11th grade, so that they can share their memories later. And in a few weeks, each school student will also receive a tablet as a gift.
In the heart of the old city
Classes will start next week, and the school even has its own premises – in the very center of the old city, in the building of the former lyceum.
“Everything is white, light, inside – stucco, high ceilings and windows, ” says Estella. – The only thing is that it needed repair, so repair work is still going on there. They are generally finished, it remains to polish, wash, make metal protection on the wooden stairs to the second floor, so that the children are safe. In order not to fall, because it was a little unsuitable for children”.
Another problem is the lack of desks and chairs. They are currently waiting for the completed order and will study elsewhere for now. But in a few weeks, there are plans to send the children to that luxurious, and most importantly, their own room. Moreover, there were twice as many children this year, and there were even parallel classes – A and B.
Accordingly, 545 children went to the Ukrainian school in Krakow today, including 47 boys and girls – up to the first grade, and 55 young students – up to the 11th grade. In total, there are 40 to 56 schoolchildren on each parallel.
We will remind that for the first time Ukrainian children celebrate the Day of Knowledge in the conditions of war. We really want to hope that these boys and girls will celebrate the holiday of the last bell in their native schools of free and peaceful Ukraine.