The only Ukrainian school in Brooklyn: what they study in it and how much education costs

There are a huge number of Russian-speaking immigrants in New York. Most of them live in Brooklyn. Four years ago, the first Ukrainian school opened here, where 150 children study. This is described in detail in the video report of the publication. "Voice of America".

How did you get the idea to open a school

The Ukrainian New Wave school appeared in Brooklyn four years ago. It is the only center of Ukrainian culture in this part of the city, where most of the Russian-speaking immigrants traditionally live.

The idea to open a Saturday school originated from the current director, Miroslava Rozdolskaya, at the moment when she met Ukrainian acquaintances with her daughter. “I met acquaintances and a girl of five or six years old. She spoke Russian with her mother, although I know that they are from Ivano-Frankivsk. Says: “We live in Brooklyn and go to a Russian-speaking kindergarten,” recalls Rozdolskaya.

Ukrainians in New York

According to the census, in 2000 about 160 thousand Ukrainians lived in New York and its environs. However, according to the headmaster, in recent years the number of immigrants has increased significantly, including in Brooklyn.

After all, many of those who travel to the United States start a new life in this area of ​​the Big Apple, the video says. There is a large Ukrainian and Russian diaspora here, so it is easier for newcomers to find housing and adapt to a new country.

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According to the director of the school, because of the Russian-speaking population of Brooklyn, more and more Ukrainian families speak Russian among themselves. Nevertheless, they bring children to the Ukrainian school.

“When the New Wave school was just starting to work, it was expected that at best up to 30 children would join it,” said rector Larisa Zanik. “In reality, the result exceeded all expectations: at first 35 children were registered, by the end of the year there were already more than 80 of them, and today - 150”.

Schoolchildren and curriculum

The school is attended by children of different ages - from 3 to 18 years old. One year of study here costs $ 650. 15 teachers work with students.

At the same time, it is not easy for children to study here, because for 28 Saturdays they have to learn the program for which their peers in Ukraine spend the whole academic year.
The school teaches the Ukrainian language and literature, history, geography, culture and music.
After classes, most children go to clubs, dances and vocals.

Plans for the future

The school founders plan to create the only full-fledged Ukrainian center in Brooklyn. Various concerts are already being held here - and not only for children, but also for the whole society, for example, to support the ATO soldiers.

The Ukrainian school in Brooklyn is actively developing, and the number of children is growing every year. For this reason, the management of the institution, which leases several floors from the Roman Catholic Church, is looking for a new building that can accommodate everyone.