Edmonton school of Ukrainian studies honors graduates, revises curriculum (07/27/97)

Edmonton school of Ukrainian studies honors graduates, revises curriculum

EDMONTON - At the Ivan Franko School of Ukrainian Studies, the subjects of Ukrainian history, geography, culture, literature and language arts are taught in Ukrainian, and classes run every Saturday morning from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. during the regular school year. Subjects were taught over a five-year period, however with the 1997-1998 school year, the program has been condensed into a four-year time frame.

This year's graduates of the Ivan Franko School of Ukrainian Studies (IFSUS) comprised an exceptionally talented group of students: Kharytia Bilash, Yarko Yopyk, Daria Kotovych, Michael Bindas, Christine Kolomyjchuk, Christine Konowalec, Roman Korol, Stefan Cybulsky, Yarko Boyarchuk, Andrew Wozniak, Orysia Huk, Myrosia Luciw, Zenia Martynkiw and Vanessa Miskiw.

On Sunday, June 1, following the divine liturgy at St. George's Ukrainian Catholic Church, the graduates attended a brunch at the Chateau Louis Hotel. Parents, friends, guests and teachers were on hand to greet and congratulate students on the successful completion of many years of study. Fifth-year graduates Miss Martynkiw and Miss Huk gave the valedictory address on behalf of their classmates. All of the fourth year graduating students then related interesting, funny and pleasant highlights from the four years at IFSUS. After many years of working together, these students have become close friends and their friendships no doubt will continue.

The Ukrainian Professional and Business Club of Edmonton awarded several scholarships to students in the graduating classes in recognition of high academic achievement. The recipients were Mr. Wozniak, Miss Martynkiw, Miss Kotovych and Mr. Bindas. As in previous years, the parents' committee of the IFSUS distributed numerous cash awards based on academic standing.

For the remainder of the school's students the academic year ended on June 21. After a moleben at St. John's Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral, report cards were distributed and awards were presented. The two recipients of awards from the Ukrainian Professional and Business Club of Edmonton for academic achievement at the grade 9 level were Michael Bell and Anna Magera.

IFSUS has undergone a major revamping this past year and further changes will be implemented in the coming school year. An education committee was formed in 1995 to look at ways to improve the school. The committee's recommendations included writing a new and more relevant program of studies in all subject areas, as well as preparing materials and gathering resources.

The committee decided this project was of great importance and long overdue, mainly because of changes in the language abilities and interests of the student population. There was increasing concern that students were not learning as much as they could simply because they did not understand all that was being taught; furthermore, if they did understand, many could not place the information being conveyed into any relevant context.

The goal of the project, then, was to create a program of studies that taught children, raised in North American homes where Ukrainian may not always be the first language, about their heritage and ancestors in a way that they could more readily understand and absorb. The curricular materials have been adapted so that they reflect the diminished Ukrainian language skills of most second-and third-generation Ukrainian Canadian students.

The first phase of rewriting the curriculum has been completed, and work on the second phase is to continue over the summer and fall. This is a major undertaking, and everyone on the various subcommittee has invested a great amount of time and energy. The committee has expressed its confidence, that beginning with the 1997-1998 school year, students will benefit far more from the new curriculum.

IFSUS continues to be supported by the Alberta Department of Education, and students receive high school credits for Ukrainian courses. In addition, graduates of IFSUS gain in-depth knowledge in Ukrainian-related topics that would be impossible to obtain in a regular school setting due to time constraints. The school's students have a well-developed national and cultural consciousness and are often sought by Ukrainian organizations and firms that have business ties in Ukraine.

Lessons are taught in the school at St. John's Cathedral Auditorium in Edmonton at 10611 110th Ave. Registration for the new school year is on September 6 at 9 a.m. For further information place contact the principal, Lesia Soltykewych, at (403) 434-6671 or e-mail [email protected]

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