NEWS AND VIEWS

A Ukrainian Montessori preschool and a 180-degree turnaround

by Lillianna Chudolij

The arguments seemed to increase in frequency daily. The frustration level had skyrocketed. Years of practice reading, speaking, taking him to Ridna Shkola Ukrainian School every Saturday, Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization every Tuesday, the Ukrainian American Youth Association (SUM) every Friday, Ukrainian dancing, singing, concerts, "zabavy", various festivals, functions, camps, etc. - all this effort seemed to be for naught. Our son's outside influences looked to be winning out over the foundation we had thought was in place. Typical Ukrainian American teenager syndrome, right?

Wrong. This was happening to our son at age 4!

As two full-time working parents without the assistance of a "baba" or a "dido", we had to rely on outsiders to help with our son. In the beginning, it was a bit frustrating to our caretakers to understand our son, who knew only Ukrainian. To us, his "broken English" sounded very pleasant.

By age 3 1/2 however, things were very different. There was more English in his everyday speech than ever before, especially after we sent him to American pre-K.

Speaking Ukrainian in our home is a must; even the dog "speaks" Ukrainian. To have our son's ability to communicate in our language fade away in front of our very eyes was the unthinkable reality facing us. It became a bigger problem when his outside activities were more frustrating than fun to attend. As an adult, I find it a bit intimidating when put in a situation where I may understand everything that is said around me in another language, yet I cannot respond. Imagine what our son had felt all these times. He began to withdraw rather than participate. Things were not looking good.

One evening in late May of 1999, I was at the Ukrainian Center in Passaic attending SUM and trading stories with other mothers. Suddenly, one turned to me and said: "There is a Ukrainian preschool in Newark. Why don't you take him there?" Wow! I couldn't believe what I had just heard! Was this a prayer answered or what?!

After asking a ton of questions, getting directions and the phone number of the woman in charge, my husband, son and I made an appointment to meet the teacher on June 5. We didn't know what to expect, but we did know that we were desperate!

Olenka Makarushka-Kolodiy, the school's director, was most gracious, kind and tolerant of our inquiries. After explaining that the preschool is run as a Montessori class, all of the lessons are taught in Ukrainian, plus all students are taught the English lettering system, we knew right then and there that this was indeed a prayer answered. If nothing else, our little boy would relearn how to speak Ukrainian, now because of both nature and nurture.

In September 1999 our son Peter Chudolij was enrolled and attending St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Montessori Preschool of Newark, N.J., run under the auspices of St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church.

At first the frustration level for Petrus was still pretty huge for a 4-year-old. He was sometimes sad after school because he couldn't respond the way some of the other children could. This made him angry, too. Believe me, the drive from Clifton to Newark and then to work in Carlstadt and back again every day was long. But, like everything else, I got used to it. Soon even Petrus' negative feelings became positive. In fact, the change was remarkable! Petrus was again speaking "broken English" within six weeks of school. By Christmastime, it was as if he had been born again. It was great!

At home and at all of his other activities, Petrus began to flourish. Everyone was very happy with his scholastic achievements, his social achievements and his cultural achievements - especially Petrus. Our little Kozak had blossomed into a proud, self-assured, confident, well-educated, and positive being. Now he scolds us whenever we slip and don't speak Ukrainian.

The pièce de resistance came last Friday, June 2, when I was informed by Mrs. Makarushka-Kolodiy that a Board of Education reviewer had considered our son as possibly needing the ESL (English as a Second Language) courses in kindergarten. And, it's not that Petrus wasn't able to respond in English - he knows plenty. He simply didn't feel it was appropriate at that time. In fact, he later inquired why that woman didn't speak any Ukrainian.

You see, now he expected it, he looked for it, and he looked forward to it. A complete 180-degree turn!

So if you're like us, Ukrainian Americans who would like your son or daughter to learn and preserve our language and culture, and become proud Ukrainians, I cannot urge you enough to enroll in this school. Ms. Makarushka-Kolodiy (a.k.a. "Pani Olenka") and staff are truly a treasure that needs to be shared. The school grounds are neat and cheerful and the cost of education is inexpensive compared to other preschools or daycare options. The after-school care, which is up to 5:30 p.m., was included in the tuition! Even if you have enrolled your child somewhere else for September 2000, forfeiting that registration fee is worth it! (We did with no regrets.)

There are so few programs left for us as a Ukrainian community; take advantage of this one.

In United States, our children are subjected to all kinds of different cultures and languages during the course of their lives. It is up to every Ukrainian parent to make a conscious effort and choice to ensure our heritage's preservation in this melting pot.

The biggest injustice to our children is to do nothing, be nobody and be without roots. The St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Preschool of Newark gives them a fabulous, concrete foundation. Take them there. See them build themselves into something great! What they learn there will stay with them as they develop through the years.

The phone number to the preschool is (973) 371-3254. During the summer. The school address is 715-719 Sanford Ave., Newark, NJ 07106.

As the saying goes, "Do it and you'll be glad you did."

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, June 25, 2000, No. 26, Vol. LXVIII

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