COMMUNITY CHRONICLE (11/09/03)

COMMUNITY CHRONICLE

Houston's "Ridna Skhola" begins classes

by Tania Hrynewycz

HOUSTON - On Sunday, September 7, the Ukrainian "Ridna Shkola" of Houston rang in the beginning of its new school year. The youngest student rang in the bell on the shoulders of one of the oldest students, who happens to be an exchange student from Ukraine. Director Tetyana Lytvynchuk and Father Mykola Dovzhuk greeted almost 40 students.

In Houston, Ukrainian school starts every week after Sunday liturgy and a student lunch in the cultural center at 12:15 p.m. Though many Ukrainian schools have classes on Saturdays, Sundays work better for this community, which is marked by a commitment and flexibility I have not seen in many places. Even the choice of Sundays over Saturdays came out of a willingness to try both situations and find out what works better for the majority.

I arrived in Houston last year and have already seen the Ukrainian school grow and become better. We have five classrooms covering all ages from pre-school (sadochok) through high school. We also have a class in the Ukrainian language for English speakers. This year not only are the basics of language being taught, but we have a music teacher and dance instructors, as well as catechism.

The instruction time is rather extended, yet one Sunday when the school day ended and I asked my daughter casually, "Ready to go home?" She responded, "Can't I stay and play a bit?"

That is the other part of Houston Iike. The community truly welcomes and makes an effort to make newcomers feel welcome. All suggestions are taken into consideration. The community consists of Ukrainians who came to the United States many years ago, Ukrainians who came recently, as well as American-born Ukrainians. The Houston Ukrainian community is one of the reasons I feel comfortable calling Houston home now.

If you are interested in the Houston Ukrainian Ridna Shkola, please write to us at: Ukrainian School of Houston "Ridna Shkola," P.O. Box 1006, Pearland, TX 77588-1006. Alternately we may be reached by phone, 281-412-7327, or e-mail: [email protected]. Our webpage is located at http://ukeschoolhouston.home.att.net.

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