UKELODEON: For The Next Generation (07/11/04)

UKELODEON

For The Next Generation

Students compete as team Ukraine in school's "Olympics"

by Ania Shalauta

NORTH HILLS, Calif. - The blue-and-yellow Ukrainian flag waved once again at the "2004 Olympic Games" at a San Fernando Valley elementary school. Ms. Shirley Deedon's sixth grade students at Valley Presbyterian School in North Hills represented Ukraine in the school's traditional Olympics held every four years.

This is Ukraine's fourth time to be represented; the first being in 1992 shortly after Ukraine declared its independence.

Each class represented a different country and studied its culture. The studies culminated with an Olympic Day held on June 4, which began with a Parade of Nations, Opening Ceremonies, an international program, and competitive games. Wearing tryzub-adorned t-shirts, with girls wearing "vinky," the students marched behind a Ukrainian banner and followed leaders dressed in authentic costumes carrying a traditional Ukrainian welcoming bread.

During the school year, Tina Osadca Zacharczuk, a parent of former students, taught the students about Ukraine's culture, history, costumes, geography, music, dance and traditions. The students made pysanky, which they will cherish for years.

In preparation for the international program on Olympic Day, the 25 students enthusiastically learned and diligently practiced a Ukrainian dance. They performed a traditional "Pryvit," welcoming their audience with bread and salt, followed by a fast-paced finale in which the audience instinctively clapped their hands to the music, inspiring the young boys and girls as they performed many of the steps that are loved and appreciated by audiences around the globe. In the competitive portion of the Olympic Day, the crowds cheered as Ukraine won medals in the various events.

The biggest challenge Mrs. Zacharczuk had was to explain why Ukrainians feel so passionately about freedom and their ethnic identity. This lay in the fact that these sixth graders were born well after the collapse of the Soviet Union and Ukraine's declared independence, and do not have an understanding of what it meant to live under Communist rule.

The students reported that learning about Ukraine will be one of their fondest memories, and they will be looking for the Ukrainian athletes at the upcoming Olympic Games in Greece.

Other nations represented in the school's Olympics were Ireland, the Netherlands, Italy, France, Germany, Israel, Spain, Mexico, Japan, Kenya and the U.S.A.

Dancers ready for 2004 festival

GLEN SPEY, N.Y. - Dancers - students and their instructors - pause for a group picture (seen on the left) at the Roma Pryma-Bohachevsky Ukrainian Dance Workshop being held in Glen Spey, N.Y. , at the Verkhovyna resort. Three weeks of intensive study in ballet, character and Ukrainian dance will culminate with the dancers' performances at the ever-popular Verkhovyna Ukrainian Festival on July 16-18. Students from all over the United States, as well as Canada and Australia, have come to continue the legacy begun by Roma Pryma-Bohachevsky, and supported by the newly established Roma Pryma-Bohachevsky Ukrainian Dance Foundation.

New Jersey Devils mascot visits with SUM youths in Whippany, N.J.

by Andrew Rago

WHIPPANY, N.J. - The Whippany Branch of the Ukrainian American Youth Association (SUM) had its "zakryttia," or the last meeting before summer, on June 7.

In order to ease the "sumivtsi's" disappointment over no longer attending skhodyny, the New Jersey Devils mascot came to visit. Everyone was not only surprised, but also excited at the appearance of this well-known figure.

The Devil took pictures with us and personally autographed photos of himself for every child. After everyone had their fill of pictures and autographs, the mascot left and we had a ceremonial gathering. All the SUM members who had won medals at Zlet during Memorial Day weekend were congratulated. After this, all the "sumivtsi" that had passed their "ispyty" (exams) were awarded their patches and pledged their loyalty to God, Ukraine and SUM on the SUM flag.

Two teenagers, Katia Kleban and Christopher Rizzo, received their first-level counselor patch and Andrew Rago received his second level counselor patch for their work with the younger "sumivtsi."

Once the official ceremonies were over, everyone ate pizza and subs. It was a great end to another terrific year in SUM.

Mishanyna

To solve this month's Mishanyna, find the words on the list below - all things you might take on a summertime camping trip - in the Mishanyna grid.

backpack, binoculars, blanket, canteen, compass, flashlight, hat, hiking boots, insect repellent, map, matches, mess kit, poncho, rope, sleeping bag, sunscreen, tent, windbreaker

OUR NAME: UKELODEON: it rhymes with nickelodeon. Yes, that's a kids' network (spelled with a capital "N"), but the original word referred to an early movie theater that charged a nickel for admission. According to The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, the root of the word, "odeon," is from the Greek "oideion," a small building used for public performances of music and poetry. Our UKELODEON is envisioned as a public space where our youth, from kindergartners to teens, can come to learn, to share information, to relate their experiences, and to keep in touch with each other. Its contents will be shaped by the young readers of the next generation.

OUR NEXT ISSUE: UKELODEON is published on the second Sunday of every month. To make it into our next issue, dated August 8, please send in your materials by July 30.

We especially encourage kids and teens to submit articles and see their names in print. And don't forget to send a photo or two. Plus, photos of UKELODEON reporters - that means any of you young readers who submit a story - are welcome.

Please drop us a line:

UKELODEON,
The Ukrainian Weekly,
2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280,
Parsippany, NJ 07054
fax, (973) 644-9510
phone, (973) 292-9800
e-mail, [email protected].

(We ask all contributors to please include a daytime phone number.)

CHECK IT OUT: In the centerfold of this issue read about the Ukrainian American Youth Association's annual Zlet gathering for its youths at the organization's oselia (resort) in Ellenville, N.Y.

And, by the way, did you see the spread about Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization's 2004 Sviato Yuriya in our June 20 issue?

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