UKELODEON: For The Next Generation (02/13/05)

UKELODEON

For The Next Generation

Plast group in Yonkers celebrates "Svichechka"

by Lesia Lopatynsky

YONKERS, N.Y. - On Friday, January 14, members of the recently reactivated Plast group in Yonkers, N.Y., joined together to celebrate their first annual "Svichechka" held at the spacious new SUMA Federal Credit Union building. The gathering of novatstvo (age 6-11) and ptashata (age 4-6), their counselors and parents, was held to mark Christmas and the New Year with a holiday program and "koliaduvannia," or caroling.

The holiday gathering provided an excellent forum for officially welcoming the group's newest members of novatstvo: Olena Kocur, Maya Lopatynsky and Greg Lopatynsky. The three recited their pledge, promising to strive to be good novaky/novachky as they join the circle of Plast members. They proudly wore the yellow neckerchiefs placed on them by "Hnizdova" Lesia Lopatynsky and basked in the warm congratulations from "Sestrychka" Lesia and "Bratchyk" Ivas Shmotolocha, the group leader. ("Sestrychka" and "bratchyk" are what the youngest Plast members call their counselors.)

Novachka Lesia Danyluk offered a "vinshuvannia" (Christmas greeting) to the evening's hosts, the directors and employees of the SUMA Federal Credit Union. A winter poem, recited by ptashata Terenia Hankewycz and Zorianna Makarenko, was warmly received by all. The plastuny held candles and also handed out candles to all those present. Bratchyk Ivas lit the candles and led the group in some joyous koliady. Later, everyone shared some "kutia" (a traditional Christmas Eve dish).

Walter Kozicky, president of the credit union, thanked the Plast members for their caroling and welcomed the newly revived Plast group from a long hiatus in the Yonkers community. In turn, Bratchyk Ivas and Bratchyk Tymish Hankewycz thanked the credit union for all of their support and for allowing the group to hold their "Svichechka" in the new credit union building.

It was evident that the Plast kids had a wonderful time, and the group plans to make "Svichechka" an annual event.

Assumption School celebrates Catholic Schools Week

by Andrea Mullen

PERTH AMBOY, N.J. - Catholic Schools Week was held here at Ukrainian Assumption School during the week of January 31-February 4.

As part of the festivities, the school held a Fairy Tale Festival. The seventh and eighth graders constructed a carnival of games and fun food, and decorated the school auditorium. This special event was enjoyed by the students, as well as the faculty and staff, who dressed up as their favorite fairy tale characters for the day.

Other activities included a "Luau Luncheon" for family and friends of the primary grades, Groundhog Day festivities, a basketball game pitting the eighth graders against the seventh graders, a bake sale organized by the Sodality to benefit the tsunami victims, a Pre-K pajama day, Kindergarten Appreciation Day and Reading Buddies ice cream social.

Ukrainian Assumption Catholic School, which is attended by about 170 students from pre-kindergarten through grade 8, is affiliated with the Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Assumption.

85 Plast youths attend 50th anniversary ski camp

GLENS FALLS, N.Y. - Eight-five young skiers and a staff of some 35 camp directors, counselors and administrators on December 25-31, 2004 participated in the annual Plast Ski Camp organized by the Burlaky Fraternity of Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization. The campers skied at Gore Mountain in North Creek, N.Y., and were lodged at the Landmark Motor Inn in nearby Glens Falls. If you haven't guessed just by looking at the photo on the right, the camp's theme was the Orange Revolution in Ukraine. Note the big "Tak!" (Yes!) slogan of Viktor Yushchenko at the bottom of the group photo. The campers also learned songs of the Orange Revolution, including the now historic rap song "Razom Nas Bahato" (Together We Are Many). The year 2004 marked the 50th anniversary of Plast Ski Camps organized by the Burlaky. According to the Burlaky, approximately 4,000 Plast youths have attended the camps during that half-century. The camp is ever-popular, attracting skiers and snowboarders (as well as those who wish to learn) from as far away as California, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Maryland and the District of Columbia, and of course from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Massachusetts. The director of the 2004 camp was Myron Deputat.

Barvinok's youngest kids hone their dance skills

by Roma Krauth

SOUTH BOUND BROOK, N.J. - The youngest members of the Barvinok Dance Group enjoyed a pizza party with their parents on a cold day in January. The children, age 4-8, delight in learning dance under the instruction of Hryhorij Momot of Unist, and formerly director of the Chaika dance troupe in Yonkers, N.Y.

Last year the youngest Barvinok group was a new addition to Mr. Momot's older age groups. The youngsters successfully performed at such events as the Yonkers Ukrainian Heritage Festival and the Ukrainian Federal Credit Union Annual Picnic.

This year, these fresh, smiling, young faces hope to improve their dance skills even more, all the while continuing an important aspect of Ukrainian culture. Maybe you'll see them at a festival near you!

If you are between 4 and 8 years old - or the parent of a child in that age range - you may be interested in dance instruction by Mr. Momot in South Bound Brook on Mondays. For information call Karolyn Telyczka at (732) 568-9161. New members are urged to join before the end of February, so as to not interfere with the learning of choreography for new performances.

Mishanyna

To solve this month's Mishanyna, find the capitalized words on the list below in the Mishanyna grid. Hint: all the words have something to do with the month of February.

GROUNDHOG DAY, SNOW, WINTER, COLD, VALENTINE'S DAY, LENT , SECOND month, AMETHYST birthstone, LINCOLN'S birthday, WASHINGTON's birthday, PRESIDENTS' DAY, TWENTY-EIGHT days, GREAT FAST

OUR NEXT ISSUE: UKELODEON is published on the second Sunday of every month. To make it into our next issue, dated March 13, please send in your materials by March 4. We especially encourage kids and teens to submit articles and see their names in print. And don't forget to send a photo!

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