UKELODEON: For The Next Generation (04/14/02)

UKELODEON

For The Next Generation

Washington community honors Shevchenko

by Chrystia Shashkewych-Oryshkevych

WASHINGTON - Each year the Ukrainian School of Washington commemorates the birthday of Taras Shevchenko. This year's special celebration was the result of a group effort to have a more formal gathering in the neighboring church across the street from the Shevchenko monument.

On Saturday, March 9, the Ukrainian School of Washington, Ukrainian Association of Washington, Embassy of Ukraine, Shevchenko Scientific Society, Ukrainian School of Baltimore, and the Washington and Baltimore Ukrainian credit unions sponsored a community celebration honoring Shevchenko. All gathered at the Shevchenko monument located between 22nd and 23rd Streets, at the intersection of P Street, in the nation's capital, for a wreath-laying ceremon, led by Theodore Caryk, the director of the Washington Ukrainian School.

The program continued indoors with a procession of the multitude of children entering the hall and gathering at the stage. The Rev. Volodymyr Steliac, pastor of St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Silver Spring, Md., led the prayer, followed by the singing of Shevchenko's "Zapovit." Sophika Nakonechna-Smith and Halyna Breslawec of the association and Mr. Caryk delivered introductions.

Program announcer Chrystia Shashkewych-Oryshkevych introduced the choir of the Ukrainian School of Washington (Grades 1-6), which performed under the direction of Sophika Nakonechna-Smith and to the piano accompaniment of Larissa Diachok-Wild. The pupils of Grades 1-3, plus two bilingual classes, each recited works by or about Shevchenko.

First Secretary Hennadii Nadolenko expressed greetings from the Embassy of Ukraine. The keynote speaker, Sviatoslav Karavansky, who like Shevchenko spent most of his adult years in prisons of a regime that enslaved Ukraine or in exile, is a writer, poet and linguist.

Grades 5-8 of Washington, as well as students from the Ukrainian School in Baltimore, led by teacher Michael Stadnyk, recited excerpts of Shevchenko's poems. Children from the Embassy of Ukraine presented a montage with a medley of songs prepared by Lyuba Korsunska and Nilya Pospishna. Grade 10 of Washington did a reading about Shevchenko the artist-painter, with each student holding a copy of an artwork by the poet.

This event was made possible through the untiring work of teachers Natalka Krawczuk-Wells, Lesia Koval, Orysia Bilyk-Earhart, Marta Kowalczyk-Reuter, Helen Chaikovska, Larissa Yaniv-Fontana, Alex Vasylenko, Marta Pryshlak-Mostovych, Ms. Shashkewych-Oryshkevych, Nusia Woch-Kerda and Ms. Nakonechna-Smith.

Cinematographer Slavko Nowytski filmed the program to show Ukrainians in Ukraine how Washingtonians celebrate "Sviato Shevchen-ka." Petro Fedynsky, an anchorperson for "Window on America," a part of Voice of America, produced a short feature that was aired in Ukraine in March.

New Jersey kids present Shevchenko program

by Olga Prychka

CHERRY HILL, N.J. - March is Taras Shevchenko month at St. Michael's Ukrainian Catholic Church in Cherry Hill, N.J., and a special program commemorated the 188th anniversary of Shevchenko's birth.

With bandura music in the background, one by one, the children carried cut-out letters and attached them to the back board spelling the name "Taras Shevchenko." This was followed by the placing of puzzle pieces to reveal the portrait of Taras Shevchenko. After each of these exercise, the children sang a refrain: "Taras Shevchenko." Thus, without any spoken words, the program began.

Brief commentaries on the life and accomplishments of Shevchenko were delivered by Dr. Oleh Onyskiv and Serhiy Hrubiy in Ukrainian, and by Michael W. Romach in English.

Poetry was recited in Ukrainian and English by Irina Hrubiy, Nadia Mas-lowych, Oleh Protas, Daniel Orich-owskyj, Vasyl Protas, Roman Protas, Ruslan Protas, Tara Orichowsky, Marissa Orichowskyj, Taisa Kohut, Yurij Onyskiv, Alexa Luzecky and Larissa Stawnychy.

The following children also took part in the program's opening: Roman Harasym III, Andriy Hrubiy, Lauren Mascio, Nicole Mascio, Diana Orichowskyj, Steven Slotwinski and Justin Slotwinski.

The choir, under the direction of Taras Halushka and with the accompaniment of bandurist Stephan Orichowskyj, sang several works set to the great poet's lyrics, and a chorus of children directed by Vicki Kara sang a recurring refrain.

The program was planned and directed by Olga Prychka, president of the Committee to Aid the Children of Chornobyl, which also sponsors Ukrainian educational programs.

Shevchenko urged his readers "to think, to read, to learn from others, but not to ignore their own." He also underscored that "Our language, our song, will not die, will not perish."

Students recall a wonderful teacher who touched many lives

Below is the farewell to Lydia Smyk (our colleague at UKELODEON), who passed away on February 14, delivered at a memorial service by Anne Skuza, an eighth-grader at St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic School in Newark, N.J.

Dearest friends and family of the late Mrs. Smyk:

On behalf of my fellow students at St. John the Baptist School, I would like to speak to you this morning. Thursday's event has touched all of us. Our school is in a state of bereavement over the loss of Mrs. Smyk. We are now looking upon our precious lives with a new awareness and appreciation.

Mrs. Smyk played a tremendous role in our school. For many of us, she was not only a wonderful teacher, but a close friend and mentor.

She organized myriad fund-raisers for our school's benefit. Mrs. Smyk was very active in the annual Halloween masquerade and Valentine's Day dance. Who will ever forget her running about the school dressed as a witch, encouraging people to attend?

She was a very open, warm-hearted person. Mrs. Smyk helped new students and teachers feel welcome. When she taught, she encouraged everyone to participate. She made learning enthralling and fun. Every year she organized a colossal "Amazon Rainforest Experience" with the help of her homeroom class.

Today's service is not a time to wallow in our loss; rather, it is a time to celebrate Mrs. Smyk's life. In her brief time on earth, she touched so many individuals.

Speaking for my graduating class in particular, Mrs. Smyk, our teacher of two beautiful years, kindergarten and 4th grade, will always remain in our thoughts. The knowledge she passed on to us will never leave us; in a way, she will always be present.

The way she lived her life to the fullest, with so much tenderness and understanding toward her fellow human beings, is an example to us all. May we never forget her.

The first reviews are in...

NEWARK, N.J. - UKELODEON reported back in February about the upcoming opera debut of 6-year-old Orest Pyndus of Newark, N.J., and now the reviews are in. Orest, who played the role of "Trouble," son of Cio-Cio-San, in the opera "Madama Butterfly" by Giacomo Puccini, was reported to have been "outstanding" in his role. According to a local newspaper, the Essex Journal, Orest "captured the very spirit of little Trouble."

Passaic school celebrates Ukrainian Day

by Daria H. Patti

PASSAIC, N.J. - St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic School recently celebrated Ukrainian Day. During the day the students and teachers wore blue and yellow ribbons and for lunch enjoyed pyrohy, and blue and yellow Jell-O.

At 1 p.m. the students performed for their parents, grandparents and parishioners. The program began with the reading of a letter from the Consulate General of Ukraine in New York City, followed by songs, poems, a montage in honor of Taras Shevchenko, hahilky and the Hopak.

The walls were filled with a variety of displays made by students. These included a 20-foot "vyshyvka" (embroidery) banner, pysanky, ceramics, tryzubs (national emblems of Ukraine), costumes from different regions of Ukraine and a four-foot "vinok" (wreath) that hung on stage.

The older grades enjoyed researching famous Ukrainians on the Internet. They were very excited and proud to find several hundred names. They chose over 50 names and displayed them, along with a description of what made them notable, on the walls of the auditorium.

The students had a great time preparing for and learning new things about Ukraine, and all who attended spent a wonderful afternoon enjoying St. Nicholas School's Ukrainian Day.

The next Wayne Gretzky?

by Natalia Bilchuk

JERSEY CITY, N.J. - I was only 4 when Nick entered my life, and he changed it forever. From then on, even when I didn't notice it, he looked up to me; I was his big sister.

I remember when I taught him to walk. Time went by, and before long I began teaching Nick to rollerblade. Though at first he didn't know many tricks other than how to go forward, it didn't take long for him to learn all of the others, and eventually outskate me.

Nick loved rollerblading - the only problem was that he couldn't rollerblade during the winters.

The following winter, Nick and I decided to try ice skating. He stood on the ice like a natural - as if he was born to skate on ice. A year went by, and Nick joined the hockey team. He learned many new skills and gained experience for playing the game. Now every game that he plays he scores "hat tricks" left and right.

Nick loves hockey, and plans to become a professional hockey player when he gets older. For now, he's just having fun playing hockey in the "Squirts League," and watching his favorite hockey team, the Colorado Avalanche on TV.

Next month Nick will be 10 years old, and I hope that his dream of playing hockey in the Winter Olympics comes true some day. Happy birthday, Nick!

Wintertime activities from northern New Jersey ...

by Daria Temnycky

PASSAIC, N.J. - Ice-skating is becoming a tradition for the Passaic branch of Plast. For the third year now, its ice skating trip was a huge success. Over 50 participants from age 3 to 60 had a great time on the ice. This family event brings together not only children, but parents as well. The "yunatstvo" (kids age 11-17) helps the "novatstvo" (kids age 7-11), the even younger "ptashata," and sometimes even the adults. Some of the children worked toward their ice skating merit badges.

... to the Embassy of Ukraine in Beijing, China

by Stephen Rudyk

YORKTOWN HEIGHTS, N.Y. - Ukraine's independence has created many additional "must see" spots for travelers around the world. There are now many embassies and consulates that warrant a visit. Seeing a tryzub or Ukraine's colors far away from home is always such a comforting feeling. With that in mind, and an introduction by Col. Victor Hvozd of Ukraine's Mission to the United Nations in New York City, a group of young Ukrainians visited the Ukrainian Embassy in Beijing, China, in January. The visitors were also treated to a deluxe dinner of the local specialty, Peking duck. Seen on the left, standing in front of the Ukrainian Embassy's tryzub-emblazoned black and gold gate are : (from left) Nykola Rudyk, Col. Andrii Bilenkyi (military attaché), Michelle Odomirok, Robert Odomirok, Adrianna Rudyk, Natalka Hordynsky, David Odomirok and Josh Smith.

Mishanyna

This month, to mark the arrival of spring, Mishanyna focuses on flowers. To solve Mishanyna, search for the names of the 27 flowers listed below.

ageratum, alyssum, anemone, aster, begonia, crocus, daffodil, dahlia, daisy, day lily, forget-me-not, hyacinth, iris, lobelia, marigold, mum, pansy, peony, poppy, portulaca, rose, sage, sunflower, tulip, verbena, violet, zinnia

DID YOU READ ABOUT the Ukrainian American astronaut who will be going into space aboard the space shuttle in April 2003? The Ukrainian Weekly's front page of March 17 reported on Commander Heidemarie M. Stefanyshyn-Piper's exciting, and historic, new assignment.

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