At the Ukrainian studies school in the city of Palatine, a Last Bell celebration and graduation ceremony took place, which this year became not only a solemn conclusion of studies for sixteen graduates, but also an example of humanity, compassion, and support for Ukraine.
This was reported by Radio UA Chicago.
Traditionally, the graduation ceremony at the Palatine Ukrainian school is a special event for the entire community. Organizers recalled stories from previous years, including a former graduate-pilot flying an airplane over the school and students organizing fundraisers for prosthetics for an injured child or assistance to Ukrainian soldiers. This year’s graduation also had a charitable purpose — instead of lavish celebrations, the graduates decided to support a seriously ill boy named Ivanko, who lives at the “City of Goodness” shelter in Chernivtsi.
The boy lost parental care in childhood and is now being raised by the founder of “City of Goodness,” Marta Levchenko. According to the organizers, the graduates themselves proposed helping the child.
“We want to help him!” the students explained simply, without unnecessary pathos. Their initiative was supported by parents and teachers of the school.
The celebration began with a prayer, a blessing from Father Yaroslav, and a consecration by Father Andriy. Parents greeted the graduates with embroidered ritual towels, symbolically blessing them for a new stage in life.
During the ceremony, school principal Iryna Tsenglevych, who has led the institution for nearly twenty years, addressed the graduates. She thanked students, parents, and teachers for their shared efforts and emphasized the importance of preserving the Ukrainian language, culture, and traditions far from the homeland.
Representatives of the Consulate General of Ukraine in Chicago, the Selfreliance Federal Credit Union, and the Ukrainian Youth Association also congratulated the graduates.
The concert program was prepared by students and creative groups of the school. Young performers from the “Elegy” vocal studio, second-grade students, performed the song “Poviy, Buinyi Vitre, Nad Ukrainoiu.” Bandura player Vira Ivantsiv presented a musical performance with wishes of goodness and a happy future for the graduates, while the “Vodohrai” choir under the direction of Mariia Kyrychenko performed compositions about unity and the strength of the Ukrainian community.
An especially emotional moment of the celebration was the graduates’ dance with their parents. During the performance of a song about parents by Bohdan Savchuk, many guests could not hold back tears.
Organizers emphasized that the main idea of the celebration was not only saying goodbye to school, but also understanding responsibility toward other people and one’s roots.
“Every finish in one thing is, in essence, the start of something else,” was said during the graduation evening.
The school noted that for many children born in the United States, the Ukrainian school has become a place where they learn not only the language or history, but also a sense of belonging to Ukrainian culture and community.
The celebration concluded with wishes for peace for Ukraine, faith in one’s own strength, and a reminder to graduates always to remember their roots and carry Ukraine in their hearts wherever they may be.
Photo: Petro Kovtun
Author: Danylo Pievchev