Events
School life
Celebrations, competitions and teacher training — news from the Ukrainian Heritage School.
School Calendar 2026–2027
School leadership at the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly
The UHS administration had the privilege of taking part in the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly, attended by the First Lady of Ukraine during General Assembly week. School representatives joined a panel discussion on education during wartime. Its theme — “Learning to Stay Strong” — highlighted efforts to give children in Ukraine a quality education despite the terrible circumstances of war. One of the two keynote addresses was delivered by the First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, who spoke about Ukraine’s resilience, dignity and future. The program featured innovative teaching methods, coping strategies, and excerpts from an award-winning film.
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Professional growth for our staff: getting the most from interactive whiteboards
Our school held a training session for teachers and staff on the modern and safe use of interactive whiteboards. Teachers and assistants explored programs and apps that make learning more engaging and effective.
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First Bell Celebration at the Ukrainian Heritage School
On Saturday, September 6, 2025, the Ukrainian Heritage School celebrated the start of the new school year with its traditional First Bell ceremony. Students, parents, teachers and guests gathered to welcome another year of learning together.
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Emotional well-being for students: a workshop for teachers with Olya Myndiuk
Our school hosted an important and practical workshop on emotional stress relief for educators, led by pediatric neurologist Olya Myndiuk. During the session, our teachers were able to: learn stress-reduction techniques; practice breathing exercises and elements of body-oriented therapy; learn to recognize and respond effectively to emotional overload; and gain practical tools to support students’ emotional well-being during lessons. The workshop took place in a warm and trusting atmosphere, and every participant noted the practical value of what they learned.
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Easter Egg Hunt
On Saturday, April 5, 2025, the Ukrainian Heritage School held its traditional spring celebration — the Egg Hunt — which brings joy and fun to our children every year!
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Patriarch Josyf Slipyj Heritage Studies Center holds 16th recitation contest honoring Lina Kostenko’s 95th birthday
To mark the 95th birthday of the renowned Ukrainian poet Lina Kostenko, the recitation contest “The Winged Need No Ground” was held in Philadelphia on Saturday, March 22, 2025. The poetry competition, in which students in grades 9–12 of the Ukrainian Heritage School took part, was organized by the Patriarch Josyf Slipyj Heritage Studies Center of the St. Sophia Religious Association of Ukrainian Catholics in the USA. It was the sixteenth contest held at UHS on the Association’s initiative, and it coincided with National Poetry Reading Week. The jury named Yuliia Kurnitska (grade 12) the winner, Sofiia Huryn (grade 11-B) the runner-up, and Danylo Tokar (grade 10-A) the laureate. The sponsor, the Patriarch Josyf Slipyj Heritage Studies Center, provided prizes for the winners. Addressing the participants, Association President Iryna Ivankovych said: “Lina Kostenko’s words — ‘the winged need no ground’ — echo the thought of Patriarch Josyf Slipyj, who said: ‘Faith and knowledge are the two wings on which the human spirit rises into boundless space.’ Remember this especially in stormy times, when flight seems impossible. We were born to win.”
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Teacher training with Dr. Hanna Shvets of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv
On March 1, 2025, as part of UHS teachers’ professional development, we hosted a training session with Dr. Hanna Shvets, Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences and Associate Professor in the Department of Ukrainian Philology for Foreign Citizens. The topic was “Materials and resources for teaching children Ukrainian as a foreign and heritage language.” Dr. Shvets shared modern methods and resources for effectively teaching Ukrainian to children who are learning it as a foreign or heritage language. The session opened new opportunities for exchanging experience and building expertise in teaching Ukrainian as a heritage language.
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Third anniversary of the full-scale invasion
On February 22, 2025, teachers and students of the Ukrainian Heritage School, together with representatives of St. Michael the Archangel Church in Jenkintown, joined in a prayer for Ukraine marking the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
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Patriarch Josyf Slipyj Heritage Studies Center holds “Hold the Line!” recitation contest
On Saturday, October 5, 2024, on the initiative of the Patriarch Josyf Slipyj Heritage Studies Center of the St. Sophia Religious Association of Ukrainian Catholics in the USA, and in cooperation with the Ukrainian Heritage School in Philadelphia, students in grades 6–7 honored Defenders Day by taking part in the recitation contest “Hold the Line!”. The jury included Iryna Ivankovych, President of the Association; Iryna Melenevych, Principal of UHS; and Vasyl Makhno, the well-known Ukrainian poet, prose writer and translator. The jury named Marta Holubovski (grade 7-B) the winner and Anastasiia Melnyk (grade 6-B) the runner-up, with Vadym Mykulynskyi (grade 7-B) and Anhelina Skorets (grade 7-B) as laureates. All participants received diplomas and prizes from the St. Sophia Religious Association, and the main sponsor, the Patriarch Josyf Slipyj Heritage Studies Center, provided awards for the laureates and winners. That same day, Vasyl Makhno held a poetry meeting with UHS teachers in honor of their professional holiday.
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