Kalinovsky Islands
The festival event, organized by the Parents' Committee of the Ukrainian Studies School "Nova Khvylya" and its founder, the NGO "Nova Ukrainian Khvylya", took place this year, on May 30, under the name "Kalyn's Islands", traditionally, as it has for 5 years in a row, on
end of the school year.
The festival day began with the sounds of the trembita by Mykola Maksymʼyuk from Stamford, CT. The Ukrainian praise and the American anthem were performed by Ustym Chorny, a student at the Samopomich Ukrainian Studies School in Manhattan, NY, and high school and middle school students from Nova Khvylka.
A touching moment was the invitation to the stage of 14 school graduates, who walked to the music of the song under the “arch” of Ukrainian towels in the hands of their parents. At the celebration of the last bell, which rang for the school graduates of 2026, part of the solemn program was the blessing of Bishop Pavlo Khomnytsky, Bishop of the Stamford Diocese of the UGCC, and a joint prayer; song wishes from the younger
students, welcoming speech by the Head of the NGO “New Ukrainian Wave”, the school principal Myroslava Rozdolska. All graduates who successfully passed the matriculation exams were awarded Certificates of Achievement in Education, Volunteering and Spreading Ukrainian Culture in the Multicultural Environment of New York by Ms. Myroslava.
The goal of our annual festivals, which, starting in 2022, were held under the names: “Together for Victory”; “Angels Hold the Sky”; “God Save Ukraine”, was to raise funds to help the defenders of Ukraine who are defending our land from the Moscow occupiers.
Humanitarian and medical assistance from the “New Ukrainian Xvyla” over the years amounts to more than $300 thousand dollars. On the small island of Ukraine, which is located on the territory of the daily American school PS K225 in Brighton, where the Ukrainian school rents classrooms for classes every Saturday, the holiday of Ukrainian culture, this year, had a special sound. And we are sincerely grateful for this opportunity to Mr. Patrick Lawler, the director of the school PS K225, for his openness to cooperation and greetings to the Ukrainian community, with which he spoke on this festive day.
Despite the not very favorable weather - it was windy and cold, Ukrainians did not leave the school yard. They bought coffee, sweets, traditional delicious Ukrainian dishes, which were lovingly prepared by the parents of our students. Sellers of Ukrainian goods successfully traded. There was a wide selection of souvenirs, embroidery, jewelry and, of course, a Ukrainian book fair for children and adults. The audience supported the young and older participants of the concert program with applause, sang Ukrainian songs together, and had fun dancing. They did an excellent job with their role as program hosts
Ms. Iryna Bateruk, 4th grade teacher, and this year's graduate Arseniy Moroz.
And the collection to support children who lost their parents in this brutal war of Russia against our nation, and to help the hospital where wounded Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers are being treated, amounted to $12,000 that day.
A pleasant surprise for our organization and the entire community was the welcome video message we received from Congressman Hakeem Jefries.
Thank you for supporting our community in Brooklyn.
