I think decisions we have to make as parents for our children can be difficult, no matter the situation. Food, activities, health, school… it is a lot! However I truly believe God has equipped us with the knowledge + ability to make these decisions by humbly asking Him for wisdom (easier said than done!).
This new season of life brought us a combination of my first baby being school-aged plus living overseas — a lot tougher than I anticipated! Friends + family have asked us about schooling in Ukraine, so I thought I’d share our process + decision.
Chambers is 6.5 + headed into first grade! Ukrainian schools start at first grade + do not require children to attend until they turn 7, however they can go as early as 6.
This past year in place of Kindergarten, Chambers been going a few days a week with Lev to the JOY preschool at our church – it was a great introduction to Russian + social interaction for them! It was flexible – we could choose the days so they were still with us the majority of the time.
In the States I think we would have given homeschooling a go (truly though, who knows how that would’ve gone!). I am already working with Chambers on English/Language Arts using The Good and The Beautiful Curriculum, plus we like to add in science + nature in English whenever possible (but please read, very casually. I do not know what I’m doing 😉 )
We had several options for this school year:
1. Ukrainian public school
2. Ukrainian private school (a few different schools)
3. Homeschooling under a Ukrainian organization + attending JOY school again to reinforce language + mathematics (still leaving a lot on us)
Most schools here are all-Ukrainian instruction (yikes! looks like I’m not very helpful for homework … Papa to the rescue!). Chambers is still learning Russian + his Ukrainian is very elementary. We wanted an environment that would be understanding of our background + lifestyle (if for example we needed to come to the States or serve somewhere with Heritage).
During this chapter of our lives – serving + reconnecting in ministry, expecting another baby, starting grade school – I really felt like if we homeschooled, Chambers would be at a disadvantage linguistically in Russian + Ukrainian, plus we’d have to take a lot of time off after Baby Sister’s birth. We ultimately decided on the private Christian Ukrainian school down the street.
The next emotional hurdle for me as a Mama was the shift from having most days with Chambers to sending him to school from 8am – 2pm every day. I don’t know why that seems like forever! I really struggled in my heart about wether or not it was “right” for him to be out of the home so much — I guess I just envisioned us homeschooling, but for this year I know it’s not the best choice for our family. (Plus I’m still actually homeschooling him in English, which is a nice way to dip my toes into that world should we go all-in one day!)
This week + next week Chambers is at “school camp” from 11am – 2pm. It’s an introduction to school so that the first day doesn’t feel as overwhelming — genius! He definitely hasn’t been excited to go every day, but once we get there he plays + has already made a few friends! Now the lunch menu is another story… 😉 (sorry bud, we raised you in America where I didn’t pack soup for lunch!)
September 2 is the big first day of school, filled with a big ceremony + celebration! We’ve got to get Chambers some uniforms + figure out his lessons after the formal school day is finished – I think he’ll get to take piano + karate!
Lev + Mila will be starting at the JOY preschool at our church on the same day – they are both pretty excited! I’ll be volunteering as an English teacher each week until Baby Sister arrives.
Sometimes I still feel torn, knowing that they’d be 100% okay at home, but for language + longevity here, it’s really important to us that they get that foundation set early. Yura + I are also freed up to serve with Heritage, plan for camps + continue work during the days so that evenings are freed up for family time!
I’d love to know what your education decision process looked like – how did you choose? What weighed on your heart? Have you homeschooled overseas? It’s all so interesting to me!
One of the most helpful resources when considering schooling was the 4 part series Freedom in Education from Risen Motherhood – filled with grace, they interview moms who have chosen all different routes of education. Highly recommend!
The Perekotiys 