December 21, 2023
With festive hearts and a new year on their mind, Caniff Liberty Academy (CLA) hosted a holiday party this past December for their Ukrainian students and families. Seeing their population of Ukrainian students quadruple from last school year (from 22 to 88), the Academy hosted a Holiday Event to show their gratitude and care for the families, many of whom moved to the United States to escape hardship in Ukraine. Partnering with their sister school, Oakland International Academy, each student was given a gift to take home and had the chance to celebrate the holiday with classmates and friends.
The event kicked off with students dressed in traditional Ukrainian clothing and performing both song and dance for the crowd of parents, friends and family. After the cultural presentations, students each received a gift prior to digging into a delicious feast of pizzas, cultural dishes and sweets to cap off the night. Principal Tom Kozak has an admiration for the Ukrainian community and culture, recently discovering connections within his own family to the community. He noted the importance of their enrollment in the school, as well as showing an appreciation for the word of mouth recommendations that brought many of the students through the Academy’s doors.
In addition to the Holiday Event, CLA is currently part of a program which provides art therapy to Ukrainian students who are still adjusting to life in the United States. The Academy continues to show a strong sense of recognition and compassion for the Ukrainian community, striving to ensure comfort and ease in their transition to their new home.