More and more children from Ukraine are finding their way to West Frisian schools. This also applies to Anna (11) and Maria (5), who have been taking lessons at the St. Bernadette School in Zuidermeer since this week. That sometimes involves hands and feet. “Google Translate comes in handy.”
Maria discovers skipping rope – NH Nieuws
It’s a break in Zuidermeer. A cheerful bunch under a lovely spring sun. While Maria tries to master skipping rope, Anna feeds the chickens, which belong to the St. Bernadette School. They are surrounded by classmates. There is talking, laughing. There is nothing to suggest that these are two students who have fled a war and have only been staying at this school for a week.
Cheyenne Warrink knows better. She is a teacher of the toddlers – Group 1/2 – and has had Maria in the classroom since last Monday. And that brings with it its own challenges. “She will soon be 6 years old and speaks neither Dutch nor English. So it’s with hands and feet. Showing things, for example. And Google Translate sometimes comes in handy. She is becoming more and more independent, so she just wants to chat. But I understand her not, and she understand me not.”
New student
The family of Anna and Maria has been living in Wogmeer for two weeks, in a renovated canteen that Nico Klaver and Nicole Schaft make available. Colleague Sanne Dekker also has a new student: Anna of 11.
She finds the new situation difficult, but takes up the challenge with pleasure. “In Group 7/8 the lessons are already quite of a high level. The language barrier is the most difficult. The English lesson is going well, counting too. Because the numbers are the same. But with reading comprehension, language and history it is She will get an alternative program for that.”
When mother Elena comes to pick up her children, director Kim Schintz jumps at the chance to strike up a conversation. Also for him in ‘switching’. “We knew that they recently moved in with a student’s family, but their arrival was still quite unexpected. But of course they are welcome.”
His main question: what should the children learn? “We can mainly let them be children here. Connecting with their children is not that complicated. That works fine. But are we going to teach them something? And then what? Dutch language? Is that our assignment? And for how long is it? For a month, half a year, 2 to 5 years? Nobody knows that. That makes it extra difficult, especially for the teachers.”
Be yourself a bit
Sanne Dekker: “I think it’s most important that Anna feels comfortable. Everything she learns here is a plus.” Her colleague Cheyenne adds. “They come from a difficult situation, so we just want to help.”
Despite the ambiguity, Schintz makes the most of it. Perhaps a few more Ukrainian students will come in the short term. “They can become themselves again here. If we can be the place for that, then we will.”
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