About School
Vyriy School (hereafter referred to as "the School") was founded in 2018 by dedicated parents from the Ukrainian community in Seattle. As a non-profit organization, all funds received are utilized to cover essential expenses such as renting premises, paying teachers, providing educational materials, organizing events, and supporting charitable projects.
Mission of the School
The mission of Vyriy School is to create an environment where children can stay connected to their Ukrainian roots and feel that they are part of the global Ukrainian community. Based on old Ukrainian myth, Vyriy symbolizes the warm lands where ancient Ukrainians believed birds flew to survive the winter and the place where ancestors lived — the foundation of family and family memories. Our school aims to provide children and families who identify as Ukrainian with the opportunity to learn the language, culture, traditions, and history of Ukraine, while fostering a Ukrainian-speaking community in Washington State.
Levels and classes
The Viriy School has six educational levels and two graduation points.
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Junior School - Bukvoidy, Skladuny, Slovuny
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Senior School - Chytuntsi, Movnyky and Hramotii
You can read more about levels and requirements in this file (Ukrainian only)
The Senior School aims to equip children with the skills necessary to earn credits in their local school for foreign language proficiency. You can read more about this on your school district's website or here. Enrollment at a certain level is based on the children’s skills at the beginning of the school year.
Teacher/Child Ratio: If there are more than eight children in a group, we involve a teacher's assistant. If there are more than 12 children, we divide the level into two groups. The group will not start if fewer than six children are enrolled.
The school works on Saturdays.
Important dates
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Start of the School Year - Sep 13, 2025
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Start of the Second Semester - February 1, 2025
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Formal End of the School Year - June 6, 2025
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School Picnic - June 13, 2025
Number of Classes - 32
School Holidays 2025-2026
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November 23 - November 29
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December 18 - January 4
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February 15 - 21
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April 5 - 11
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May 17 - 23
The tentative schedule for the 2025-2026 academic year is below.
The final schedule will be released before September 13.
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10:00 - 11:00 - Storytime club for young kids and crafts ( Bukvoidy (3.5-5 years old) and Skladuny (6-7 years old)
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11:00-12:00 - Ukrainian language classes ( Bukvoidy (3.5-5 years old) and Skladuny (6-7 years old)
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12:00-13:00 - Ukrainian Language classes (Slovuny (7-9 years old)
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13:00 - 14:00 - Logic and theater clubs (Slovuny (7-9 years old), Chytuntsi (9-11 years old, Ukrainian as Second Language kids (7-10 years old)
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14:00-15:00 - Ukrainian Language classes Chytuntsi (9-11 years old, Ukrainian as Second Language kids (7-10 years old)
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15:00-16:00 - History of Ukraine and Ukrainian handicrafts clubs (Chytuntsi (9-11 years old), Movnyky and Hramotii (12-16 years old)
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16:00 - 17:00 Ukrainian language classes ( Movnyky and Hramotii (12-16 years old)
Our teachers
Olesia Nebrat
Before the full-scale war, I lived and studied in Kyiv. Since March 2022, I have been living in the USA, dreaming of sharing with children here the Ukraine I love and believe in. I am a counselor in Plast, a member of the “HraiMore” music group, and an active volunteer in various initiatives. I study Biochemistry, Biological, and Chemical Sciences at Bellevue College. For the past two years, I have been working at Vyriy School with older children and teenagers—curious, creative, and ambitious young people.
Parent Committee
The Parent Committee is composed of parent volunteers whose children are currently enrolled in the School. This committee plays a crucial role in managing the administrative activities of the School.
Members of the Committee in 2025-2026:
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Olena Bedenko
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Oksana Krasnopolska
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Olena Lebeda
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Maryna Sivachenko
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Lesia Svirid
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Viktoria Thibault
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Yuliia Pershyna-Tsipino
If you are interested in becoming a member of the Parent Committee, just let us know. We are happy for everyone involved.
How to enroll
Ukrainian School Vyriy is a fully non-profit organization that relies entirely on parents' contributions and donors' support to open its doors every Saturday.
All expenses are dedicated to paying teachers' salaries, procuring educational materials, and covering rent costs. The Parent Committee members are dedicated volunteers, passionately working to ensure the school’s mission is fulfilled without receiving any compensation. This collective effort helps us create a nurturing and educational environment for our students, preserving Ukrainian culture and language within our community.
All refugees and newcomers can request a full stipend. Please contact us if you need financial support in the years following your enrollment