Nearly 650 children from Union Ridge School threaded through the streets of Harwood Heights Monday to support schoolmates whose families come from Ukraine.
Christine Martin, administrative assistant to the Union Ridge School District 86 superintendent, said 13 of the school’s 647 students were born in Ukraine and 24 listed Ukrainian as their primary language.
“Some of the kids chanted ‘Stop the war!’ and ‘Support Ukraine!’ They enjoyed showing support for their classmates from Ukraine,” Martin said.
Students waved about 400 Ukrainian flags, and the school also handed out American flags and the flags of other countries during the “Walk for Peace,” which started at 1:30 p.m. and continued for about 45 minutes.
The school’s English Language Learner teachers, Alissa Smith and Katie Ligas, organized the walk, Martin said.
“Union Ridge has a very ethnically diverse student population. We’re fortunate to be surrounded by students and staff from around the world. Over 30 languages are spoken in our school and we have a large European population,” Smith and Ligas wrote.
The two teachers helped with sales of Ukraine Love t-shirts, and on Pi Day (March 14), the school sold mini pies. The efforts raised over $3,000 they plan to donate to help displaced Ukrainian families through the organization Save the Children, and to local refugee families, they wrote in a school message.
“Many of our Ukrainian families reached out to say how happy they are to see the school supporting them during this tragic time,” Smith and Ligas wrote.
Martin noted that Harwood Heights Mayor Arlene Jezierny, Norridge Mayor Dan Tannhauser, Illinois Sen. Robert Martwick and several village trustees came to watch the students’ march, as did about 50 spectators along the course of the route.
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