Digest #2. Second semester 2021/22 in our school

Reflecting on the 2021/22 Academic Year: Resilience and Growth

The second semester of the 2021/22 academic year was incredibly challenging. As war reached our homes, we were all forced to reshape our lives and every routine under immense stress. However, as we look back, we realize that we navigated this semester with dignity, activity, and flexibility. Most importantly, we preserved what matters most: the quality of education and the mental well-being of our children and staff.

Below is the written version of our traditional semester video digest, providing a detailed look at everything we accomplished during this semester.

Intro: Our Evolution and Identity

First, let's revisit the roots of our innovative educational space. Many of you know that we have been operating since 2018, formerly under the name ThinkGlobal. As we grew and evolved, we became more independent and self-sufficient. Last year, we realized we wanted to move at our own pace.

While even some of our parents are still getting used to the change, we are no longer "ThinkGlobal." We have evolved into two distinct brands:

• GlobalKids: Our kindergarten and primary school.

• PIPL Lyceum: Our first innovative private lyceum for middle and high school.

These names carry deep meaning. From the very beginning at GlobalKids, we teach children to think globally, showing them that nothing is impossible for those with a goal. In the senior years at PIPL Lyceum, we cultivate a new generation of intellectuals who are destined to change the world.

The name PIPL Lyceum reflects our core concept: to be about people and for people!

The Educational Process

Our semester began within the walls of three schools and ended remotely. This is our reality. While during the COVID-19 pandemic we could bring students back to classrooms, the war made this impossible due to several factors:

• Safety first: Frequent air raid sirens in Lviv.

• Global relocation: A significant portion of our students moved abroad.

Having mapped out our educational network during the war, we can proudly say we have become an international community. Our lessons echoed in Poland, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Italy, and even as far as Australia and Canada.

Our success in remote learning stems from our meticulous organization:

1. Strict adherence to the schedule: No cuts or cancellations.

2. Continuous assessment: Every lesson is graded to maintain progress.

3. The GlobalKids App: Our "School in a Smartphone" provides all necessary materials and seamless communication.

4. Small class sizes: Capped at 16 students to ensure individual attention.

Based on this experience, we have decided to launch dedicated Distance Learning Classes.

Looking Ahead: September 1st

For the upcoming academic year, we offer four flexible learning formats to meet every family's needs:

1. Offline School (In-person learning)

2. Distance Learning Classes

3. Co-learning (A flexible, non-traditional classroom approach)

4. External Studies

Despite the obstacles of the second semester, we successfully preserved our curriculum and supported the mental well-being of our students by keeping them engaged in meaningful work aimed at a bright, victorious future.

Social Initiatives: The Educational Front

We didn't just teach our own students. On March 3rd, amidst the initial stress of the war, we launched the "Educational Front"—a volunteer initiative offering free lessons for students from Kindergarten to Grade 11.

In the primary school sessions, we often saw over 100 children at a time. Their gratitude—asking, "Are all your teachers this cool?"—was the ultimate reward for our staff. Younger children enjoyed subjects like:

• Inquiry-based learning (I Explore the World)

• Logic and Math

• English, Yoga, Financial Literacy, and Ethics.

We also introduced a special course called "Safety Superheroes," helping children gently understand the concepts of war and peace through expert-led discussions.

PIPL Educational Front (High School & Adults)

The topics for our older students were so compelling that even adults often joined in:

• Biology: Lessons on first aid, treating burns, and understanding biological threats.

• Chemistry: The "Chemistry of War," including the science behind "Bandera Smoothies" and atomic energy.

• Psychology: How the brain reacts to extreme stress.

• Media Literacy: Identifying manipulations and debunking fakes in the information space.

• History & Politics: Deep dives into Ukraine's long history and the roots of the current conflict.

We also hosted a two-week intensive course, "Ukrainian for Ukrainians," to celebrate the beauty and history of our native language.

Expanding Our Reach

Responding to urgent needs, we launched several additional programs:

• Polish Language Courses (separate groups for children and adults).

• "Ready for School" prep programs in three formats.

• Weekly Enrollment: Allowing students from other schools to join us temporarily so they wouldn't miss out on education.

• Summer Programs: Day camps in Lviv and residential camps in the Carpathian Mountains.

Humanitarian Efforts

From the second day of the invasion, our central kitchen, "Dobre Yisty" (Eat Well), pivoted to preparing hot meals for displaced persons and the Territorial Defense Forces. Thanks to the donations of food and resources from our parents and staff, our kitchen continues to support the army and refugees. This is our contribution to our shared victory.

Another inspiring project is our collaboration with WonderSpace, a Lviv photo studio that transformed into a shelter for thousands of people arriving in the city.

chool Merch with a Mission

When you purchase our stylish school merch, you’re not just getting something special for yourself—you’re also supporting our shelter and helping people who are navigating the most difficult chapters of their lives after losing their homes.

Our Teaching Team

A strong team is our most valuable resource. The way our teachers have navigated this war is truly admirable and inspiring. Despite the immense stress and anxiety that could easily derail anyone, our educators remained resilient and enthusiastic, preparing for and delivering lessons with incredible passion.

This process has been a source of profound mutual support: interacting with our "little geniuses" gives our teachers strength, while our students are so engaged in their studies that they’ve had little room for gloom or depression.

The end of the semester was a "hot season" for our staff—finalizing grades, wrapping up projects, and celebrating the Last Bell ceremony alongside students and parents. Now, after a short well-deserved break, we dive back into our traditional summer training sessions to ensure we kick off the new academic year with even greater enthusiasm!

Events for Parents

Organizing events for parents is a core part of our values. Synergy is one of our guiding principles, which is why we actively involve parents in school life to achieve even better results for our students.

Before the war, we hosted a lecture at our Dahestanska location on "Children’s Mental Health," covering topics like bullying, self-harm, and depression—focusing on how to identify these signs and support our children. Based on the overwhelming positive feedback, we continued this series during the war with a new lecture: "The Lazy Child: The Truth About Priorities, Dopamine, and the Reward System." A recording is available on our PIPL Lyceum YouTube channel—we highly recommend it to anyone raising a teenager.

We also had plans to launch a Board Game Club for Parents on February 25th, featuring games like Poker, Mafia, CashFlow, Decrypto, and Mysterium. While the war has delayed this project, we are fully committed to bringing it to life in the future.

Facilities & Infrastructure

As I mentioned earlier, our plan to move to an additional location on April 1st was unfortunately disrupted. We also lost access to our beautiful building on Dahestanska Street, as its proximity to the airport makes it unsafe and restricted for operation.

However, this challenge pushed us to find an alternative—and we found something truly special. Our new location is situated in a green zone, housed in a building with a fantastic history. Once a center for space research, it will now be a place where our children gain the knowledge to change the world—and perhaps even reach for the stars themselves!

We are currently in the midst of intensive construction work. Our goal is to showcase the first results to our current parents and prospective families this August. While this grand project is so ambitious that we might not finish every detail by September 1st, we can promise one thing: everyone who joins us will be studying in the finest innovative private lyceum in Western Ukraine, and perhaps beyond!

We ask for your patience as we work daily to bring this opening closer.

Our Locations & Infrastructure

Our very first location at 115a Zelena St., which has been operating for four years, is undergoing a full renovation this summer. We are updating the classrooms and technical equipment, and even resurfacing the football pitch to ensure a comfortable and cozy environment for everyone!

Meanwhile, our new GlobalKids primary school and kindergarten at 30a Maloholoskivska St. continues to thrive. With spacious, sunlit classrooms, a Scandinavian-style playground, and a nearby park, it is the perfect spot for young explorers!

Safety remains our hallmark. Every one of our schools is equipped with a shelter. At the Naukova location, we have a genuine underground bomb shelter featuring advanced ventilation, water circulation systems, emergency exits, and air filtration. We are fully prepared to provide a safe educational experience under any conditions.

Current Enrollment Options

We are currently offering placements across our specialized campuses:

• 30a Maloholoskivska St.: GlobalKids Kindergarten and Primary School (Ages 1.5 to Grade 4).

• 115a Zelena St.: GlobalKids Primary School (Grades 0–4) and PIPL Lyceum (Grades 5–8).

• 5a Naukova St.: GlobalKids Kindergarten and Primary School (Ages 1.5 to Grade 4) and PIPL Lyceum (Grades 5–11).

It makes us wonder—are we the largest school in Lviv yet?

International Educational Trips

This semester, traveling abroad became a necessity for over 3 million Ukrainians, and as mentioned, many of our families are now scattered across the globe. While we didn't plan the circumstances, we are incredibly proud to have organized three unique educational and recreational trips for our students and parents:

• Finland: Following the success of our first semester, we sent two full buses of students to Finland this time! The program focused on English immersion with native speakers and exploring the country's most fascinating landmarks.

1. Canada: This incredible project was made possible through our close partnership with a network of Canadian schools. Our students traveled to Alberta for a three-month immersive program, studying directly in Canadian classrooms. It has been a fantastic, life-changing experience that truly expands horizons and reshapes perspectives. 
   
2. Italy: A more leisure-oriented summer camp where our groups have already gathered. Our students and their mothers will have the wonderful opportunity to relax and enjoy quality time together on the beautiful Mediterranean coast. 
   

Education Through Exploration

Traveling with friends is a core value for our students. When we ask them, "What is it like to be one of us?", they often speak of these journeys first. International school trips for educational purposes are a priceless opportunity for teenagers to expand their horizons and gain independence.

Entrance Testing for PIPL Lyceum

When your life’s mission is to drive qualitative changes in Ukrainian school education—bringing it closer to American and British standards and creating unique conditions for development—you realize you must gather the "best of the best."

We fight for the quality of education. That is why, even as a private network, we conduct entrance testing and only enroll students who achieve a passing score. We have scheduled three waves of testing (the last weeks of May, June, and July).

Join our innovative educational space—an environment for the smart, the ambitious, and the proactive:

• ⚡️ Where personality is the priority, not the latest iPhone model.

• ⚡️ Where students prepare for Cambridge exams, play football on the school field, master leadership and public speaking, and travel the world together.

• ⚡️ Where it is trendy to be smart.

Seats are limited, so please register for testing 

A Closing Note

This semester has been difficult, turbulent, and marked by war—for our country, for the world, and for each of us. But we are moving forward with confidence. Our faith in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and our ultimate Victory is so strong that we are actively renovating our facilities with the firm intention of returning to offline learning on September 1st.

We believe that crisis brings opportunity. We are seizing every moment to bring our vision to life: creating an innovative educational space designed to revolutionize the way we learn.

We are infinitely grateful to the families who trust us with their most precious gift—their children. We still have much work to do, but we listen, we improve, and we evolve despite all obstacles. We have a higher purpose.

Thank you to everyone who stands with us in this powerful, innovative community. We believe in victory, and every day we do what we do best: teaching children. Because children must learn.

With love for what we do, Nadiya Dubchenko

очільниця інноваційної освітньої мережі PIPL Lyceum та GlobalKids