Seeds for Ukraine

05/22/2026

05/15/2026

🌱 Even in the most difficult of times, life goes on — and so does our responsibility to nurture it.

This Earth Day at Hopscotch Montessori Kyiv, our children did what they have done every spring: they planted trees. Apple trees, carefully placed in the park beside our campus — holes dug with small hands, seedlings set gently into the earth, watered and covered with care. The enthusiasm on their faces, the way they supported one another through the work — it was genuinely moving to witness.

But this year, the tradition carried an extra layer of meaning. While so much around them remains uncertain, our children are learning that beauty can still be created. That the earth still needs tending. That their actions — however small — leave something good behind. They also checked on the cherry and pear trees planted in previous years, watching their earlier efforts grow into something real and lasting. That moment of recognition — seeing what you planted actually growing — is one of the most powerful things a child can experience.

Back in the classroom, morning circle conversations continued the theme: how to reduce waste, how to treat nature with care, how to be responsible for the world we share. Planting trees is not just an ecological project. It is an act of hope. And at Hopscotch Montessori Kyiv, we believe that teaching children to hope — and to act on that hope — is one of the most important things we can do right now. 🌍

04/24/2026

When the world feels uncertain, joy becomes essential — not a luxury, but a necessity. Moments of laughter, warmth, and connection help children’s brains regulate stress, build resilience, and feel safe. At Hopscotch Montessori Kyiv, we hold onto this truth every single day. 💛

On April 1st, our kids celebrated April Fools’ Day the Hopscotch way — with a real pajama party. Children and teachers alike arrived in their coziest PJs, ready for a day full of joy. Hot cocoa with marshmallows, dancing, pillow fights, favorite toys from home, cozy reading nooks, and cartoons together. Simple things. The best things.

For children growing up surrounded by uncertainty, these moments of warmth and lightness matter more than we can measure. They recharge, reconnect, and remind everyone that happiness is still here, still possible, still ours. These are the traditions that make Hopscotch Montessori Kyiv more than just a preschool.

04/17/2026

In our Hopscotch Montessori Kyiv classroom, Easter became a space filled with meaning, warmth, and creativity. The children made their own candles, dyed eggs, and explored a unique engraving technique to decorate them. They carefully glazed traditional Easter bread, enjoying not only the taste but the process itself—hands busy, eyes focused, and smiles all around.

During our circles, we spoke about the symbols of Easter, about kindness, renewal, and the feeling of a new beginning that comes with spring. It’s not just about traditions—it’s about helping children feel connection, care, and a sense of belonging through shared experiences.

And perhaps most importantly, in times that have felt uncertain for so long, these celebrations become something deeper. They create emotional anchors, helping children feel safe, grounded, and stable—even when the world around them is not.

03/27/2026

Even in the midst of constant air raid sirens and the ongoing war, one thing remains unchanged at Hopscotch Montessori Kyiv — our commitment to creating a sense of stability, warmth, and normalcy for children.

We continue to celebrate. Because for a child, these moments are essential. Celebrations bring rhythm, joy, and emotional grounding. They help children feel safe, connected, and part of something bigger, even when the world around them feels uncertain.

Over the past weeks, our classrooms have been filled with these moments. For Valentine’s Day, children became little chefs, preparing treats for their parents, creating heartfelt cards, and learning how to express care through words and actions. During Masnytsia, they explored traditions, made vareniki with their own hands, created a collective sun artwork, and welcomed spring with songs, movement, and shared tea.

These days were full of laughter, creativity, and togetherness — simple, yet deeply meaningful experiences that children carry with them.

Thank you for making this possible.

03/20/2026

How Our Students Have Endured This Winter

It’s been a while since our last update. The past winter month in Kyiv has been incredibly tough—not just for our school team.

Many areas of the city are without heating, electricity, or water due to severely damaged infrastructure. Daily life is unpredictable, and our teachers at Hopscotch Montessori are constantly facing challenges, such as finding ways to heat the water, keep the classrooms lit, and distract students during their time in the shelter.

We remain forever grateful for your support in acquiring a generator for the school. While it doesn’t fully heat the space, it makes our classrooms comfortable enough for the children. Unfortunately, many parents have to bring their children to school even amidst airstrike dangers simply because it’s warmer here than at home.

Despite everything, we continue. The school is open, and the children are learning, creating, and finding joy in everyday moments. The Montessori work cycle flourishes daily, filling our hearts with hope as we watch our students remain curious and resilient.

We also managed to hold a couple of fun holiday celebrations and will share more updates soon!

12/24/2025

This winter, our Kyiv campus was filled with what we value most — children’s creativity, shared joy, and a strong sense of togetherness. Thanks to your gifts, donations, and ongoing support through the Secret Santa initiative and our Winter Charity Fair, we were able to create a warm and meaningful holiday season for our students while continuing to support the daily life of the school and the people who make it a safe, caring place.

This year’s celebration became a true Winter Fairy Tale inspired by the Ukrainian folk story “The Mitten (Rukavychka)”. Over several weeks, children prepared with great excitement — crafting decorations, shaping the story, choosing roles, rehearsing, and bringing the performance to life through music, movement, and theatre. On celebration day, the classroom transformed into a small stage filled with songs, a piano performance, a traditional shchedrivka, and heartfelt moments shared with teachers and friends.

We are deeply grateful for your generosity and care. Every child received a thoughtfully chosen book from a donor, our teachers were gifted certificates as a token of appreciation, and the remaining funds helped cover essential utility costs for the campus. Your support makes a real difference — not only during the holidays, but in the everyday stability, learning, and hope we strive to provide for our Kyiv community. Happy Winter Holidays, and thank you for standing with us. 💛

12/04/2025

Our Secret Santa tradition is back!

As the holiday season approaches, our students at the Kyiv campus are filled with excitement — and we’re so happy to help them feel the joy, warmth, and magic of this time of year.

Last year, thanks to your incredible generosity, every single child received a gift and a personal holiday message. Even amid challenges, they felt safe, seen, and remembered. You made that happen. ❤️

This year, we’re making the experience even more meaningful:
You can choose a specific child and gift them a book selected especially for them.
Each book reflects the child’s interests, reading level, and the themes that inspire them — creating a personal connection that lasts long beyond the holidays.

If you’d like to take part, follow this link https://form.everestwebdeals.co/?form=eb89a9d03c664a4ffe0165014b94899f. We’ll make sure your gift reaches them in time for the celebration.

11/25/2025

The peaceful photos we see from Hopscotch Montessori Kyiv don’t show the daily difficulties behind them. While children learn and grow, our team works through power outages, water shortages, air raid sirens, and lessons held in shelters. With winter approaching, these challenges only intensify.

Despite everything, our students arrive each morning eager to learn, and our teachers continue to choose resilience and hope. Thanks to your generosity last year, a generator now keeps classrooms warm and lit during blackouts — a true lifeline. But ongoing support is still essential for our Kyiv campus to remain safe and stable.

As Giving Tuesday approaches, we kindly ask you to stand with us again. Every contribution makes a real difference paypal.com/us/fundraiser/charity/4935822:

• $50 for essential classroom supplies
• $100 toward high winter utility costs
• $500 for teacher salaries and scholarships

Your support brings warmth, light, and safety to children who need it most. Thank you for continuing to help us move forward.

11/14/2025

Even in the midst of wartime challenges, our school continues to create moments of warmth, stability, and joy. And culinary activities have become one of those small pieces of magic — a way for children to feel grounded and connected with inner confident.

This time, the children made berry marshmallows. They mixed the ingredients, filled the molds, and waited with eager anticipation to see the final result. What seems like a simple activity often becomes a calming ritual — something that brings everyone together.

At Hopscotch Montessori Kyiv, cooking is more than a recipe. It’s cooperation, care for one another, and the joy of creating something with your own hands. It’s patience, coordination, and learning to follow a sequence — skills that help children feel capable when so much feels unpredictable.

And maybe the sweetest part isn’t the dessert itself, but the feeling of comfort and home that grows alongside it.