Welcome to Uliana, Solomiia and Stefaniia

10 Jun 2022

We were pleased to welcome three new pupils from Ukraine to the St. Mary’s community last month.

Sisters Solomiia (aged 9) and Stefaniia (aged 4), and their cousin Uliana (aged 12) fled the war in Ukraine with their mothers, sisters Olha and Yuliia Protsenko, in March.

Following a five-and-a-half week journey through Poland, Georgia and Hungary, the girls arrived safely in Crosby, where they are staying with Dr Colette McElroy, a former St. Mary’s parent and governor, who welcomed the two families into her home as part of the government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme.

Dr McElroy got in touch with us regarding the girls’ education and we were honoured and delighted to be able to help, offering Uliana a place in Year 8 at St. Mary’s College, Solomiia a place in Year 5 at St. Mary’s Prep, and Stefaniia a place in Kindergarten at Bright Sparks.

The girls have settled in well at St. Mary’s and loved meeting Theodore, the Prep dog, when we got them together for photographs this week. Uliana said: “Everyone has been very kind and I have made new friends. My dog Senia is still in Kyiv with my dad and I miss them both very much. It was nice to play with Theodore and my cousins really like him too.”

Dr McElroy said: “The girls’ mums said they are so happy with St. Mary’s. The children have made lots of new friends and everyone has been really kind. They have noticed a lift in the children’s mood and they can see a great improvement in their English. They are proud to be part of the family of St. Mary’s. It’s very important for the children to be in a safe caring environment with the support that the school staff and pupils have offered.”