More than 240 Ukrainian refugees attend this Etobicoke school. Here's why it's become a new home

Anna Kuybida draws a picture of a girl, staring up at the night sky, clutching a teddy bear. But the stars are eclipsed by rockets flying overhead, along with bombs. 

"This little girl is without her parents," she told CBC Toronto. "She is seeing the war happening." 

Kuybida is only 11, but has become used to hearing the sound of alarms and weapons of war. 

But in May of last year, she came to Canada as a refugee from Ukraine with her parents and quickly enrolled in school.

She wasn't alone. Kuybida is one of over 240 students who are Ukrainian refugees who recently finished the school year at St. Demetrius Catholic School in Etobicoke. As one of the Toronto Catholic District School Board's Eastern-rite schools, the school offers a program that is enriched with the Ukrainian language, along with religious and cultural traditions from the country. 

For several students who fled Ukraine, the school has been a lifeline in transitioning to life in Canada as refugees

Over 162,000 refugees from Ukraine have arrived in Canada since the country was invaded by Russia, according to the federal government. 

Students began arriving at the school since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in late February, said Lily Hordienko, the principal of St. Demetrius. But those numbers began to ramp-up in the fall.

"By December, we had to get extra teachers, extra portables," due to the volume of students, said Hordienko. 

Hordienko said she also has close family members who are in Ukraine.

"The majority of [teachers], myself included, and our parents, came from Ukraine," she said. "So we're all affected by it, but this is our way to do something positive in a time that's very difficult."

Students have raised $10K for Ukraine

Kuybida said leaving Ukraine was "very scary." But after arriving at the school, she started to feel more at ease.

"I went to this school and the teachers helped me to adapt here, and feel comfortable," she said. "I'm thankful to them."

Now settled in Canada, Kuybida and some of her classmates have created a book project of personal stories about their experiences, which include her drawing and story of how she arrived here. The school is selling the book to raise money for people in Ukraine and raise awareness about what children have endured

Her fellow Grade 6 classmate, Svyatoslav Volos, was among those who shared his story in the book.

The 12-year-old fled to Canada with his mother last spring, and he also enrolled in the school. 

"Do you ever wonder what it's like to leave your country? Ukrainians lived the worst days of their lives," Volos said, reading from his story in his class' book.

Volos said the way the school welcomed him, and the presence of peers who understand what he's been through, makes all the difference.

Canadian students at the school have also been supportive, and he's made new friends, he said. 

So far, the class has sold over 1,000 books, raising about $10,000 for Ukrainians. They're hoping to get that number to $15,000. 

Extra teachers hired to meet demand

Some older students from Ukraine are feeling more at home in Canada as well.

Adriana Tretiak, who just graduated from eighth grade at St. Demetrius, said school has been fun in the last few months as she's become more comfortable. 

Her entire Grade 8 class of 32 students was made up of refugees from Ukraine. 

At a graduation ceremony last week for their Grade 8 students, the school incorporated with Ukrainian dancing and food, said Tretiak. 

But for Tretiak, the celebrations were marked with some anxiety. The teens will now have to go to high school, one that is not an Eastern-rite school.

"It's scarier," she said. 

Hordienko, the principal, said while many of the students are nervous to leave the comforts of St. Demetrius, she's assured them she and staff will always be there to support them, no matter how long their time was at the school. 

"This is their home, they are always welcome to come back and visit us," she said.