In recent weeks the world’s attention has been gripped by the unfolding crisis in Ukraine. The war in Ukraine hits close to home for many here in Alberta, a province that is home to some 350,000 people (roughly eight percent of the total population) of at least partial Ukrainian ancestry.

Vista Virtual School would like to express its deep concern for the situation in Ukraine and its hope for a quick and peaceful resolution to the conflict. We encourage our students and other stakeholders to stay abreast of the latest developments via authoritative sources such as CBC News, Global, the UK’s BBC News, and other major news networks.

Parents and teachers are likely already being asked questions about the war. It can be challenging to find a middle ground between giving kids the facts while also assuaging their darkest fears of nuclear war. This useful CBC article provides some suggestions on how to talk to kids about the situation in Ukraine in ways that neither minimize its severity nor adds to their fears.

Historical background always helps. Britannia.com’s history for kids page on the Soviet Union might be a useful starting point. For slightly older children, this backgrounder to the Holodomor (the Ukrainian famine/genocide of the 1930s) can provide useful perspective on the Ukrainian people’s historical grievances with Russia.

In times of war, the truth is often the first casualty. Education, as always, is the key to peace.