Parents, their children and teachers of the Angel School. (Photo by Hanseo Seo via Korea Daily)

There is a unique school in New Jersey that helps build bridges between Korean adopted children and their parents by teaching different aspects of Korean culture, The Korea Daily reported. The article was translated from Korean.

The Angel School, a program that teaches Korean language and culture to Korean adoptees and their parents and was established by the Teaneck, N.J.-based The Asian Women’s Cristian Association (AWCA), began its fall semester on Sept. 15.

Ten families registered for the semester that ends Dec. 8. They will take various courses related to Korean culture, including K-pop, Korean cuisine and balloon crafts. The school said that they offer a practical approach, instead of dull and boring classes.

Started in 2003, the Angel School became an official AWCA program in 2008. It serves not only adopted children but also their parents so they can learn about Korean culture and foster better understanding of each other.

Bill Varutis and his two adopted children came to a school event at the start of the semester. “We’ve been attending Angel School for five years,” Varutis said. “I wanted my children to learn Korean culture so we started to come here and now it has became our favorite place.”

“I was so glad when my child wanted to come back to Angel School,” said another adoptive parent, Gina Jesberg. “The school is nice and pleasant. Even for me.”

The school principal, Jinhong Kim, said: ‘The children who first came to Angel School nine years ago are now looking forward to go to college. In this semester, the school will establish new classes for upper grade students so that we can teach Korean and Korean culture at their level. Of course, classes for children and lower grade students will remain the same as usual.”

The president of AWCA, Hyekyung Kwon, said: “It feels great to see adoptive families happy after they learn about Korean culture.”

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