Forest Hills — When Philip Choo’s face came on the screen, the students in Heather Schanski’s first-grade class immediately shouted, “Hello, Philip!”
Philip smiled, laughed and waved to his former classmates.
Philip attended Ada Elementary School until the end of December. A planned family trip to South Korea to renew visas turned into a longer stay when the family’s renewal requests were denied.
“He, my students and I were devastated,” Schanski said when the class returned to school and learned their classmate would not be returning. In fact, Schanski kept Philip’s desk, which by the end of the school year contained his yearbook and a few school mementos that she hoped to mail to him.
Schanski decided to turn the situation into a learning opportunity. The class read the book “The Ocean Calls: A Haenyeo Mermaid” by Tina Cho, a children’s picture book about a community of female freedivers from South Korea’s Jeju Island.
Philip’s mother, Rachel and Schanski organized a Zoom meeting with Philip and the students.
Also during that first video call, the students showed pictures and read notes they had made for Philip. In closing, Schanski read the book “The Invisible String” by Patrice Karst, a story about how love connects.
“It has been so hard and so sad, but the love and connection across the world will always be there,” Schanski said.
Over the past several months, the students and Philip have worked to keep that connection alive. Philip sent notes and gifts to his classmates.
Some students, such as classmate Ellie Catlett, even researched South Korea.
“I looked on a globe to see where South Korea was,” Ellie said, adding that her older sister helped her learn other facts such as that fishing is a popular pastime in that country.
The class also read the book “My Name Is Yoon,” by Helen Recorvits, because Philip’s Korean name is Yoon.
An Ocean Apart, But Still Close
There was another surprise on the second-to-last day of school: a second video call with Philip.
Schanski read a story written by Philip’s classmates that concluded with the entire class reciting: “Even though he is in a different country, Philip will always be a Schanski superstar. We love Philip.”
Students also shared their notes and stories along with asking questions about living in South Korea. They learned that Philip’s Korean name means “shining wisdom,” that he has a pet cat named Love and that he enjoys making origami with his friends.
“Tomorrow is our last day of school,” said Amore Humphries-Matos. “Does your school break start in June?”
‘It has been so hard and so sad, but the love and connection across the world will always be there.’
— teacher Heather Schanski
Philip, with the help of his mother, explained that in South Korea he has a short summer break, starting in July and ending in August. He also has a four-week winter break.
As South Korea is 13 hours ahead, so the 9 a.m. call from Ada Elementary was at 10 p.m. in South Korea.
The minute Simon Gregorski, Philip’s best buddy, came up to the camera, the two broke into a dance, something they often did together.
Simon told Philip he had gotten a new Pokémon card. Another student followed up by asking whether there were Pokémon cards in South Korea and if they were only the Japanese versions.
“We have English, Japanese and Korean ones,” Philip said, which prompted several “ahhhs” from the students.
Several asked whether they would see Philip in the fall. His mother said that, depending on the visa process, the family could return either at the end of the year, or in 2027.
“No ocean can keep our love apart from each other, and your family is always a part of our school family at Ada,” Schanski said.
Read more from Forest Hills:
• Fifth-graders restock time capsule for another quarter century
• ‘You Belong Bash’ builds kinship, connection among peers, staff
