BANGOR – Last year when the Downeast Russian School opened its doors to welcome its first students, there was one big question: How would the community, so rich in culture and heritage, accept the implant of foreign culture?

Downeast Russian School Inc. was founded in 2003 by a group of Russian-American parents concerned that their children would forget the Russian language. They were guided by the vision of a school where children could learn Russian and preserve and develop Russian cultural identity.

The school’s purpose is to bring together, strengthen and educate the multicultural Down East community by providing a meeting place for people interested in Russian language, culture, politics or history.

About 30 people recognized the value of a Russian school. The school has children mastering Russian to speak with Russian-speaking grandparents, children adopted from Russia or Ukraine getting to know their heritage on the other side of the ocean, and people with small children carving time in busy schedules to learn the unfamiliar tones of foreign language in order to get better job opportunities. The school also has people pursuing long-term goals and dreams of travel or learning how things stand in the other part of the world.

Downeast Russian School also offer custom-made programs for home-schoolers, including the lectures “Focus on Russia” and “Focus on Ukraine” that come with authentically prepared Russian food samples – bread, borsch and cookies, consulting sessions for adoptive parents and participation in the mission program of Russian-American faith-based camp Yolachka.

Last year, Downeast Russian School participated in Culturefest at the University of Maine, ran art workshops and hosted a New Year’s Russian party at Bangor Public Library.

This year some of the Downeast Russian School students will spend Christmas in Russia. The school contracted with several travel agencies to organize custom-made tours to Russia and Ukraine to fit the educational programs of the school. This year’s tour includes Moscow, the capital of Russia, and two Golden Ring cities – ancient Vladimir and Suzdal, which are almost untouched by time. Students will visit the Kremlin, art galleries and museums, and historic landmarks of the cities. They will be accompanied by English-speaking guides and be given Russian language lessons by Downeast Russian School.

Christmas in Russian countries is celebrated on Jan. 7. Participants will see magnificent church ceremonies and make new friends. The application deadline to register for the trip is Nov. 1.

On Tuesday, Oct. 12, Downeast Russian School will open its doors for new and returning students. Classes are scheduled Tuesday evenings at Bangor Theological Seminary, Ruth Hutchins Memorial Building, Rooms 5 and 6.

Classes available are adult advanced and conversational Russian, adult beginner 1 and 2, pre-teen, kids group and adult intermediate. The cost is $100 for a 10-week class. A limited number of need-based scholarships are available. The registration deadline is Oct. 5.

To obtain more information, visit www.downeastrussianschool.wtcsites.com, e-mail Natalia Abramova at natabra@yahoo.com, leave a message at 262-9727, or write: Downeast Russian School, 150 Parkview Ave., Bangor 04401.