Pictured: Superintendent Dr. William Brennan greeted seniors Allie Italiano, left, and Juliana Carozza at the Italian room’s photo station.
Photos courtesy of the Massapequa School District
Massapequa’s elementary school students were invited to take a journey around the world, and they only had to go as far as the high school on March 23. The 18th annual World Language Festival was an immersion into other cultures, with crafts, dancing, food and games.
Activities were spearheaded by Massapequa High School students from the world language club and honor societies. Elementary students were invited to come in and explore the language options offered at the secondary level, and they got their passports stamped as they visited each room.
Massapequa High School German teacher Brigitte Kahn and her student volunteers where ready to welcome elementary students and their families to the annual World Language Festival on March 23.
“We’re glad we’re able to share our world language programs and the cultures that we advocate for within the community,” said William Anderson, curriculum associate for world language and ENL. “It was a big turnout, everyone had fun and learned a lot.”
The world language hallway was bustling, with activities in every classroom. In the Mandarin Chinese room, students could play with Chinese yo-yos and learn how to write letters and words in Mandarin symbols.
A Chinese lion dance entertained the crowd in the world language hallway.
The Italian room featured posters with fun facts about food and geography as well as gondolier craft celebrating the operators of the famous boats in Venice.
French students didn’t just take their younger peers on a trip to France, but to all countries and regions where the language is spoken. Senior Emily Molloy said that an igloo craft was a tribute to the Hôtel de Glace in Quebec.
Emily said that she has fond memories of attending the World Language Festival as a child and this was a way for her to give back.
Students visited the international food court in the cafeteria.
Senior Christian Kotten was one of several student volunteers in the German room. Visitors could play a cognate game to learn words that sound similar in English and German. There was also coloring, dancing, a photo station and a geography game to learn about the cities in Germany.
“I love being able to show children different cultures and different languages, and to help them expand their knowledge,” Christian said, adding that he wanted to share his positive experiences with taking German since seventh grade.
To celebrate Spanish culture, students made Guatemalan worry dolls.
There were several rooms representing Spanish language and culture. Students could make Guatemalan worry dolls, visit the Amazon rainforest and color pictures of characters from the Disney animated movie, “Encanto.”
The festival brought elementary and high school students together to celebrate cultures around the world.
The International Food Court returned for the first time in three years, with language students and teachers serving up cultural delicacies in the cafeteria. Outside the gym, the National Art Honor Society ran a face-painting station. There were also two performances of a Chinese lion dance.
Recent Comments