Connequot's First Annual Celebration of the Seal
On April 6th Connetquot seniors celebrated earning their New York State Seal of Biliteracy. New York State enjoys a rich linguistic and cultural diversity. Statewide our students speak over 200 languages. Recognizing the importance of this diversity, the New York State Legislature established in 2012 the New York State Seal of Biliteracy, awarded for the first time to NYS students in 2016. This recognition is awarded by the Commissioner of Education to students achieving a high level of proficiency in two or more world languages, one being English. This seal is affixed to the students’ diploma and transcript documenting this achievement.
This NYSSB affirms the value of diversity in a multilingual society, it encourages the study of languages as well as prepares students with 21st century skills. This year we have 85 students who have earned the NYSSB, four earning the Seal in two or more languages. In order to earn the Seal, students are required to continue their language learning at the intermediate to advanced level, evidence proficiency in English as well as complete an investigatory project. Students are required to select a research topic with the guidance of their teachers, culminating in a presentation to peers and teachers on the committee. This year our students selected a variety of amazing topics, some among them are the role of art in society, the Holocaust, fascism, workers’ rights, dance and music, fairy tales and mental health.
Congratulations to you all!
French
Lindsey Johnson
*Alexa Valensisi
Italian
*Victoria Buck
Constance Cafiero
*Salvatore Castellano
Melissa Giordano
*Emily Homayoon
Natalie Jo Pedersen
Julianna Randazzo
Daniell Roppelt
Nevarian Saladino
Julianne Ventimiglia
Stacy Vilca
Spanish
Isabella Andres
John Armenia
Patricio Arpi Sánchez
Julian Bakula
Sierra Baldock
*Victoria Buck
Bridgette Caggiano
*Salvatore Castellano
Taylor Catello
Stephanie Chen
Karly Colletti
Emily Crain
Heather Crowley
Kaylee Cummings
Lauren Dailey
Spanish
Oishi Dey
Madeleine DiGaetano
Paige Dreyfus
Colleen Duggan
Mia Flores
Joanna Forest
Ava Franks
Kay Giaccone
Alussia González
Nicholas Gregorek
Patrick Hocker
*Emily Homayoon
Isabella Horan
Jessica Iaboni
Anthony Jackalone
Carlos Jadan
Brendan Jorgensen
Dominic Kaufman
Paige Kelly
Isabella Kerr
Alif Khan
Ameem Khan
Ella LeBrun
Breymy Ledesma
Kaitlyn Lenz
Ginamarie Mannino
Lukas Martino
Evan Mistler
Emily Mohr
Abigail Molter
Traysia Moston
Brigid Murphy
Spanish
Lauren Murphy
Ann O'Connor
Annaliese Olsen
Samantha Ortiz
Alexandra Peláez
Lauren Piel
Arianna Platti
Isabella Portillo
Hannorah Ragusa
Emily Rewkowski
Nicholas Rivera
Jonathan Roddin
Dominic Ruggiero
Elizabeth Sauber
Alana Scandiffio
Hailey Scheyder
Laney Schmitz
Danah Singh
Heather Stein
Hannah Steiner
Robert Summers
Emerson Tagliaferri
*Alexa Valensisi
Cadence Vizza
Lindsei Walsh
Jamie White
Skylar Winslow
Brian Zecchini
Ethan Zhang
*Indicates multiple languages
Celebrating Foreign Language Week at Connetquot
March has been a very busy month for Connetquot World Language students! The month was kicked off with International Night followed by a week of celebrating language learning and culture. Students and staff dressed the part, representing their heritage and language pride!
Ave! Students in Mrs. Lehnert’s physical education classes learned all about Roman soldiering and gladiators. After traveling to Rome with some of our high school students Mrs. Lehnert incorporated what we learned from the Roman Gladiator School, recreating an obstacle course designed to fight like a Roman! Loved the interdisciplinary activity! Grazie Signora Lehnert helping us celebrate Foreign language Week!
Want to learn more about Roman soldiering? Check out this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bcg6o4avLqM
IMG_6096.MOV
March 8th we celebrated International Women’s Day. Signor Vettorato’s classes celebrated with a special treat for the ladies in his classes, recognizing the achievements of women from all over the world. (Not sure if he actually baked them though.)
International Night Festivities, March 1, 2022
Connetquot High School ushered in National Foreign Language Week with a celebration of cultural delights! Students from the World Language Honor Society and International club created a cultural fair representing global communities with food, music, dance, games, and fun!
La Passarella di Ronkonkoma
Signora Costa's Italian students rocking the runway!
Signora Costa's Italian Students at Ronkonkoma celebrating fashion week!
La Befana è arrivata!
Signora DeFelice’s students were surprised with a visit from La Befana, the Italian witch. Legend has it that la Befana, an unattractive witch, was sweeping the floor of her cottage when the three wise men come across her home. She offers them her hospitality and in return the Magi invite her to go along with them to Bethlehem. She at first declines but soon after changes her mind. She fills her basket with gifts for the baby Jesus and sets off alone to find the creche. Although she followed the same star, she was unable to find it. In modern times, she travels the world by night on her broom, the eve of the Epiphany, January 5th, looking for the child, leaving behind chocolates and goodies for good Italian children and coal for the not so good. Of course, Signora DeFelice’s children were delighted with the goodies!
Celebrando El Día de los Reyes Magos
Señora Ruyle’s elementary students learned about El día de los Reyes Magos, Three Kings Day. Students placed shoes filled with hay and a bowl of water by the door awaiting the arrival of the three kings. January 6th is celebrated around the world as one of the most important days in the Catholic calendar. Spanish speaking cultures, as well as Italian, Portuguese, French and many others, celebrate the day by gift giving, eating traditional delights, parades and family gatherings. Also known as the Feast of the Epiphany, it marks the day the three wise men arrive to Bethlehem guided by the Christmas Star, bearing gifts for the baby Jesus. This day is traditionally the day for exchanging gifts and in Spanish speaking cultures children leave their shoes out by the door, or at the foot of the bed with the hopes that the Three Kings will leave treats for them. Children leave carrots and hay for the camels much like American children leave cookies and milk for Santa and treats for the reindeer.
La Leyenda de la Flor de Noche Buena
Students participating in the FLES program at Idle Hour Bosti Elementary schools learned about the legend of the Poinsettia, creating paper replicas of the sacred plant. The poinsettia plant, or cuetlaxochitl as it called in Nahuatl, is native to Mexico and grows wild. It was used by the Aztecs to treat fevers and other ailments as well as in textiles for creating dyes. The sap of the plant is also used to produce latex.
The Mexican legend tells the story of Pepita, a young peasant girl who on her way to Christmas Eve mass was feeling sad because she had no gift to offer the baby Jesus. Her cousin, Pedro, reassured her, telling her that any gift, even the smallest, given by someone who loved him, would be a special gift. So, feeling inspired, Pepita collected a bouquet of weeds and approached the altar. Feeling embarrassed at the humility of her gift, she remembered what Pedro had said to her and mustered up the courage to place the weeds at the foot of the pesebre, or Nativity. The weeds suddenly burst into bright red flowers in the shape of a star. Everyone understood this was a miracle and from then on, the plant was known as La Flor de Noche Buena or the flower of the Holy Night.
IMG_5114 (1).MOVSinging a joyful holiday cheer en español !
Curious about learning French?
Check out this video created by Ms. Kramer's French students!
Ojal Sharma, 8th grader at Ronkonkoma Middle School, created this original artwork that was submitted to the Long Island Language Teachers Association (LILT) poster contest. Students were encouraged to submit a poster that represented the theme, "Languages Break Barriers." Ms. Goldacker, an ENL teacher at RMS, supported her students efforts and submitted this entry on Ojal's behalf.
OUR HS WORLD LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT DISPLAY CASE!
Great job, team!
(not in photo: Mr. Arias and Ms. Ruyle - sorry we missed you!)
Welcome to the Department of World Languages and ENL (English as a New Language)!
ELEMENTARY ENL WORKSHOPS!
MIDDLE SCHOOL ENL WORKSHOPS!
ENL PARENT WORKSHOPS!
Join us as we present fun VIRTUAL workshops for our ELLs throughout the year! We also will be posting three informational videos for parents of our ENL students and are preparing for Movie Night, too.
High Schoolers...It is TIME to THINK ABOUT
NEXT YEAR'S SCHEDULE!
Below is the course sequence for a typical language learner at Connetquot.
Remember: You can begin learning an ADDITIONAL language at any time!
See your language teacher or the Director of ENL/World Languages
if you have any questions.
Your choices for electives are varied. Use the link below to see course descriptions of the electives we offer.
