Noonan Academy Highlights National Foreign Language Month

For the past three years at Noonan Academy students in 5th-8th grades have been invited to recite "The Lord’s Prayer" in a different language during March as part of National Foreign Language Month. Initiated by the academy’s Spanish and Latin teacher, Mrs. Gutierrez, three years ago during National Foreign Language Week, the cultural diversity of the students allowed the expansion to the entire month with three different Jr. High students being highlighted each week.

“This has become something special for our Jr. High students to participate in. Something that older siblings pass down with pride to their younger siblings to carry on, “ said Gutierrez. “Studying languages helps to build communication skills and strengthens critical thinking and problem solving across many different subjects. We are unique here at Noonan because we offer Spanish classes starting in kindergarten. The students build upon what they were taught the previous year to the point where we have 8th graders testing into Spanish Honors II as Freshman at the high schools that they will be attending in the fall. In 7th and 8th grades the students are immersed in Latin, the root of language, where concepts of not only mathematics and science make more sense, but also our Catholic faith.”

This year Noonan had a diverse group of students share during National Foreign Language Month. 8th grader, Raymond Sikora started off on Ash Wednesday by reciting "The Lord’s Prayer" in Latin followed by 8th grader Noah Sweis in Arabic, 7th grader Graysen Pionke in Tagalog, 8th grader Antonio Gutierrez in Spanish, 8th grader Vincent Graziani in Romanian, 8th grader Mariano Valentini in Italian on St. Joseph’s Day, 8th grader Kacper Rzadkosz in Polish, 5th grader Anthony Holuj in French, and 8th grader Zachary Hudek in Japanese.

Noonan Elementary Academy is an independent Catholic school in Mokena serving preschool through 8th grade. Noonan provides its students with a rigorous and innovative educational program that is academically challenging and personally supportive. Noonan is committed to developing the full potential of each student by fostering intellectual development, strong character formation, and spiritual growth. Scholarships are available; please contact Mr. Dunn, Principal of Noonan Elementary Academy, for more information or visit their website at www.noonanacademy.org