Congratulazioni to Italian I Students from Grover Cleveland Middle School

West Caldwell, NJ – June 23, 2014 – Eighth grade Italian I students from Grover Cleveland Middle School (GCMS), Caldwell, travelled to Montclair State University (MSU) this spring for the Italian Language & Culture Competition.  The competition, held annually, is sponsored by the Italian Teacher Association of New Jersey (ITANJ), the Coccia Institute at MSU, and the Amici Club at MSU.  All New Jersey (NJ) middle and high schools that teach Italian are invited to attend the annual event. Focusing on a different Italian cultural theme each year, participating schools design a performance associated with the current year’s theme. Past themes focus on the food, cinema, historic women, traditional festivals, sports or other topics within the Italian culture.

This year’s theme was “Past, Present, and Future.”  The eighth grade students from GCMS performed a skit based on the annual “Sanremo Music Festival”, celebrating its 64th anniversary.  Having just completed a unit on the Sanremo Music Festival in school, the event tied in with the class curriculum. The skit included scenes from the first Sanremo Music Festival back in 1951, the current 2014 festival, and a look at a futuristic festival in 2051. The students wrote the skit completely in Italian and created the associated props. This year, more than 400 students from 17 schools participated in the competition. GCMS took second place in the middle school competition.

According to teacher Lisa Manfre, the competition goes beyond winning a trophy, however. “The students were exposed to a wide range of Italian culture, they got to hear the Italian language being used all day outside of the classroom, and they had the opportunity to meet other Italian students from other schools.” Added Manfre, “I am super proud GCMS took the second place trophy in the middle school category for their performance.  What an exciting moment for our students!  As a matter-of-fact, they have already started asking if they can attend next year!”

For more information on Grover Cleveland Middle School, visit www.cwcboe.org/gcms.