Oak Knoll Students Immersed in French Language, Culture During New York Theater Festival

Six freshmen from Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child recently displayed theatrical and French speaking skills while being immersed in language and culture at the Premiere Scene, a French theater festival in New York City.

Oak Knoll students, the sole New Jersey representatives among 400 students from more than a dozen schools, performed at the Lycée Français de New York school in Manhattan on January 30. The festival, held since 1999, offers students the opportunity to learn the meanings of words, phrases and idioms through live performances.

Performing at the festival were Maia Archer ’19, of East Orange; Maria Bambrick-Santoyo ’19, of Montclair; Elizabeth Hadley ’19, of North Caldwell; Juliette Marchisio ’19, of Maplewood; Emma McTague ’19, of Madison; and Carmen Van Volkenburgh ’19, of Summit.

Bambrick-Santoyo earned the competition’s award for Best Elocution as part of her role in Oak Knoll’s skit “Défilé de modes,” a comedic performance about a fashion show adapted from a French play.

“The students performed with such assurance and energy,” said Irina Posso-Campana, foreign language teacher at Oak Knoll’s all-girls middle and high school. “The girls gave an exemplary display of emotions and intonations all in the French language.”

The event, during which all directions were given in French, offered full immersion and an unforgettable learning experience, Posso-Campana said.

“It was like being in France for a few hours without even leaving New York City,” she said.

Prior to the performance, Nora Burd ‘11 and Sonja Podesta ’11, who were among the first group of Oak Knoll students to participate in the festival several years ago, encouraged the freshmen.

“Nora and Sonja were so happy to see other students from Oak Knoll School experience this moment of French immersion, and they shared how much they cherished their memories,” Posso-Campana said.