Polyglot Pinellas County Schools Editors: Nancy Engelman and Jan Kucerik

November, 2006 Teachers of world languages use Volume XXI, Issue 2 best practices and state standards to facilitate student success in the global community.

Pinellas Teachers Receive State Honors presents the award each year to the member who has demon- Wein Wins Coveted strated leadership at the regional, state and/or national level, Vinson Goes to Wershow Award for served as a quality educator in his/her own right and promoted Head of the Class Leadership the teaching and learning of foreign languages, bilin- gual/bicultural education and/or English as a second language. Ruth Vinson, Tarpon Springs Livia Wein, World Language Livia’s contributions at the local, regional and state level are Middle School French teacher Department Chair at Seminole was nominated for Head of the HS, was awarded the prestigious exemplary, and she represents well the talent and dedication of Class by one of her Advanced 2006 Irving Wershow Award for Pinellas County teachers of world languages. French students, Brett Phillips. Excellence in Leadership in the ABC Action News sponsors the Profession of World Language Teachers of Promise Head of the Class program to Education by the Florida For- Two of Pinellas’ newest teachers of world language were also recognize outstanding teachers eign Language Associa- honored at the Florida Foreign Language Conference. Silvina in Tampa Bay. Deiah Riley tion. Mrs. Wein received her Iglesias, Sanderlin Elementary School, and Cinthia McGill, one of the co-anchors for the award in the presence of more Bay Point Elementary were named “Teachers of Promise”, an ABC Action News Morning than 600 colleagues from award given to teachers who have taught for three years or less. Show visited the French class- throughout the state of Florida room on October 9, 2006. The during the general session of the They were nomi- nated by colleagues news crew filmed activities in conference, held October 12-14, and were required to submit a portfolio the classroom. During the visit, at the Sarasota Hyatt on the Bay. for consideration by the Florida For- Mrs. Riley presented Madame The Irving Wershow Award is eign Language Association Execu- Vinson with the Head of the the top award given annually at tive Board. Ms. Iglesias and Ms. Class award for going the state level in memory of the McGill were two of the five Florida above and beyond in her efforts late Irving Wershow's distin- educators recog- nized in the state for to educate our children. The guished career as a foreign lan- the innovations they have demonstrated and the contributions program aired Monday, October guage educator. The Florida they have already made to world language study in Pinellas. 16th during the 6 a.m. newscast Foreign Language Association and Tuesday, October 17th during the 5 p.m. news. You Kudos to our Colleagues can see it online at

Congratulations to Crystal Grant for their project, “Spanish promote her new American Sign Language program at Dixie Rockne (Dixie Hollins HS), Pam Voices”. They have imple- Hollins. Pam Benton won an Aegon Corporation Developer Grant. The grant congratulates (with $400) a teacher on an inno- Benton (Boca Ciega HS), Kath- mented a peer teaching exchange vative and effective project he/she has developed over the last few ryn Olivero (Largo HS), Gail between Gail’s Spanish- years and allows him/her to share the project with other teachers at Lulek and Danny Boulieris speaking ESOL students and an expo in the spring. Benton also received $200 to use for class- (Safety Harbor MS), all of whom Danny’s students learning Span- were honored at an awards pro- room supplies. Her project was a magazine done by AP students ish. Kathryn Olivero was the made up of the different types of writing they have done. gram held Friday, October 20 at recipient of two grants, one to the Stavros Institute as recipients Special congratulations to Jeannine Pursley, French teacher at East promote reading in her class- of “Teach for Excellence” grants. Lake HS, who is one of 25 semi-finalists in the Outstanding Educator room. Crystal Rockne, a first Danny Boulieris and Gail Lulek Teacher Recognition Program. Jeannine was honored in the cate- year teacher, is working hard to received the Citigroup Mentor gory, Commitment to Improvement of the Profession. We are so proud!!! News from the Schools…Elementary and Middle Schools Bay Point MS welcomes Orietha Gnecco, Riviera MS will be initiating charter mem- a native of Colombia, a beginning teacher bers into the school’s first Club de Español. working with sixth graders. Coachman Fundamental students also Oak Grove MS discovered that the celebrated Día de los Muertos with “esqueletos” for Día de los Muertos were “Calaveras”, “esqueletos” and the use of so popular that students who do not take CRISS strategies to compare and contrast Spanish have been asking for the materials the celebration to Halloween. Palm Harbor UHS to make them. The Spanish Club has been The FLES Team , including teachers from Leni Fernández, Spanish teacher, is teaching very successful with its activities, including Bay Point, Perkins, Campbell Park, and a Beginning Spanish for Adults component for the preparation of Thanksgiving baskets for Maximo, was once again transformed into the staff at her school. The school has enjoyed Hispanic families in the area. “La Familia Cicatriz”. They spent two working with USF intern, Michael Eby, who Palm Harbor MS Begininng and Ad- days visiting schools and performing a live we hope has aspirations of teaching in Pinel- vanced students have also been learning stage show for children. las. PHUHS would love to keep him! Paula about Día de los Muertos and participating Hern continues to entice students and col- in a variety of activities, such as the crea- leagues with her crepe parties. Rita Risco is tion of cartoon calaveras inspired by the News from the Schools… traveling more and more as an IB leader and Mexican artist, José Guadalupe Posada. High Schools instructor. We are so proud!

St. Petersburg HS Lakewood The Sancho Panza chapter of the The Spanish Club celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month by creating a bulletin board in the “SOCIEDAD HONORARIA HIS- main hallway entrance of the school announcing famous Spanish people during the morning PANICA” organized a cultural assembly announcements and having a fiesta with Spanish snacks and dancing. Spanish classes had a that took place on October 27 during the big celebration for Día de los Muertos. Each classroom became a “center”, where students last period of the day. About 500 students enjoyed food, arts and crafts, and immersion in Spanish culture. The French Club will be from Spanish and French classes attended taking their third annual trip to EPCOT November 17 to experience French language and the show. It was a fun, interesting and a culture right here in Florida. Highlights include a visit to the Café de France restaurant and great way to learn Hispanic culture. The the French, Moroccan and Canadian pavilions. Lakewood’s French Club, with nearly 30 program included: a piano piece by members, grows each year. Activities include making and eating croques-monsieu, crepes Taurina, a flute and piano duet of “La and fondue, watching French movies and more. Habanera” of the opera Carmen, an origi- nal skit “La Limotina”, a take- off “La Boca Ciega HS Tomatina” the Spanish tomatoes festival of The Spanish Honor Society collected two boxes of toiletries for a homeless shelter and will Bunol, Spain, which was written and di- be wrapping gifts for Hospice House at Tyrone Square Mall every Saturday between Thanks- rected for this show by senior Hayley giving and Christmas. Applications for membership have been distributed to first semester students and new members will be tapped the week after Thanksgiving break. Guermack of Gloria Muñoz’s Spanish V class; three dances choreographed and Field Trips: Teachers also took a group to Mahaffey Theatre to see the Gran Folklórico de performed by students: pasodoble, cumbia Mexico November 6. It was a very exciting show. The costumes were fabulous. French and salsa; the #1 song of the Spanish students took a trip to EPCOT Center for the food festival. They had a wonderful time! speaking world: “La Camisa Negra” ac- Dance Club companied by the guitar not by Juanes but Students inspired by the movie “Take the Lead” with Antonio Banderas, have formed a ballroom by junior, Matt Moench; The Mexican dance club. They have gotten a professional dance teacher to volunteer to teach the classes. Atten- legend of “La llorona” told in a song with dance is averaging 55 students per meeting. So far the group has learned Merengue and Fox Trot. the presence of the ghost; a flamenco gui- State Competition tar duet “el flamenco loco”, composed and Celia Rubi and Pam Benton will be taking a group to State Spanish Competition and would executed by Matt Moench and John Paul especially for this show. The Spanish like ideas for fundraisers that a small group of students can do to raise a lot of money. Honor Society collected about $1500 in Retirement donations. The total amount will be sent to Finally, the Boca Ciega staff is trying to adjust to the idea of saying farewell to veteran col- “Aldeas Infantiles S.O.S” of Bogotá, Co- league, Polly Serbanos, who has made the decision to retire in December. lombia. The Sancho Panza Chapter was able to reach its goal for its international project. The Polyglot is a newsletter written by and for Pinellas teachers of world languages. Send news items to Jan Kucerik, Office of World Page 2 Languages, Admin Building or e-mail to [email protected]