The International Spanish Academy at Walton High School November, 2016 Newsletter

Hispanic Heritage Festival Many thanks to Marina Garcia, Mary Crittenden, ISA students and members of Walton’s Spanish Club & Diversity Dance Club for another fabulous Hispanic Heritage Festival. The food, cultural information, dance and song were absolutely outstanding this year! Walton’s senior ISA teacher, Mr. David Martin offered his talent playing some Spanish guitar selections. Ivette Daugherty, who is a Selena impersonator, gave her spectacular performance free of charge! For this wonderful show, all donations were appreciated and the proceeds will go to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. National Hispanic Heritage Month Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30 day period. Spanish National Honor Society On Wednesday, November 16th, several students were inducted into the Spanish National Honor Society. These students have displayed a passion for Spanish culture and a mastery of the language throughout high school and were honored for their achievements. A reception in the atrium followed the lovely ceremony in the theater. Wood Acres School Our collaboration with the Wood Acres School on Johnson Ferry continues! As you may know, Wood Acres is an ISA and our students have a long tradition of volunteering there for summer camps. Mrs. Judy Thigpen, head of school, sent her thanks and compliments to our ISA students who gave a total of 705 hours this past summer!

Media Center Collection of books in Spanish If you have not yet seen the wonderful collection in the Media Center, please stop by and look through the books in Spanish. This collection includes many classics along with biographies, Harry Potter & the Twilight series, and books by contemporary authors John Grisham, Jodi Picoult, Isabel Allende and more. Challenge yourself and check out a book! You may be surprised at your ability to read and understand in Spanish. Take one home for the break. Enjoy! ISA 8th Grade Meeting Our 8th grade parent/student ISA informational meeting will be held on Thursday evening, February 9th at 6:30 in the Walton Media Center. Mrs. Schott, director, will give an overview of the program and application process. Current ISA students will share their perspectives. El Viaje a España Planning for the 2017 Summer Spain trip is off to a great start! We have approximately 60 students who will be taking full advantage of the whole range of opportunities and experiences offered by the Summer Spain trip. Our stay will include instruction at the distinguished Pontifical University of Salamanca and tailor-made tours with a highly qualified, certified tour guide designated specifically to our group for the entirety of the trip. Additional highlights include excursions to various UNESCO World Heritage sites as well as journeys which highlight the natural beauty of Spain. Cultural experiences including dance class and micro-theatre performances will be exclusive to and customized for our students! Variety Playhouse In October the Freshman and Sophomore ISA classes went to an exciting performance by the Hispanic Flamenco Ballet at the Variety Playhouse in Atlanta. This delightful and soulful display of folkloric music and dance from Spain included classic Jota, Muñeira and Paso Doble, the tradition of La Tuna Troubadours (a group of traveling minstrels from the King's Court in the 16th century playing Spanish guitars, mandolins and tambourines), and a special Spanish fantasy with fire symbolizing the passion and elegance of Spain. The second part of the show was dedicated to various styles of Tablao Flamenco, including Tango, Jaleo, Martinetes, Tanguillo, Alegrias, and Rumba. Between dances the audience was treated to live classical guitarists performing a variety of traditional Spanish music, and at the conclusion audience members were invited to join the artists on stage to dance. Afterwards, we enjoyed lunch at Chipotle’s near the school. The weather was great and everyone had a great time and learned a little history through dance! Open House We look forward to seeing all of our ISA parents at Open House on Thursday, January 19 at 6:30.

Lela Myrick, Class of 2015 We love to feature ISA graduates in our newsletters. Lela Myrick is now featured for the second time. We are so excited about her studies, her work, and her life after the ISA at Walton! Below is an excerpt copied from the Georgia Tech Pre-Teaching Advising Newsletter:

KUDOS CORNER Congratulations to Lela Myrick, Applied Languages & Intercultural Studies, class of 2019! Lela has been selected as the first intern for the new Pre-Teaching STE(A)M Truck internship. STE(A)M Truck is a mobile maker space that brings together STE(A)M designers, and local artists, along with educators in local schools – to work closely with young students in Atlanta to tackle real problems, design solutions, and build things. www.steamtruck.org