Foreign Language Academic Alliance for International Rapport An Academic Alliance of Georgia and South Carolina Vol. 30, No. 4 (May 2015) Department of English and Foreign Languages Editor: Jana Sandarg Georgia Regents University Congratulations 2015 FLAIR Student of the Year 2015 FLAIR Teacher of the Year Henry Burns Sonia Puerta-Quinn Augusta Preparatory Day School Episcopal Day School 2015 FLAIR Outstanding Students of the Year Faith V. Lyons, German, Academy of Richmond County Stephanie Munie, French, Aquinas High School Edward T. Frails, Spanish, A.R. Johnson Health Science & Engineering Magnet School Sophie Pollock, Spanish, Augusta Christian Day School Henry Burns, Latin & Spanish, Augusta Preparatory Day School Stanley Beck, French, Butler High School Jarret A. Hutchens, Spanish, Cross Creek High School Christopher Carter Page, Latin, CSRA HEA Khadesia Dexter, Spanish, Davidson Fine Arts Emily Ruth Hill, Spanish,s Edmund Burke Academy Aleia Trunnell Ringel, Spanish, Evans High School Sara Tyrell, Spanish, Fox Creek High School James Robert Clay, Spanish, Greenbrier High School Jacob Totaro, Spanish, Grovetown High School Brittany Roberts, Spanish, Harlem High School Faith Wesby, Spanish, Hephzibah High School Kendall Clay, Spanish, Lakeside High School Serica Weaver, Spanish, Lucy C. Laney High School Brooke Tipton, Spanish, North Augusta High School Shania Butler, Spanish, T.W. Josey High School Nykierra A. Reynolds, Spanish, Washington County High School Erica McClean, Spanish, Westside High School FLAIR Honor Society Induction March 2 and 3, 2015 For the third year, FLAIR held two honor society inductions because we have outgrown the theater, which seats about 750 folks. Richmond County public schools, private schools and North Augusta High School attended on March 3rd. All other schools attended on March 2nd. Below are some highlights from both events. Left: North Augusta High School ROTC Above: Yung Jun Oh & Kristen Surrao, Lakeside High School Right: Kendall Clay and Lina Gu, Lakeside High School Left: Washington County High School students sing a song in Spanish. L-R: Richard Jenkins, Justin Sanner, Aakiyah Harlemon, Lar'kara Betha, Jameisha Porter, and Benzell Holmes Below: The Evans High School Step Team perform to a Latin beat. Directed by Di Johnson. Below: The Panamanian dance group, “Venimos de Panama,” performs under the direction of Ricardo Rodriguez Poetry recitation in French by Aquinas High School students: Elizabeth Stevenson (left) and Stephanie Hayes (right). Butler High School French students sing “Frere Jacques” under the direction of Michael Harris (right). At left, Alysha Stephanie Worden and Munie (left) Elena Ramage from Aquinas from Aquinas High School High School recites a poem recite poetry in in French. French. At right, Ana Rivera from Colombia recites poetry. At left, a student plays the keyboard while Mercedes Morales (above) sings. Both are from Hephzibah High School. FLAIR Black History Month Presentation On February 19, 2015, Julio Avila (North Au- gusta High School) gave a talk on “Antonio Machín and the Cuban Golden Era,” which was part of the Black History Month at Georgia Re- gents University. Over thirty attendees enjoyed the lecture and lively music from an animated and knowledgeable speaker. A singer devoted to music, Julio also lectures on Renaissance music. Julio Avila, North Augusta High School Culinary Arts Class For the second year in a row, we held a Culinary Arts class, “International Cuisine: Cook and Eat,” for FLAIR honor society members on March 19th. Our host and head chef was Craig Oglesby (Richmond County Technical Career Magnet School). Other teachers who taught the cooking class were Julio Avila (North Augusta High School), Sonia Puerta Quinn (Episcopal Day School), Leslie Dawson (Evans High School), Christy Presgrove (Greenbrier High School), Michael Harris (Butler High School) and Susan Philllips (A. R. Johnson). Edwin Pérez (FLAIR Treasurer) was an invited chef and Jana Sandarg (Georgia Regents University) was the official taster. A big thank you to all the students and teachers who attended! Below are photos of students, teachers and chefs enjoying the class. At left, Leslie Dawson smiles as her students help make dessert. At right, Michael Harris cooks up onion soup. Below left is Susan Phillips helping to prepare the onion soup. At bottom right, Jana Sandarg tastes the stew made by Julio Avila. Yum! Craig Oglesby (left) & Edwin Perez (right) pose with a student. Sonia Puerta-Quinn (left) helps students chop vegetables for the stew. Christy Presgrove (left) & her husband, Brian (in red) show students how Julio Avila chops vegetables for a stew. to make tortilla española. Edwin Pérez (center) shows students how to fill the empanadas with spicy meat. This was a favorite dish—not a single empanada was left! Congratulations to Krista Himes Spanish teacher at Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School, who was awarded a SCOLT Study Abroad Scholarship for 2015. She won the Cemanahuac Educational Community Scholarship and will study in Cuernavaca, Mexico, this summer. Congratulations to Yelitza Maura Georgia Regents University 2015 AATSP-Georgia University Student of the Year Yelitza was also the recipient of a national service award: Her hundreds of hours earned her the 2014 President’s Volunteer Service Award which included a bronze medal, a certificate called “Points of Light” for national and community service, and a congratulatory letter from President Barack Obama. FLAIR TEACHER GRANTS are available to active FLAIR members who are presenting at a conference, working on a special project, or other similar items. Up to five $100 teacher grants will be awarded per year, if funding is available, to active FLAIR teachers. Teachers may receive the grant only once. To apply, e-mail Terry Meredith at [email protected] No deadline. FLAIR wants you! We need steering committee members. Please contact Terry Meredith ([email protected]) or Jana Sandarg ([email protected]) if you wish to be added to the steering committee email list. Everyone is invited to attend the meetings. Certificates of Merit for Middle Schoolers For the ninth year, FLAIR offered Certificates of Merit to middle school students who have maintained an A average for a year and a half of foreign language study. We hope they will join the FLAIR Honor Society when they reach high school. 2015 Jul 17-20 AATSP Conference, Denver, CO Aug 29 FLAIR Conference, Georgia Regents University Sept 12 AATSP-GA Conference, Atlanta Oct 9-11 Hispanic Festival, the Commons, Augusta Nov 20-22 ACTFL Conference, San Diego, CA 2016 Feb 18-20 SCOLT Conference, Charlotte, NC 29 FLAIR Honor Society Induction, GRU Mar 1 FLAIR Honor Society Induction, GRU 4-5 FLAG Conference, Augusta, GA Nov 18-20 ACTFL Conference, Boston, MA 2017 Mar 16-18 SCOLT Conference, Orlando, FL Nov 17-19 ACTFL Conference, Nashville, TN Please email items for the calendar to the editor: [email protected] $250 Student Study $250 Teacher Study Abroad Award Abroad Award Students who are members of the FLAIR Teachers who are active members of FLAIR Foreign Language Honor Society are eligi- are eligible to receive a $250 award for par- ble to receive a $25 award for partici- ticipating in a study abroad program. Only pating in a study abroad program. Only one award will be given per year. Teachers one award will be given per year. Stu- must participate in an organized program dents must participate in an organized and the funds will be disbursed after receiv- program and the funds will be disbursed ing official documentation of completion of after receiving official documentation of the program. Contact: completion of the program. Contact: Terry Meredith at Terry Meredith at [email protected] [email protected]. In the News Episcopal Day School, Augusta, GA International Trips by Charlotte Jewette Last year EDS inaugurated international summer trips by sending thirteen students in 5th-8th grades along with 3 faculty members to Costa Rica with Chill Expeditions. The trip more than met our ex- pectations. Zip-lining, white-water rafting, caving, and visiting an organic farm were a few of the action packed activities. Students also took an extended jungle walk, on which an expert guide pointed out plants and animals that provide medicines and other items helpful to mankind. Students became im- mersed in the culture by attending a church service, shopping in a small town and doing community ser- vice at a small parent-funded school. Students and faculty alike were thrilled with the experience and so this year 14 students and 2 fac- ulty members will take off for Belize. This trip will include cave tubing, going on an archeological dig at a Mayan ruin as well as a visit to the oldest Mayan ruin. There will again be community service in a local school. We believe the cross-cultural experience is invaluable for these students, and will pay dividends many years in the future. National Spanish Exam Results by Charlotte Jewette This year more than 157,000 students took the National Spanish Exam. Episcopal Day School had 38 students in the eighth grade who took the Level 1 Exam. A total of sixteen of these students were rec- ognized for their scores nationally. The six students who received Honorable Mention were Kate Lee, Glen Owen, McNeill Franklin, Thomas Lee, and Imani Bowen. Bronze medals were earned by Katie Grant, Maggie Pennington, Drew Moses, Shelton Swint, Madeleine Baker, Jack Monnig and Salley Wilson. Students scoring better than 85% of those taking the test earned a Silver Medal. These students were William Smith, Daniel Nesbit and Nicole Alleyene. Kevin Buscemi of the National Office says that stu- dents are to be commended for such an achievement. Happy Retirement by Sonia Puerta-Quinn EDS is sad to say goodbye to Señora Charlotte Jewett, but wishes her Happy Retirement and thanks her for all the years of great teaching! Send us your news so we can showcase foreign languages in the CSRA.