Diwali assembly lights up the stage
Diwali assembly lights up the stage
![Group of students on stage]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1730728961/blindbrookorg/zpxinboud14qttx4kkop/BBWebsitePhotoSize_1.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1730728961/blindbrookorg/zpxinboud14qttx4kkop/BBWebsitePhotoSize_1.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1730728961/blindbrookorg/zpxinboud14qttx4kkop/BBWebsitePhotoSize_1.png","width":800}])
As they entered the cafetorium, students at the Bruno M. Ponterio Ridge Street School were handed a battery-operated tea light. The small lights gave off a warm glow as students found their seats and waited to see what would happen.
They were in for a real treat as a group of their classmates took to the stage to present a performance relating to Diwali—what it is all about, how its celebrated, and just how much fun it can be.
Student performers had been rehearsing for several weeks to create a bright, energetic and informative event that included a history lesson, songs and dance. The audience was told how the holiday, celebrated by Hindus among others, is a multi-day festival that celebrates light overcoming darkness and a way to celebrate the return of King Rama to his lands many centuries ago.
“It’s a festival of light, and marks the new year,” said parent volunteer Mahima Caprihan, who helped organize the assembly along with fellow parents Sasya Geedipalli and Samrat Saran.
"Ms. Taylor is very committed to diversity in this school,” she said of the principal. “This is an expression of looking at a different culture.”
Ms. Caprihan added that the performance, which was funded by the PTA, allows the performers to showcase their talents, which included storytelling, singing and dancing, and enables them to take pride in their culture.
“Understanding history is very important for our community,” she said. “This is more precious than what I get paid to do in my day job,” she said with a laugh.
The assembly also included an interactive performance with dancer Megha Kalia, owner of dance studio NYC Bhangra. Ms. Kalia invited a group of enthusiastic students up on the stage with her and walked them through several steps of an Indian dance.
A special thank you to the following performers for their contributions to this special show:
Kindergarteners: Rohan Kumar, Ayra Chandaran, Kiara Jha
1st graders: Lucas D., Kiran K., Nina S., Nasiha B., Moira K., Savera D.
2nd graders: Alyssa D., Mehraj S., Arya A., Rohan P., Navya S., Manav M.
3rd graders: Aarav B., Medha M., Shireen K., Nysa A.
4th graders: Sabhyas S., Ravya J., Vivek A.
5th graders: Ayush R., Vihan D., Advita N.
- BMPRSS
- District
¡Hola! Spanish comes to BMPRSS
This year, Foreign Language in Elementary Schools (FLES) is back at the Bruno M. Ponterio Ridge Street School, and both teacher Jasminne Paulino and students are exclaiming “¡Olé!”
Each day, Ms. Paulino steps into the classrooms of third, fourth and fifth graders where she spends 20 minutes introducing students to the Spanish language. She brings with her a rolling basket of resources that includes everything from message boards with images pertaining to vocabulary students will be learning, a speaker for them to listen to authentic Latin music and worksheets to help them write in a new language. Occasionally, she surprises the students with some playful puppets that she uses to enhance their engagement. Among these puppets, Arturo seems to be the favorite.
Ms. Paulino takes the approach that students want to be active and engaged. To that end, her lessons usually begin with a physical warm up where she and the students stand and recite the names of their body parts in Spanish—shoulders, ears, knees etc. Throughout her interactions with students, she uses Spanish 95 percent of the time. English is reserved for providing instructions that may be challenging for students to understand.
“There’s a lot of repetition, switching up activities, playing games,” Ms. Paulino said. “Everything is meant to establish that connection so while they are not in the classroom, they are using the language as much as possible.”
The teacher is spending the first half of the year teaching students’ everyday language, with the second half focusing on units of study about Spanish speaking countries.
“Opening their minds to that level of diversity is something I love to see,” the teacher said, adding that when she informed students those different regions have a different way to say the word “cool,” the students were impressed.
“You are giving kids a glimpse into the culture,” she said.
“Starting a foreign language in elementary school is so wonderful,” Ms. Paulino continued. “It leads into the language program at the middle school. It will change the whole K-12 world language program.”
Most of the students she is working with are not native Spanish speakers. Many of them have relatives who are fluent in Spanish, or they possess some prior knowledge of the language. Some of her students have told her they are practicing what they have learned with older siblings who are also studying the language.
“I think the trick is to make it fun, make it engaging,” she said. “I feed off their enthusiasm. It’s a lot of fun for me.”
Just a few weeks into the new school year, Ms. Paulino has seen how students have embraced what they are learning. One afternoon as she left the building after school, two fifth graders spoke to her in Spanish.
“Seeing the children this excited a month in, it makes me look forward to the rest of the school year,” Ms. Paulino said.