12/23/2024
by Laura Fleischer Proaño, High School Spanish Teacher
Highlands Elementary School celebrated Holidays Around the World on Dec. 17 with more than 60 Highlands High School student volunteers from German, Spanish, English as a Second Language (ESL) and Music classes.
The High School World Language students developed and taught 15-minute interactive and age-appropriate lessons about holidays around the world, including Christmas, Hannukah, Diwali, Lunar New Year and Nowruz Bayram to students in grades 1-4. The elementary students visited five different countries and received stamps in the passports they created with Mr. Kornosky in their World Exploratory Language Class, a new course in the special rotation this year at HES.
While traveling the world, they played games like rayuela (similar to hopscotch) in Spain with Jocelyn Bloch and Reagan Irvine, ponle la cola al burro (similar to pin the tail on the donkey) in Mexico with Madison Haines and Emma Murrell and dreidel as they learned about Hanukkah with Alexxia Harding. They also had the opportunity to sample traditional foods, such as anginetti (Christmas cookies) in Italy with Aubry Bowser, Luciana Cirino and Landen DonGilli, leche con plátano (banana and chocolate drink) in Chile with Abby Koharchik and Abby Pomaybo and cookies with the French flag in France with Addison Arms, Bella Gardner and Dylan Kemp. As they traveled, high school music students dressed as polar bears, trees and gingerbread cookies visited them to spread some extra holiday cheer.
Both the elementary and high school students had a fun and rewarding morning. Additionally, high school students met Career and Workforce Readiness standards as they explored the field of teaching and reflected on their experience. When considering their strengths, some students highlighted their engaging activities and the authenticity of the information in their lessons, as they learned it from Highlands AFS exchange students or family members. One area some students noted for improvement was allowing more time for questions or adding more interactive elements to their lessons. In adapting their lessons for different learners, students said they adjusted the pacing for each group based on student needs or they improvised by teaching phrases or songs in the language of their country if they had extra time.
We also asked students if they would consider a career in education. While some students have other career paths in mind, all found the experience fulfilling, with some feeling inspired to seriously consider teaching. Ashlyn said, “I was already considering a career in education, but now I really think that teaching is the way to go.” Abby K. shared, “Teaching them broke me out of my shell and made me happy to make the children happy.” Reagan added, “Seeing the little kids be so supportive of each other and excited to answer made me think more about teaching because it was just fun, not a chore.” Abby P. noted, “This trip is making me reconsider my career path.”
A special thanks to the administrators Dr. Toole and Dr. Whiteman for their support of this now annual event as well as the teachers who organized it, including Mrs. Gettens, Mrs. Proano, Mrs. Robinson, Mr. Kornosky, Mrs. Colberg, Mr. Novak and Mr. Zeiler and the dedicated high school student volunteers. We also extend our gratitude to ABC Transit for donating the buses for transportation between HHS and HES.
Slideshows and World Language Students
- Australia - Gabby Collins and Abby Vulgris
- Cameroon - Al-bright Mbando Dongmo and Ryan Maloney
- Chile - Abigail Koharchik and Abigail Pomaybo
- Colombia - Will Baillie and Sal Barbarino
- Costa Rica - Evy Lentz and McKinley Snyder
- Ecuador - Alexis Arms and Bailey Pierce
- England - Samantha Markey and Jacob Millen
- Finland - Grainne Dignam, Addison Imler and Allie Valasek
- France - Addison Arms, Bella Gardner and Dylan Kemp
- Germany - Zane Callen, Dean Hoover and Hannah Misejka
- Greece - Callie Bradfield and Emma Loughner
- Guatemala - Monse Petz and Luisa Petz
- Hanukkah - Alexxia Harding
- India - Agastya Narang and Keegan Babinsack
- Italy - Aubrey Bowser, Luciana Cirino and Landen DonGilli
- Mexico - Madison Haines and Emma Murrell
- Norway - Anna Crowell and Emma Martinka
- Peru - Payton Bundy and Gabby Godfrey
- Poland - Ashlyn Negley and Lillie Ryan
- Portugal - Sydney Peppler and Natalie Stello
- Spain - Jocelyn Bloch and Reagan Irvine
- Sweden - Kyle Dollman, Deanna Hoover and Jacob Thorpe
- Turkmenistan - Luke Hewitt, John Kraeger and Cainen McCann
- Vietnam - Vo Xuan Hoang (Morgan), Vo Thanh Hoang (Eric) and Abella Valenti-Baker
Music Students
- Aiyana Brennfleck
- Noah Blythe
- Kylee Bowser
- Elliana Davenport
- Melissa Mialki
- Carter Scott
- Emily Terrill
- Zachary Vulgris
