Flair Newsletter Vol32 No3

Foreign Language Academic Alliance for International Rapport An Academic Alliance of Georgia and South Carolina Vol. 32, No. 3 (April 2017) Editor and photographer: Jana Sandarg

Department of English and Foreign Languages Augusta University

Congratulations

2017 FLAIR Student of the Year James R. H. Clay Greenbrier High School

2017 FLAIR Teacher of the Year Robert Walker Academy of Richmond County

2017 FLAIR Outstanding Students of the Year Thandiwe Brown, Spanish, Academy of Richmond County Collin Evans, Spanish, A.R. Johnson Magnet School Madison Synder, French, Aquinas High School Joseph Lansdell McElmurray, Spanish, Augusta Christian Day School Jamie Holodak, Spanish, Augusta Preparatory Day School Aaron St. Charles, French, Butler High School Sophia D. Burkhardt, Latin & German, CSRA Home Education Association Adriana Staten, Latin, Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School Sally Blackburn, Spanish, Edmund Burke Academy s Selena Lim, Spanish, Evans High School

James R. H. Clay, Spanish & French, Greenbrier High School Priscilla Nicole Lozada-Aguayo, Spanish, Grovetown High School Cheyenne N. Roby, Spanish, Harlem High School Morgan Micheale Fulcher, Spanish, Hephzibah High School Tyler Newton, Spanish, Lakeside High School Bryson Fulmer, Spanish, North Augusta High School Valencia Raiford, French, T.W. Josey High School Hannah E. Durden, Spanish, Washington County High School Kamryn Tillman, French, Westside High School

FLAIR Honor Society Induction March 6 and 7, 2017 For the fifth year, FLAIR held two honor society inductions because we have outgrown the theater, which seats about 750 folks. Richmond County public and private schools, Aquinas High School, North Augusta High School and Washington County High School attended on March 7th. All other schools attended on March 6th. Below are some highlights from both events.

At right, the North Augusta High School Jr. ROTC under the supervision of Commander Beck. The Jr. ROTC presented the colors both nights and Commander Beck led the pledge of allegiance.

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March 6, 2017

Above, Dr. Rhonda Armstrong, Chair of the Department of English and Foreign Languages, welcomes students and their families.

Below, Kailin Chen, Greenbrier High School, sings “Historia de amor.” Her teacher is Christy Presgrove.

Above, Lakeside High School student, Tyler Newton, sang “Donde voy” by Tish Hinojosa. He is pictured with his teacher, Ms. Kathleen Barbara.

Below, French students from Westminster Schools of Augusta recite a presentation in French, “Un tramway pour tous.” Pictured are Abby Stewart Barinowski, Hannah Mayo, Julia Pruitt, Charis Puckett, Caroline Vickery, and Emmaline Waller. Their teacher is Jordan W. Lambert.

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The Puerto Rican Grupo de Danza Sión is directed by Mary Seda (in yellow) from “Iglesia Cristiana Oderes Nuevos” church.

Above: The Spanish 2 students of Harlem High School recite “Un manso río” and “Una vereda estrecha” by Rosalía de Castro, under the direction of their teacher, Scott Hawkins.

Below: Scott Hawkins directs his Spanish 3 students as they recite “Al partir” by Gertrudis Gómez de Avellaneda.

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Some of the 2017 FLAIR Students of the Year from each high school. These honorees attended the Monday, March 6th ceremony.

March 7, 2017 Aquinas High School, Richmond County Public and Private Schools, North Augusta High School, and Washington County High School.

Dr. Wes Kisting, Associate Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences gives a warm welcome to students and parents.

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Above at left: Ms. Melissa McAllister, ESOL/World Language/JROTC Coordinator of Richmond County, gave an update on foreign language programs in elementary and middle schools. She was introduced by Terry Meredith (at right), French teacher of Aquinas High School, who also served as the Mistress of Ceremonies.

Dr. William Salazar and Liliana Muñoz, both from Colombia, South America, perform typical Colombian folkloric dances — the Bambuco and the Cumbia.

Elizabeth Stevenson, a French 3 student at Aquinas High School, recites “Le corbeau et le renard”

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A French 4 student, Alysha Worden of Aquinas High School, recites two poems in French: “L’albatros” and “Voyelles.”

Bailey Surles from Aquinas High School recites “Claire de lune.” She is in Terry Meredith’s French 2 class.

Aquinas High School French 2 student, Leah Sweeney, recites “Bleu et blanc” in French.

French students from Butler High School perform a skit. Participants were John Scritchfield, Jaquan Beaman, Jerry Leverette, Victoria Weddington, and Montrez Holmes. Their teacher is Michael Harris.

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Certificates of Merit for Middle Schoolers For the eleventh 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.

Highlighting Our Students

At left, the students of Spanish teacher Imelda Shoffner, of Strom Thurmond High School in Johnston, SC, stroll the streets of Sevilla, Spain. Ms. Shoffner took a group of Spanish 2 and 3 students to explore Spain.

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Above, the French students of Angela Drake, of Midland Valley High School in Graniteville, SC, gather on the steps of the Performing Arts Theater at Augusta University, where they enjoyed a concert in French by Victoria Vox.

Above, the Spanish club students of Augusta Christian Schools pose wearing their Spanish club tee shirts. The students celebrated the “Day of the Dead.� Their Spanish teachers are Zulma Sostre and Diana McElmurray.

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La Francophonie Celebration Cross Creek High School March 20, 2017

At left, the students of French teacher N’Kutula Vasco serve authentic French foods.

Above, Alexander Verin, the French student teacher from Augusta University, gives an educational presentation on French-speaking countries at the “Francophonie” Celebration at Cross Creek High School. He is explaining information on the poster boards.

At left, Lakeside High School students watch the performances at the FLAIR Honor Society ceremony. At far right is Tyler Newton, the Lakeside FLAIR Student of the Year, who performed a song in Spanish. Lakeside Spanish teachers who attended were Kathleen Barbara and Melissa Poppell.

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Above, a group of 6 French lycéens spent the month of February, 2017, at Aquinas High School. They made Crêpes with Madame Meredith and her students. 2017 marks the 23rd year of this exchange between Aquinas and St. Denis International School in France. This is certainly a magnificent reason to celebrate!

Festival Viva España

El Día del Idioma Tuesday, April 25 5:00–7:00 pm

Friday, April 21

Día del Idioma Contest directed by Dr. Pedro Hoyos Salcedo (Details on the contest were emailed to all FLAIR members in late March.)

Contests, music, displays & Hispanic food The Ballroom Jaguar Student Activities Center Augusta University, Summerville campus Entrance is FREE and open to the public.

Free contest registration for students.

Give optional credit!

Sign-in sheets will be sent to all teachers maps available at www.augusta.edu

5:30–6:30 pm Hardy Room, second floor of the Jaguar Student Activities Center Augusta University, Summerville campus Entrance is FREE and open to the public Presentations on Spain, music, displays & Spanish food Give optional credit!

Sign-in sheets will be sent to all teachers maps available at www.augusta.edu

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2017 Aug

TBD

FLAIR Conference, Augusta University

Sept

23

AATSP-GA Conference, Baggett Elementary School, Lawrenceville, GA

Nov

17-19 ACTFL Conference, Nashville, TN

Feb

26-27 FLAIR Honor Society Inductions, Augusta University

Mar

15-17 SCOLT/FLAG, Atlanta, GA

2018

Please email items for the calendar to the editor: jsandarg@augusta.edu

$250 Student Study Abroad Award

$250 Teacher Study Abroad Award

Students who are members of the FLAIR Foreign Language Honor Society are eligible to receive a $25 award for participating in a study abroad program. Only one award will be given per year.

Students must participate in an organized program and the funds will be disbursed after receiving official documentation of completion of the program. No deadline. Contact: Terry Meredith at tmeredith@aquinashigh.org

$100 FLAIR TEACHER GRANTS

Teachers who are active members of FLAIR are eligible to receive a $250 award for participating in a study abroad program. Only one award will be given per year. Teachers must participate in an organized program and the funds will be disbursed after receiving official documentation of completion of the program. No deadline. Contact: Terry Meredith at tmeredith@aquinashigh.org

FLAIR wants you!

We need steering committee members.

Please contact Terry Meredith (tmeredith@aquinashigh.org) or Jana Sandarg (jsandarg@augusta.edu) if you wish to be added to the steering committee email list. Everyone is invited to attend the meetings.

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 scholarships will be awarded annually, funds permitting, and a teacher may only receive it once. To apply, email Terry Meredith at tmeredith@aquinashigh.org. No deadline.

Minutes of the FLAIR Steering Committee The FLAIR steering committee met on Tuesday, January 10, 2017, and those minutes are in the last newsletter. We have not met since then, thus there are no minutes to report in this newsletter. Submitted by: Jana Sandarg Page 12