Spring Conference 2006

The CT COLT Spring Conference and Annual meeting 2006 took place at the Farmington Public Library on May 8. The conference began with a very informative and interesting panel presentation on the creative various ways in which world language educators might reach out to their community in the Decade of Languages. The moderator was Marilyn Horton. In addition to moderating the panel, Marilyn spoke of the Multicultural Day which she developed and implemented. The all day event involving students and staff at the elementary school in Marlborough was an all day event with art and grade level displays, an ethnic luncheon and an assembly. It was a venue for showcasing the multitude of heritages in the school. The panelists included Lea Graner Kennedy, Christi Moraga, Jocelyn Tamborello Noble and Jaya Vijayasekar.

Lea Graner Kennedy, World Language teacher at Mystic Middle School, did a presentation on using technology to enhance teaching of the 5 C’s. She outlined the numerous ways in which world language teachers can reach out to the community via technology.

Christi Moraga, FLES teacher in Farmington and chair of the Rhyme Celebration, discussed two examples of her community outreach in Marlborough where she lives: Senior Citizen Mixing Day and Scout Interpreter Day, as well as two examples at the state level: Taste of Greater Hartford in East Hartford and Boats, Books and Brushes in New London.

Jocelyn Tamborello Noble, World Language teacher in Glastonbury, presented her program of teaching Spanish to the residents at Laurel Gardens assisted living facility in Glastonbury.

Jaya Vijayasekar, supervisor of Foreign Languages for the Vernon Public Schools, spoke primarily about advocacy, citing various groups to which educators can reach out: students and teachers, Board of Education members, government officials, PTOs, senior centers, other town organizations and the media. Jaya briefly mentioned the community event entitled “ Taste of Languages” which she initiated last year.

At the conclusion of the panel presentation, the following CT COLT members received awards for their outstanding contributions to the organization.

CT COLT Executive Board and Directors (2004-2006) Barbara Lindsey, outgoing President Mary-Paz Tellechea, outgoing Recording Secretary Paul St. Louis, Treasurer Marilyn Horn, outgoing East Central Regional Director	CT COLT Fall Conference Co-Chairs Vincenza McNulty, Joel Barlow High School Redding Jan Picerno, Silas Deane Middle School Wethersfield
CT COLT Fall Conference Exhibitor Chair Jaya Vijayasekar, Vernon Public Schools	CT COLT Poster Contest Co-Chairs Lea Graner Kennedy, Mystic Middle Kurt Jannke, Ledyard High School
CT COLT Poetry Contest Chair Marilyn Horn, Coginchaug Regional High School, Durham	CT COLT Poetry Contest Host Site Coordinators Elizabeth Roosen, New Britain High School Alessandro Parisi, New Britain High School
CT COLT Poetry Contest Tom Reale, Principal, New Britain High School	CT COLT Poetry Contest Judge’s Chair Cherie Marceau, Mercy High School
CT COLT Technology Conference Co-Chairs Amanda Robustelli, Bristol Central High Erin Clements, Bristol Central High	CT COLT Technology Conference Host Site Coordinator Giancarlo DeStefanis, East Haven High School
CT COLT Newsletter Co-Editors Ellen Brookes, Silas Deane Middle School, Wethersfield Paul M. St. Louis, CT COLT Treasurer	New CT COLT Board Members Elsa Benard, Director, French Resource Center, Yale University Mary Glendening, AATSP Representative, Simsbury Public Schools Mary Louise Ennis, AATF Representative
Retiring CT COLT Member Janet Picerno, Silas Deane Middle School, Wethersfield	CT COLT Student Awards for Excellence Maria DeStefanis, Francis Walsh Intermediate School, Branford
Best of Conference Award 2005 Rosemarie Bartholomew, Thomas Edison Magnet Middle School, Meriden	District Teacher of the Year Silvia Malave, Molyan Elementary School, Hartford
CT COLT Rhyme Celebration Co-Chairs Christi Moraga, West Woods Upper Elementary School, Farmington Carmela Pesca, Central CT State University	Pegasus Pride Awards Mary Sersanti, Coginchaug Regional High School, Durham Dr. Ellen J. Steele, Stamford High School Rosemarie Bartholomew, Thomas Edison Magnet Middle School, Meriden
Multicultural Alliance and Awareness and for Participation in the Connecticut/China Partnership Ren Anjun, Ridgefield Zhang Ting, Region 7 Zhou Zhichang, Region 7 Zhang Anping, Region 7 Jin Junfang, Madison Liu Yu, Waterford	NNELL Award presented by Ginny Staugitis Kathy Siddons, Dorothy C. Goodwin School, Storrs
NECTFL Teacher of the Year Christi Moraga, West Woods Upper Elementary School, Farmington

Some Photos of the 2006 CT COLT Spring Conference
(Please click on the thumbnails for enlarged versions of the photographs.)