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Hall Memorial School in Willington Celebrates 2005: Year of Languages
by Megali Hannegan and Elizabeth Peczuh
Willington has joined other towns across Connecticut in declaring 2005 the Year of Languages. Hall Memorial School’s Spanish teachers, Magali Hannegan and Elizabeth Peczuh, talked to their students about the importance of the Year of Languages. Seventh graders made posters depicting language themes, and eighth graders wrote letters to their First Selectman, Michael Eldredge, urging him to declare 2005 the Year of Languages in Willington. Their letters were effective. On June 13, 2005, First Selectman, Michael Eldredge, declared 2005 as the Year of Languages in Willington. He urged all citizens to become familiar with the services and benefits offered by language education programs in our state and community and to support and participate in these programs.
Hall Memorial School held a Year of Languages Assembly on June 16, 2005. Ten students welcomed the assembly by saying, “2005: Year of Languages” in their second language including Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, Cantonese, Polish, German, Urdu, and Korean. The Proclamation was read by Principal, David Harding. The celebration continued with songs in Spanish and German by sixth graders and the Middle School Choir and was followed by a beautiful rendition of an Andalusian song by trumpeters. Barbara Lindsey, President of the Connecticut Council of Language Teachers, closed the assembly with interesting facts and information on the importance of languages in our community and the country.
For a small, rural town in Northeast Connecticut Willington has a very successful World Language program that is highly supported by the administration and the town. Students in Kindergarten begin to take Spanish classes once per week. By sixth grade, students take classes four days per week, and by the time they graduate Hall Memorial School, they have completed the equivalent of high school Spanish One.
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