Huntington’s dual language program was celebrated earlier this month during a special evening at each of the district’s four primary school buildings.
Participants in the program and their parents turned out along with teachers and school officials, reviewing displays of student work and spending time with one other while sharing food and friendship.
At Flower Hill Primary School, students and their parents were just as enthusiastic as their counterparts were at Jefferson, Southdown and Washington. Teacher Erika Brignati’s first grade youngsters were brimming with pride and excitement as they showcased the projects they worked so hard to create.
The first graders spent six weeks brainstorming, developing, editing and rehearsing their oral presentation skills. The projects were based on the family unit for the New York State Social Studies Common Core Standards, with students comparing and contrasting family structures and traditions.
“Students really loved being able to spend the time together and identifying similarities among themselves,” Mrs. Brignati said. “I am extremely proud of all of their hard work and progress made in Spanish since September. The growth students make in first grade alone is astronomical, but in two languages it’s dear to my heart.”
Mrs. Brignati was born in Colombia, South America and came to the United States at the age of five. She earned an undergraduate degree at St. Joseph’s College in childhood education and Spanish and a master’s degree at St. John’s University in ESL and bilingual education. She has taught in Huntington UFSD’s dual language program since 2008, leading classes on three different grade levels at Flower Hill.
