Foreign Language Department News

August 2006

Staff changes
Long-time Spanish teacher Ms. Esther Ain retired at the end of last school year.
French teacher Mr. Shawn Temple accepted a position at Takoma Park Middle School.
A warm welcome to our new Spanish teacher, Ms. Anne- Marie Hamant.

Summer Pursuits
Several of our teachers have been involved in interesting pursuits, both professional and personal, this summer.
Ms. Foderaro-Guertin attended an intensive language course in Rome and Ms. Magistro has begun courses in the doctoral program at Middlebury. Ms. Groeneman will be traveling in South America for two weeks in August.

Costa Rica Trip
Ms. Groeneman escorted a group of nine students and parents to Costa Rica in late June. They visited a lodge in the rainforest in northeastern Costa Rica where they were awakened by howler monkeys every morning. Their activities included volunteering at a local elementary school, where they helped with landscaping and English classes, river rafting, wildlife hikes, and a visit to a banana plantation, and more. They also visited Arenal volcano, hiked in the lava fields, and took a boat trip through the mangrove swamps on the Pacific Coast where they met some capuchin monkeys "up close and personal."

Ms. Groeneman is organizing a trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands August 10-20, 2007. There will be an information meeting in late September. E-mail Ms. Groeneman if you'd like more information.