Das schmeckt prima! (That tastes great!) Christian Knoch, Kevin Schulman, Justin Sarfin, Lissy Lisoski, Lauren Williams, Emma Volz and Colleen Way In an ongoing celebration of “2005-The Year of Languages,” sixth graders in the Garden City Middle School recently enjoyed an informal introduction to their next unit of study, “Food and Gastronomy.” Señora Porter and Señora Reilly’s day-2 Spanish classes and Frau Hecker’s German class held a combined Fiesta/Fest in the Middle School cafeteria. Spanish students brought in such delicacies as dulche de leche, fried plantain, pasteles, arroz (Spanish rice), tortillas, tacos, guacomole and authentic soda from South America. Frau Hecker’s German students contributed Würstchen, Kartoffelsalat, Brotchen, Bretzeln, Spatzle, Apfelkuchen, Fanta, Mineralwasser and Obst.

Scott Conetta, Scott McElroy and Michael Lapinski Not to be left out, day-1 German students colored eggs for the Easter holiday, and sampled several types of Austrian and German cakes typically served during that time of year. Day-1 Spanish students had a fiesta in their classroom, where they also sampled dishes from several Spanish-speaking countries.

Sixth-grade language students hear only the target language in their alternating day class, and they are encouraged to use it as much as possible with their classmates. During the multicultural get-together, they shared the names of the foods they knew, and became familiar with traditional dishes from different ethnic backgrounds.

Meghan Zarriello, Elizabeth Mahoney and Kimberly Gregory

German-language student Brian Cunningham Lauren Williams samples "lili" Jennifer Wotczak and Kerry Keenen Mark Dignam, Alicia Pando, Elizabeth Galizia and Brendan McManus Justin Sarfin, Mark Dignam and Paige Plass From left: Mike Nguyen, Daniel Beecher and Jeffrey Bolte Kyle Johnson and Tom Gordon Jeffrey Bolte, Patrick Butler, Brendan McManus, Mark Dignam, Paige Plass and Elizabeth Galizia Elizabeth Galizia, Mikaela Rix, Amanda Murolo and Alicia Pando Kaitlin Sullivan and William Chow blew out eggs to color Catherine Dorn (left) and Nicole Drum Tom Gordon, Charles Garcia and Eric Coners William Slattery, Brendan Logan and Abigail Eschmann painted eggs Should we try German food now? Katherine Hesterberg, Virginia Schieck, Catherine Dorn and Maria Ortiz