Eighth graders visit bamboo roof garden at Metropolitan Museum of Art On June 23rd, Garden City Middle School’s German language Culture Bowl Team celebrated their First Place win with a trip to New York City. Six eighth-graders, along with their teacher Dr. Judith Hecker and chaperone Mr. Nick Mascitti, visited the modern wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and examined works by Paul Klee and other artists of the Blaue Reiter and German Expressionist Schools. They also explored the bamboo roof garden, the Greek and Roman galleries, and the displays of ancient weapons and armor. Afterwards, they had lunch in Café Sabarsky, a restaurant reminiscent of turn-of-the-century Vienna, located in the landmark mansion that houses the Neue Galerie.

The Culture Bowl is one the many competitions held each year during the Annual German Language Sprachfest. On the middle school level, it is probably the most difficult contest, requiring students to memorize nearly 200 facts about the culture, history, and geography of the German-speaking countries. Garden City Middle School’s spectacular team members were Kate DeMarco (also this year’s middle school German Club President, and winner of a Certificate of Merit from the New York State Association of Foreign Language Teachers), Carney Mahon (also winner of a plaque from Long Island Language Teachers Association honoring his perfect three-year average), and fellow superior students and runners-up Patrick Dolan, Hannah Eilbeck, Devon Ialenti, and Meghan Logan.

Dr. Hecker wishes this year’s Culture Bowl team members “Alles Gute,” and congratulates them and the 43 additional students who made Garden City the top winner among middle schools at this year’s event.