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Soiree celebrates the French culture and students’ skills
(by Lisa Kintish - April 09, 2008)
“Un soir de scenes et spectacles de mode presente par les etudiants francais de Madame Pollack. An evening of skits and fashion shows presented by Madame Pollack’s students of French.”
So read the program for La Soiree Francaise, a night celebrating all things French, as well as the Morris County School of Technology students who study the subject.
There was a fashion show, slides revealing images of the Louvre Museum and Eiffel Tower, and French food such as quiche, brie, and crepes. There was also a presentation acknowledging new inductees and second-year honorees of the Societe Honoraire de Francais.
The “soiree” came about as a result of a class project in which the students had to present a fashion show. Teacher Sharon Pollack thought it was so great that the parents should see it. Additionally, she wanted to give the students their awards publicly. As they say in France, voila, and so it was that students strutted down a runway in dresses, capris, and pajamas.
Attention was given to every detail - from the attire to the accessories including shoes, sunglasses, and handbags. There were also a couple of skits performed, en Francais, but of course.
“With the exception of a few minor flaws, the entire show ran very well and smoothly,” said 11th-grader Sree Madappalli of Denville, who served as executive producer of the event.
She said, “The fashion shows were the most fun and entertaining for us and we enjoyed presenting them to the audience.”
Elizabeth Craighead, an 11th grader from Mine Hill, said, “I thought the show was a great success and that everyone who was involved showed how much hard work they put into the program. My favorite part was the fashion shows. Not one was the same and everyone had their own style.”
Dover resident Harold A. Mesa said, “I think the show turned out very well. The stress that went into creating it was huge, but the thing I liked most about it is that the audience enjoyed it.”
While the students put together the show, complete with French narration - English translation was projected on a screen - perhaps the most impressive aspect was the love of the subject displayed by the third-year students. At MCST, the students are divided into numerous academies and by 11th grade are immersed in that specialized area of study. In order to continue taking French, the students had to petition the school for permission to take it as an elective.
Pollack has taught at the school for three years and has built up a strong bond with her students, particularly the ten in French 3. “They are amazing - this group in French 3 is really extraordinary,” she said.
Craighead said her reason for petitioning to take French for a third year was “because I was interested in the language from the beginning of freshman year and I love the language. I wanted to be different from the many students who would normally take Spanish.”
Mesa offered, “I think that it was important for us to petition for a third year of French because it would allow us to continue learning the language and eventually master it.”
Then there was this comment from a Boonton Township resident, Larry LaReau who said, “It was important to me that I petitioned for the continuation of French 3 because I really enjoy studying it and I don’t want to forget it.”
Local students who were awarded as new inductees into the French honor society were: Nicolas Carmona of Dover; Jacqueline Munguia of Dover; and. LaReau. Second year honorees who received pins for continued academic excellence were: Mesa and Maddappali.
Lisa Kintish can be contacted at kintish@northjersey.com.
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