March 19, 2019 -- The Canterbury Elementary School Kindergarten classes visited Heights High on March 12 to share their Spanish language skills with Señorita Olivia Fatica’s three Honors classes. The 50 kindergarteners in three classes study Spanish with Señora Jessica Artman and for the past several years have partnered with the high school for Spanish studies.
All the students gathered in the Mini-auditorium where the young students sang songs and performed a dance as the older students sat in the audience. Then the high school students performed, reciting short poems about seasons, animals and weather and Spanish tongue twisters.
Prior to the visit, the students exchanged letters in a Pen Pal project and the kindergarten students recorded a music video for the Heights students.
Following the perfoemances, several Heights High students helped guide a school tour for kindergarten students.
Student tour guides: Keenan Barnes, Asia’Lee Fair, Fiona Macke, Marriya Davis, and J’amonte Davis, (L-R).
Señorita Fatica was very proud of the way her students prepared, performed and interacted with the younger students. “My students were so wonderful,” she said. “They just soften when the little ones come into the room. They were so gentle and kind and patient with the kindergarteners.”
Included in the group from Canterbury was Jake, the son of Heights High math teacher Becky McDonald. “Jake had a great time!,” said Mrs. McDonald. “He said ‘I love speaking in Spanish with the high school students AND the Heights Tiger high-fived me! Can you believe that?’”
Jake and Becky McDonald
Yes, it’s true. Before leaving the building the kindergarteners were greeted by TJ, Tiger Junior, the not-so-fierce Tiger Nation mascot.
The future Heights High freshmen crowded around TJ to hug and high five the friendly mascot.
When the bus to Canterbury arrived, TJ walked with the students as they boarded their bus. While TJ does not talk much, he did yell out “Adios mis nuevos amigos!” as the bus left the parking lot.