Sambea C. ’19 and Francesca B. ’22 met at a Spanish Culture Club meeting last year and, while they shared an appreciation for Spanish language, art, and food, at the end of the school year, they jokingly questioned why SCS didn’t have an Italian Culture Club. The girls each had a strong connection to Italian culture; Francesca’s father and grandparents were born in Rome, and Sambea’s Irish family has lots of Italian friends, so she was immersed in the language and culture from a young age.
After proposing the new venture and securing a staff advisor in Ms Festarini, Sambea and Francesca began welcoming students in Grades 7 to 12 to weekly meetings in the fall. Their goal for the club is to facilitate learning about Italy and Italian culture in a really fun way. “So far, our meetings have involved watching Italian movies, learning conversational Italian, practicing pronunciation by looking at menus, creating our own Renaissance-themed artwork and, of course, we’re always looking to share in Italian food!” explains Sambea. Traditional Italian S cookies (a crisp, slightly buttery cookie) are a staple at many club meetings. “We’re really hoping to conclude the club’s first year with a celebratory, traditional Italian meal for the whole group.”
Drop-ins are welcome, and Francesca noted how nice it is to have students from various grades participating. “There’s an appreciation and enthusiasm for the culture that is really apparent, which is so nice to see,” she shares. “You don’t have to be Italian to come out to a meeting. You just need to have an interest in learning more about Italy! I was new to SCS last year, and I found that joining clubs was a great way to meet new people across different grades, and to learn more about a particular subject. That’s what we are aiming to provide with the Italian Club!”
The Italian Culture Club meets on Wednesdays over lunch. Upper School students are welcome to check it out!
And, check back next week for another edition of #SCSSpotlight, where we profile a different student, activity, or interesting event!
