MELBOURNE - The welcome one receives when entering St Finbar’s Primary School, a small school in Brighton East, is extraordinary.
Especially on Italian Day.
Each year, Lena Sirianni, the school’s Italian teacher, constructs a theme around which to base one of the most anticipated days of the year.
This year’s theme was the tricolour. The result was a stream of children dressed in the colours of the Italian flag as they took part in the day’s activities.
From a football tournament to watching the film Luca, from learning about the history of pasta to the cooking workshop where Jill Tascone taught students how to prepare fettuccine alla chitarra – the students were gifted with a range of experiences.
After leaving teaching ten years ago, Tascone founded Big Pocket, an initiative through which she shares her family story and educates others on the importance of sharing a meal.
She’s taught at least 60,000 children in Victoria how to make fresh pasta, and at the end of the year will finally hang up her apron.
The November 17 celebrations began with an assembly where students recited the Acknowledgement of Country in Italian, before listening to the Australian and Italian national anthems.
Then, divided into groups, the students took part in activities until lunchtime, where they ate in step with the tricolour theme – pasta with pesto, with cream and bacon and baked lasagne.
The food was prepared by Anna Tornese and her team who run The Healthy Hut canteen.
Entering their kitchen was like crossing the threshold of a home where cheerfulness, community and hospitality reign.
The children at Finbar’s are very lucky to not only have delicious food every day, but the loveliest of staff who prepare them.
In her time at the school, Lena Sirianni has built a rich Italian program that is highly appreciated not only by the children, but also by their families who actively participate in Italian Day.
The day was a great success that rewards her for the passion and dedication with which she does her work.
