The event was organised by Italian teacher, Angela Pane.
“It’s not easy to organise a day involving all 15 classes; there are almost 380 students in all,” Pane explained as she helped Year 5/6 students to make pizzas.
After preparing the pizzas, the students went on to create a quiz on the history of the iconic Italian dish.
Meanwhile, the school’s gymnasium was lined with 30 tables covered with white tablecloths; on each table sat a sparkling pasta machine and an apron for each student.
One student stated the ingredients for success: “You have to be kind and willing to help and have fun.”
After after a brief explanation on the techniques to use, the students began kneading and rolling the dough to the rhythm of music.
The budding cooks were engrossed in the activity and, with a great deal of enthusiasm and commitment, they managed to transform their dough into a plate of fresh tagliatelle.
Meanwhile, students from other year levels were busy colouring in the Colosseum, creatively reproducing the Mona Lisa or putting their own touch on Pinocchio.
The younger students did artwork using the colours of the Italian flag before playing bocce in the afternoon.
As I visited different classrooms, I was amazed by the students’ enthusiasm and interest in the activities.
My presence also sparked their curiosity and I was inundated with questions, such as how to say certain words or sentences in Italian and whether I had ever been on a gondola.
It was exciting to see students actively participating in their learning and the day demonstrated the importance of languages education, which can open the door to a world that awaits them outside the classroom.
