BROOKLYN EDUCATION: Week of July 14, 2011

Bravo to Little Language Playhouse in Dyker Heights. LittleLanguage Playhouse presented its year-end recital, Il Festival diMusica Italiana, to over 400 spectators in celebration of the150th anniversary of Italy’s unification.

Over 70 children, who were students in LLP’s eight differentItalian immersion classes, performed in the show. The childrenranged in age from two through 12 years, and they spoke and sangexclusively in the Italian language.

They wore traditional costumes handcrafted by Antonella GulottaCatanzaro and Vivian Cama, mothers of students in the program. Theperformance was hosted and led by LLP’s oldest students: MichelaArlia, Anna Maria Boylan, Andy Contrino, Alessandra Gikas, MirkoMormile and Diana Marie Paunetto.

Every class at LLP is conducted exclusively in Italian in astructured, stimulating and playful environment so children can benurtured, praised, and encouraged. Founder and Director AlbertaGulotta is a resident of Dyker Heights. Assistant teacher MariaGrazia Notarnicola is a resident of Bay Ridge and a native of Rome,Italy. The studio, formerly located on 13th Avenue, is moving toits new location at 7921 7th Avenue.

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The Visitation Academy Firecrackers ended its softball seasonwith a bang. The team took first place in the Saint Anselm’s YouthSoftball League, Girls Varsity Division, beating the SaintBernadette Lady Knights in two consecutive games. The members ofthe team were Delaina Allegretti, Emily Anderson, Leslie Batri,Sophia Capellini, Rachel Dennin, Caroline Gallo, Nicole Jackson,Chloe Ladias, Veronica Lucchese, Daniella Musacchio, GabriellaOrsi, Josette Tugander and Kristen Walsh. The Firecrackers weremanaged by Gary Jackson and coached by Denise Allegretti and SteveTugander.

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Check out Summer Reading 2011 at the Brooklyn Public Library.The program is a great way for children and teens to connect withother readers and choose the books they want to read.

They can also participate in free activities that make readingfun. Children can pick up a passport activity game at anyneighborhood library for a chance to enter prize drawings for SonyBloggie cameras.

They can also sign up for the program online. There, kids canfind reading suggestions from other New York City library users orpost their own book reviews and see what others think of them. Theycan get summer reading rewards by earning virtual badges and evencreate their own avatars. Visit SummerReading.org to learn moreabout the program.