On Wednesday, Oct. 8, the first-ever Italian-American Heritage celebration was held at the Upper School. Students, parents, and faculty gathered to enjoy authentic Italian music, food, and culture.
“Italian immigrants have a huge influence worldwide, and there are many people who are of Italian origin in our school. So, this year, we [the Italian Department and Office of Belonging and Community] thought to add an Italian-American celebration [to the school’s cultural program] for the first time,” World Languages Faculty & Department Chair Antonella La Tegola said.
The courtyard was decorated with Italian flags, colorful tables, and student-made projects. Traditional Italian desserts, beverages, and music were also provided for the community to relish, as well as fun activities for students to participate in, such as soccer matches.
“I thought it was very well decorated, and as an Italian myself, I felt very close to home. I also really enjoyed the food and thought the music was a great addition,” sophomore Valerio Assunto said.
The celebration allowed students and faculty to experience Italian culture without actually traveling to Italy.
“The food at the Italian-American event was really good. The people there were very friendly, and they would offer me biscotti cookies, Nutella, and other desserts, so I got to try a lot of different things. My favorites were the tiramisu and the orange San Pellegrino,” sophomore Cecilia Florin-Veiga said.
The desserts served included tiramisu, sfogliatelle, cannolis, crostata di Nutella, and gelato, among other treats. La Tegola explained that parent volunteers played a huge role in setting up the event, having supplied many of the beverages and desserts. Some of the desserts were homemade, imparting an authentic Italian touch that reflected the culture’s warmth and community spirit.
“The nice thing about these events is they bring the whole school community together. I really enjoyed seeing the food, music, and even the ice cream truck provide a sense of connection and belonging among the community, who all have the same Italian origin,” La Tegola said.
The Italian-American Heritage Celebration was a hit among students and faculty, who voiced that they really enjoyed the celebration and hope to see it return in the future.
