Rhymes, Poems And Tongue-Twisters Come To Town

Rhyme time is here

Students come from far and near

Clinton hosts it this year

To a crowd full of cheer*

Alas, it was the 21st Annual Connecticut Council of Language Teachers (COLT) Rhyme Celebration held March 14 and hosted this year by the in the auditorium of . 

It was an afternoon of rhymes, poems, tongue-twisters and songs performed in various languages by children in grades Kindergarten through sixth from 35 schools across the state of Connecticut.

It was the first time Clinton hosted the event.

Maria Moran, a kindergarten and first grade Spanish teacher at the Joel School and a co-host of the event, said the celebration involved almost 300 students reciting poems, rhymes, songs, and fun tongue-twisters in many different languages such as Hebrew, Portuguese, Nepali, Vietnamese, Polish, German, Russian, Japanese and Chinese. The children have learned these languages at home and in school. 

This year's theme was “In the Garden.” 

According to CT COLT, the pieces the children read are chosen by the world language teachers who also help out with costumes and props. They practice for months. Each participating student received a certificate printed in the language of the recitation, an illustrated souvenir program booklet, a button designed by a student from the and chosen from a school-wide contest, a “goody bag,” and snacks.

In a press release from CT COLT, they say the Rhyme Celebration was created 21 years ago by Christi Moraga to promote an early love for world languages for children.  Delegations now represent 15 towns, 11 school districts, and 34 schools (both public and private) from around the state. More than 30 world language teachers and world language administrators are supporting the children in their renditions.

Clinton Public Schools co-hosts, Jessica Godburn, Maria Moran and Anna Recine, believe that children who attend the Rhyme Celebration develop their 21st Century skills by building their language skills and forming an appreciation of world cultures.  CT COLT Rhyme Celebration Co-chairs, Kristen Vrabie and Kate Krotzer, encourage children to perform on stage in languages other than their own because they not only develop communicative skills, but also gain understanding of language diversity.   

2012 Schools Participating in Rhyme Celebration

1)    Region 12 Shepaug: Booth Free School, Roxbury, Burnham School, Bridgewater, Washington Primary, Washington (Spanish, French)

2)    Region 10 Burlington-Harwinton: Harwinton Consolidated Elementary, Lake Garda Elementary, Har Bur Middle School (Spanish)

3)    Glastonbury Public: Eastbury, Hebron Avenue, Hopewell, Nayaug, Buttonball Lane, Naubuc Elementary Schools (Spanish)

4)    East Hartford Public: East Hartford- Glastonbury Elementary Magnet School (Japanese, Hebrew, German, French, Karen)

5)    West Hartford Public: Braeburn, Morley, Whiting Lane, Aiken, Bugbee, Smith, Webster Hill, Charter Oak, Duffy, Norfeldt Elementary Schools (Spanish, French)

6)    Farmington Public: West Woods Upper Elementary (French, Tulu, Hindi, Polish, Vietnamese)

7)    Waterbury Public: Maloney Interdistrict Magnet School (Japanese)

8)    West Hartford Private: German School of Connecticut (German)

9)    Marlborough Public: Elmer Thienes- Mary Hall Elementary School (Spanish, Polish)

10)  Old Saybrook Public: Old Saybrook Middle School, Kathleen E. Goodwin Elementary (French, Spanish)

11)  Litchfield Public: Litchfield Intermediate School (French)

12)  Clinton Public: Jared Eliot Middle School, Joel School, Abraham Pierson School (Spanish, Italian, Hebrew, Portuguese, Nepali, Vietnamese, Polish, German, Russian, Japanese, Chinese)

13)  Danbury Public: Western CT Academy for International Studies Elementary Magnet School (Spanish, Italian, French, Russian)

*poem (if you can call it that) by Fay Abrahamsson.