Students at Star of the Sea school partied like it’s 1599 with a Bard’s Birthday bash on April 24. The celebration included costumes, music, poetry, drama and desserts–all in honor of William Shakespeare’s birth.
Teacher Donna DiPasquale spearheaded the effort to engage the school’s seventh and eighth grade students in the life and work of the man, who is largely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language.
But for 21st Century students, brought up in a world of texting and instant everything, the work of Shakespeare can be a challenge. So, in the weeks leading up to the birthday party, students immersed themselves in Shakespeare’s world, researching everything from fencing and fighting to history and social relationships. They then tackled the challenges of Elizabethan-style of writing and speaking by reading “Romeo and Juliet” and other famous works.
Students came dressed for the bash in Elizabethan costumes or in t-shirts that they created using illustrated quotes from the writer’s work. They also memorized a passage or poem and recited it.
For many the highlight of the day was the apple cook-off, where they sampled a “merry feast” of apple desserts that Elizabethans in apple-rich England may have enjoyed. The winners of the dessert contest were: Christiana Ziccardi for best presentation, Willis Barry for the tastiest dessert, and Hamilton Wilde for the most authentic Elizabethan-style treat.
