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Students at Saluda Elementary School have tapped their creativity and made amazing Carnevale Masks. 

This year, the Saluda Sister City organization is holding a Venetian Carnevale Gala at Saluda’s Orchard Inn. The children of Saluda Elementary School have been involved and have devoted study time to learning about Venice and other areas of Italy as part of a program on the cultures and traditions of different countries.  

 

The after-school students created colorful masks adorned with feathers, paint, glitter and colored glass gems supplied by Sister City. The masks will be used as decorations at Sister City’s fancy dress Carnevale Gala at the Orchard Inn on February 23.  

 

Carnevale is an annual event in Venice, Italy that celebrates Venice’s defeat of an attacking enemy.  Beginning in 1162, the Venice residents have donned costumes and masks to participate in weeks of parties and celebrations in February.   

 

The Carnevale Gala will raise funds to send two teachers from Saluda Elementary in April to visit and work with the elementary school in Saluda’s Sister City of Carunchio, Italy. Their airfare and travel expenses will be paid by Sister City.  

 

Massimo Criscio, owner of the Palazzo Tour d’Eau in Carunchio, is donating a full week of accommodations, meals, transportation and events to the Saluda teachers who will work with the local Carunchio teachers to share ideas on curriculum and instruction approaches and to find more ways to connect the students of the two elementary schools. In return, two teachers from Carunchio will visit Saluda Elementary on a date not yet set. 

 

According to Saluda Elementary principal Ms. Tobree Mostel, “The perspective gained by our teachers will be brought back and shared among our professional community to enhance classroom practices, allowing our students to benefit fully from the experience.”  

 

Saluda Elementary set a goal this year for students to study the cultures of different countries and the Venetian Carnevale fit right in. 

 

“These cross-cultural experiences help individuals learn first-hand about different peoples and how they live, and support understanding and connectivity with people from backgrounds different from their own,” Ms. Mostel said. “Sharing of ideas across cultures can inspire, challenge and promote an understanding that allows students to flourish in ways that are unexpected.”

 

Submitted by Judy Thompson