Spanish Club

Spanish Club's Second Annual End-of-Year Lunch

Several Joliet Catholic Academy Spanish Club students gathered for a festive end-of-the-year lunch today.  The tradition was started last year, and Executive Board member, Casey Corless, '16 organized the event.  The Taquería next to el Güerro is finally in business, so we decided to give it a try.

Everyone ate traditional Mexican style dishes, such as enchiladas, gorditas and quesadillas. We also shared freshly made guacamole with tortilla chips.  

Along with Profe Finaldi, in attendance were sophomores Max Babich and Olivia Blake and, juniors Casey Corless, Juan Diaz, Sam Gutierrez, Tom Hilke, Katie McSteen, and Jared Olsen.  

International Student Ambassadors Travel to Spain

Student Exchange to Vilanova 2015

International Student Ambassadors from Joliet Catholic Academy are welcomed by the mayor of Vilanova, Spain. (Posted by communications56, Community Contributor)

APRIL 23, 2015, 8:41 AM Twenty­four international student ambassadors from Joliet Catholic Academy high school along with two chaperones, Lauren Finaldi and Ellen Herron, completed the second half of a short­term exchange with a Catholic high school in Vilanova, Spain. This is the third year JCA has participated in the exchange program.

Participants lived with families of local Vilanova high schoolers who traveled from Spain in the fall to experience the Joliet Catholic Academy tradition. Students from JCA went to school and attended classes with their host brother/sister. Several students participated in the content of specific courses such as Math, Science, and English. 

The JCA contingent participated in several excursions while in Spain. During a trip to Tarragona, they were able to explore an ancient Roman amphitheater, wall, and circus arena. In Madrid, they toured the Royal Palace and Prado Art Museum. An ornate cathedral impressed the group in the old capital of Toledo. Barcelona left them speechless at the sight of the Holy Family Basilica, which is still under construction, after almost 200 years. 

The heart of the trip was the opportunity to live daily life in another culture and formulate life­long friendships in another part of the world.

International student ambassadors from JCA participating in this year's exchange included juniors Breanna Akre, Casey Corless, Kaci Courtwright, Mia Farrell, Thomas Hilke, Lena Rodriguez, Madelyn Tyler, Kaitlyn Williams and Matt Vonch along with seniors Nataly Cardenas, Samantha DeBenedetti, Emily Demick, Ryan Gulden, Molly Gunning, Dalton Jones, Jacey Lambert, Connor McNulty, Renee McTee, Alex Mihalakakos, Kaitlin Papesh, Michelle Poplawski, Madeline Seneker, Amy Thompson and Adriana Trizna. For more information on JCA's International Student Ambassadors program, contact club moderator, Lauren Finaldi, at lfinaldi@jca­online.org or 815.741.0500. This item was posted by a community contributor. 

JCA's International Student Ambassadors

 

 

Published: Thursday, April 30, 2015 

JOLIET – Twenty-four international student ambassadors from Joliet Catholic Academy high school along with two chaperones, Lauren Finaldi and Ellen Herron, completed the second half of a short-term exchange with a Catholic high school in Vilanova, Spain.

This is the third year JCA has participated in the exchange program. Participants lived with families of local Vilanova high schoolers who traveled from Spain in the fall to experience the Joliet Catholic Academy tradition.

Students from JCA went to school and attended classes with their host brother/sister. Several students participated in the content of specific courses such as math, science, and English. The students also saw many famous sites.

JCA participants included juniors  Breanna Akre, Casey Corless,  Kaci Courtwright, Mia Farrell, Thomas Hilke, Lena Rodriguez,  Madelyn Tyler, Kaitlyn Williams and Matt Vonch along with seniors  Nataly Cardenas, Samantha DeBenedetti, Emily Demick, Ryan Gulden, Molly Gunning, Dalton Jones, Jacey Lambert,  Connor McNulty, Renee McTee, Alex Mihalakakos, Kaitlin Papesh, Michelle Poplawski, Madeline Seneker,  Amy Thompson and Adriana Trizna.

For more information on JCA’s International Student Ambassadors program, contact club moderator, Lauren Finaldi, at lfinaldi@jca-online.org or 815-741-0500.

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This article in THE HERALD

Spanish Club Shoe Drive

The Spanish Club is sponsoring a shoe drive to benefit the Joliet Spanish Community Center.

Donations of any type of shoes in new or like new condition are being accepted through Friday, Mar. 27. Students can bring their shoe donations to Mrs. Finaldi’s room #227 before school or parents can bring them to the Main Office between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.  
For each accepted pair, the donor will be given a raffle ticket for a chance to win a prize.
Start spring cleaning with your shoe closet and donate to a great cause!
For more information or questions, contact Mrs. Finaldi, Spanish Club Moderator, at 85.741.0500, ext. 408
or lfinaldi@jca-online.org.
- See more at: http://www.jca-online.org/2015/03/shoe-drive-sponsored-by-the-spanish-club/#sthash.MGuqPLWB.XAe2bDZ1.dpuf

National Spanish Honor Society Induction Ceremony 2015

http://www.theherald-news.com/2015/03/17/joliet-catholic-academy-honors-students-inducted-into-foreign-language-honor-societies/araufdm/

Joliet Catholic Academy honors students inducted into foreign language honor societies

Published: Sunday, April 19, 2015 5:30 a.m. CDT

Joliet Catholic Academy recently held a ceremony to honor students who were inducted into one of the school’s three foreign language national honor societies. Angels and Hilltoppers completing four years of their respective foreign language were also recognized.

The following students were inducted into the French National Honor Society: Itati Acosta, Aleander Khater, Erica Martinez, Alysa Sandoval and Shelbi Voss.

The following students were inducted into the Latin National Honor Society: Claire Allgood, Katelyn Dombrowski and Michael O’Brien.

The following students were inducted into the Spanish National Honor Society: Joseph Ambrozich, Alexander Analytis, Colleen Andrae, Max Babich, Robert Babich, Hanna Bergeson, Madeline Blotnik, Margaret Capalbo, McKenna Carlson, Zachary Corcoran, Lauren Crudo, Alexander Demos, Cade Earl, Emma Ehrsam, Joshua Elias, Jennifer Filotto, Meaghan Fischer, Bailey Garland, Audrey Greder, Eva Greder, Ryan Gulden, Adrian Guzman, Samuel Gutierrez, Adrian Guzman, Thomas Kennedy, Bryce Kurtz, Matthew LaViola, Joshua Lemke, Bryan Lozano, Christopher Mueller, John Naal, Madilyn Peters, Alivia Phelps, Shannon Quinn, Patrick Roth, Nicholas Sandora, Samuel Seneker, Trevor Shelby, Christopher Sherman, Samantha Smith, Reilly Jo Swanson, Kelly Testin, Michael Tillmann, Hayden Wagner, Julia Weis, Sydnie Weis, Grace Whalen, Kyle Wiborg and Alyssa Zadel.

Students recognized for completing four years of their respective foreign language include French: Matthew Dubiel, Margaret Huspek, Adam Wahl, and Jack Warning; Latin: Kaci Courtright, Emily Gorski, and Natalie Nemanich; Spanish: Anthony Allen, Joseph Alvarez, Robert Babich, Margaret Bannon, Kayla Bennett, Maxwell Brzostowski, Jessica Callofello, Joseph Chignoli, Matthew Chignoli, Samantha DeBenedetti, Emily Demick, Michael Dow, Daniel Ehrsam, Marguerite Ernst, Keegan Fornoff, Joseph Frescura, Colleen Fritz, Colette Gallo, Dominic Gallo, Trent Gancarczyk, Francesca Gingoyon-Embry, Aron Goeken, Madeline Grimm, Ryan Gulden, Molly Gunning, Diego Guzman, Josie Henderson, Dalton Jones, Thomas Kennedy, Chase Krumviede, Mallory Krzysciak, Jacey Lambert, Ryan Lees, Brian Lozano, Lauren Lukasik, Amber McFarland, Renee McTee, Alexandra Mihalakakos, Anne Mihelich, Laura Nalepka, Megan Paolucci, Katherine Payne, Michael Quiram, Oscar Reyna, Andrew Scordo, Taylor Shetina, Taylar Testin, Adriana Trizna, Lukas Troha, Monica Underwood, Emma Valek, Lauren Vanisko, Amber Vassall and Allison Weis.

                            New inductee, Lauren Crudo & Profe Finaldi               President Juan Diaz & Profe Finaldi

                                              Lauren Crudo, Profe Finaldi & Sidney Weiss

JCA Hosts students from Spain

http://www.theherald-news.com/2014/10/03/joliet-catholic-academy-hosts-exhange-students-and-teachers/a9f4kjl/

Joliet Catholic Academy hosts exhange students and teachers

Published: Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014 5:30 a.m. CDT

JOLIET – Joliet Catholic recently hosted 21 students and two teachers from Escola Pia Vilanova, near Barcelona, Spain. This completed the first half of the third exchange with the school.
They arrived Aug. 29th and attended a football game that night. Other group events included a welcome party, several trips to different neighborhoods in Chicago.
Students from Spain also attended school with their host brother/sister. The group departed on Sept. 10. Many will see them again in the spring, when JCA completes the exchange and visit their school.
The following students and their families represented JCA: Colleen Andrae '16, Madalyn Bauer '18, Nataly Cardenas '15, Casey Corless '16, Sam DeBenedetti '15, Emily Demick '15, Valerie DiPietro '16, Michael '15 & Will '18 Dow, Mia Farrell '15, Sydney Gates '16, Molly Gunning '15, Dalton Jones '15, Colby Marchio '15, Lena Rodriguez '16, Madeline '15 & Tom '18 Seneker, Amy '15 & Jenny '16 Thompson, Adriana Trizna '15, Madeline Tyler '16, Monica Underwood '15, Matt Vonch '15, Jay Waldron '16, & Anna Wardlow '15

Copyright © 2015 The Herald-News. All rights reserved.

AATSP Grand Prize Poster 2014

http://www.chicagoaatsp.org/poetryposter/index.html

Poetry & Poster Contest 2014-15

Joliet Catholic Academy senior, Marguerite Ernst
Poster Contest	Poetry Contest
2014-15 Poster-Poetry Contest Announcement (pdf)
Award Ceremony Photos

AATSP Poetry & Poster Contest 2014

Chicago Tribune

Angels and Hilltoppers Earn Ribbons at AATSP Competition

Robert Babich and Francesca Gingoyon-Embrey earn a second place ribbon at AATSP contest.

'“I’m not a magician nor a mermaid,” begins the poem “Romance” by Cuban author Gertrudis Gomez de Avellaneda. JCA seniors Francesca Gingoyon-Embrey and Robert Babich certainly worked their own brand of magic on judges at the 35th Annual American Association of Spanish and Portuguese Poetry and Poster Competition held at Niles North High School on Saturday, September 15, where Gingoyon-Embrey and Babich placed second for reciting the poem in Spanish representing JCA’s Spanish IV and V curriculum.

Senior Marguerite Ernst, who took home a first place ribbon last year for a poster entry, won this year’s Grand Prize for her poster encouraging students to “Learn New Languages, Make New Friends.” Her poster illustrated two llamas conversing in front of her depiction of Macchu Picchu. One asked the other, “Como te llamas” and the other responded, “Llama!” Ernst earned a ribbon, a cash prize, and the honor of having her poster published and distributed to foreign language teachers around the state.

Sophomores Bailey Garland, Alec Hartsell, Sheridan Kelly, Kailey Kovas, and Justin Valesco, took home ribbons for their poster creations. Kovacs, Garland, and Valesco placed second with Hartsell and Kelly placing third.

This is the fourth consecutive year that JCA students participated in the contest under the guidance of Spanish teacher Lauren Finaldi, moderator of JCA’s Spanish Club and National Spanish Honor Society.

Copyright © 2015, Chicago Tribune

 

 

 

 

 

http://patch.com/illinois/joliet/angels-and-hilltoppers-earn-ribbons-aatsp-competition-0

BINGO!

Sophomores Mario Onkiko and Bryce Kurtz help lead Profe Finaldi's period 3, Spanish II class by calling out terms for a game of bingo. 

Students made their own boards and participated enthusiastically.

Spanish Club Hosts 5 de Mayo Festivities

The Spanish Club's Cinco de Mayo festivities went on all day long this Monday.  All Spanish classes were invited to attend.  

First, students went through the food line, which offered many Mexican treats.  Once inside, they participated in activities such as a Spanish Trivia Game, a piñata, and the limbo.  

Winners of the annual homemade salsa contest were announced and awarded gift certificates and official Cinco de Mayo T-Shirts.  

Everyone had a great time at this much anticipated yearly fiesta!

Joliet Chamber of Commerce & Industry Great Teachers Award

Great Teachers winners

Published: Sunday, March 2, 2014 5:30 a.m. CDT

Lauren Finaldi, Joliet Catholic Academy

Finaldi, a teacher for 26 years, has taught at JCA for five years. She teaches Spanish and is the moderator of Spanish Club, La Esperanza and National Spanish Honor Society. Finaldi has 19 year old twin daughters. She graduated from Bradley University in Peoria with a degree in secondary education and Spanish and has done graduate studies at the University of Salamanca, Spain. Finaldi lives in Naperville.



Chamber of Commerce Great Teacher Award 2014