Wiadomości
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Organization: John Paul II School of Polish Language (www.polishschool.org)
A language and culture school for children and adults
PR Contact: Rhonda Edwards-Andrade (rhondandrade@comcast.net )
Tel: 925.263.4090
Children to Perform Traditional Polish Dance
Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
Students of the John Paul II School of Polish Language, based in Walnut Creek, California will be performing at the Annual Celebration of “The Polish Constitution of May 3, 1791”. This constitution day is generally recognized as Europe’s first and the world’s second modern national constitution. This event will be held at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, in the Music Concourse at the Spreckles Temple of Music on Sunday, May 18th between from 1:00pm-3:00pm. It is hosted by the Northern California Division of the Polish American Congress.
The festivities begin at 1:00pm with the playing of the national anthems of both the United States and Poland by the Golden Gate Park Band, Michael Wirgler, Director. Preschool and kindergarten students from the language school will perform a small dance entitled “Blueberries.” Older children will be performing two variations of the famous “Krakowiak” dance in authentic period costumes. These historical folk dances originated in Cracovia – a Southern region of Poland admired for its great beauty and romantic history. Admission is free and everyone is welcome.
The Golden Gate Park Band will perform several times, highlighting Polish composers. The band’s pieces will be interspersed with several regional dances by renowned Lowiczanie Ensemble of San Francisco, Mary Kay Stuvland, Artistic Director. The Pulaski Polish Dancers of Fresno will round out the program with selections from its traditional repertoire. The audience will also enjoy a solo violin performance by accomplished Polish artist, Paulina Chilarska.
The John Paul II School of Polish Language is a non-profit organization and has been chartered with the education and continuation of Polish language and culture since 1967. Enriching the lives of the children and adults within the Polish-American community with Polish history and heritage provides them with a closer identity to their roots and family traditions. These experiences also create links and bonds with others within the Polish-American community which can lead to travel, higher education and career opportunities.
Children as young as three years old are enrolled in the Polish language and culture classes at the Walnut Creek campus which assembles every other Saturday from September to June. Statistically it has been proven that children who learn a second language under the age of ten are more likely to speak it natively and will retain it better over the course of their lives than those who learn later. There is also considerable data which supports the concept that learning a second (or third) language early in life promotes more successful learning in a child’s native language (English). Higher SAT scores, advanced problem-solving skills and even higher mathematics achievements have all been cited.
The school has traditionally been host to first and second generation Polish-American immigrants who all speak Polish in the home. Their children attended the school to gain access to appropriate Polish grammar, history, culture and religion. Fine arts including music, theater, dance and poetry are all part of the rich curriculum.
Currently, there is a new wave of third, fourth and even fifth generation Polish-Americans who are seeking foreign language education outside the typical California choice of Spanish. Those of middle European descent recognize the newfound opportunities due to Poland’s accession into the European Union. Poland is the fifth largest country in the EU and sits strategically in the middle of the continent. Poland is ranked fifth in the world as a preferred investment target, has a very highly educated workforce with 50% of the population under 35 years old, and ranks fourth in the world as a planned R&D investment location. Now, even children who come from English-only speaking households are learning their ancestral cultures at the school.
Please read more about John Paul II School of Polish Language at www.polishschool.org.
