The Ellis Island reenactment April 8 at Kelley Intermediate School gave fifth graders another unique opportunity to better understand what it was

Transcription

1 The Ellis Island reenactment April 8 at Kelley Intermediate School gave fifth graders another unique opportunity to better understand what it was like for the more than 12 million immigrants who passed through the gateway to America from 1892 to The immigrants began their day in steerage _ the boiler room in the basement of the school _ to give the students more of an understanding of the cramped, uncomfortable ship accommodations many immigrants endured on their voyage to America. Afterward they went to the Great Hall at Ellis Island (the transformed Kelley School Gymnasium) to experience processing there at one time. Enrichment Coordinator Robyn Ross-Squirrell served as reenactment coordinator and liason between Young Audiences theater artist Brian Coughlin and the other fifth grade teachers in preparing students for the reenactment.

2 To authenticate the exercise, every student was required to act the part of an immigrant and remain in his or her character throughout the entire exercise including being in costume and having a passport and possessions. Coughlin worked with all the fifth graders during six sessions before the Ellis Island reenactment so they could learn about the joys, as well as the trials and tribulations experienced by immigrants as they prepared to leave their homelands and come to the United States. His work complimented

3 extensive preparatory work done by the fifth grade teachers. The immigrants experiences at the Great Hall in Ellis Island, where they were processed, was also intended to demonstrate the hardships they encountered after they arrived in America were only the beginning of the difficulties that lay ahead. As usual, a group of adult actors _ community volunteers and school staff, some who have participated for the seventh time _ added to the experience as they convincingly portrayed Ellis Island attendants. They included: Janice Comer, Dorothy Muscolino, Donna Holder, Dave Tyler, Hannelora Reinhardt, Dan and Edith Benedict, Jean Franchi, Janet VanValkenberg, Jim O Neil, Natalie Lemmon, Stan and Hazel Herdman, Judy Carl, Anthony Hoch, Frank Scalise, Gary VerStraete, Elly Dawson, Joe O Toole and Dorothy Morehouse.

4 As in previous years, the adult actors were instructed to really get into their characters so the experience would be as authentic as possible for students. Since every attendant at Ellis Island was not the welcoming friend of the immigrant, that meant that those playing the parts were instructed to be gruff, insensitive and even unscrupulous at times in their dealings with the immigrants who d just completed long and often grueling journeys from their homelands. Newark village attorney Art Williams administered the oath of American citizenship to the immigrants following their being successfully processed at Ellis Island. After that, students sang A Immigrant s Song, written by students who put it to music with the help of Dave Ruch, a Buffalo musician and performer who, along with Coughlin, were sponsored by the district s Arts In Education program.

5 This year s reenactment was another unforgettable experience, Ross said. Our goal was to bring a personal, authentic, realistic and fun approach to learning our social studies curriculum. And what did students think of the experience? Grace Blondell from Heather Jennette s class said: Ellis Island was a fun experience. It was exciting to act like Giselle Hirsch an 18- year-old German seamstress, especially acting along with my friend as my sister, Anneliese.You don t have the chance to have those kinds of experiences often. Serena South from

6 Wendy DePorter s class commented: I thought Ellis Island was fantastic. We got to go through what the immigrants went through. I thought it seemed very realistic. When I went to the medical station it felt like I was really getting a physical and that if I didn't pass I wouldn't make it. I liked how the volunteers were sneaky. I held onto my bag the whole time because I was afraid they might take it. At the registration table I was glad I didn't mess up so I could go to the other stations. It was a fun experience and I liked it a lot!" Leah Hoyt from Lacie Urban s class said: This was a great way to learn about immigration because you got to act instead of reading about it. You got to feel how immigrants were treated. I learned that being an immigrant back then was hard because you had to go in

7 steerage. You had to endure a lot of questions and tests. In addition to teaching, Ross-Squirrell and fifth grade teachers Jennette, Jill Williams and Lacie Urban arranged for and worked with the adult actors; Amanda Smeenk, Karen Burgess,Kathy Zappia and Kristen Nardozzi handled media and promotion; Kathy Marshall, Wendy DePorter and Crystal Hansen were in charge of the luncheon for the actors; Marshall was in charge of food station prep; Ross-Squirrell was in charge of planning the workshop with teachers and Coughlin

8 and helped prepare the gymnasium and for the luncheon April 8 with Kelley custodians Tom Noble and Bob Mosteiro. Kelley Principal Chris Mizro applauded the efforts of the students, teachers and staff and volunteer adult actors. Every year I am just amazed at this reenactment and the willingness of so many to participate with such enthusiasm, she said. It is always an incredibly unique and highly-effective learning experience. The Ellis Island study unit will culminate with a seventh session with Coughlin at the Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester where students will see Birth Of An Industrialized Nation. That trip is being paid for by an $800 Target Field Trip grant, designed to bring learning to life for students, obtained by Ross-Squirrell. The grant application was selected from more than 25,000 applicants from across the country.the Kelley PTA is paying the additional $350 for the museum trip.