The closing picnic of the academic year 2021-2022 for the Albanian school “Children of the Eagle” this year was very special. It was developed in partnership with the Albanian American Women organization “Motrat Qiriazi” which was attended by students, teachers and many friends of the Albanian school “Children of the Eagle” as a candidate for the US Congress, currently Legislator in Westchester County, Legislator David Tubiolo, President of the Organization Motrat Qiriazi, Lawyer Beti Beno, members of the presidency of the Bilingual and Cultural Organization, etc.
The meeting was opened by the head of the organization “Albanian American Dual Language & Culture” Mrs. Drita Gjongecaj, who thanked the teachers, parents and students for participating in this activity and for following the curriculum of the Albanian language and culture that this school offers to those interested. She gratefully honored veteran teacher Mirjana Lukic for her work as a teacher and coach of the teaching team that opened the doors to Albanian teaching in the Bronx, Yonkers and Westchester.
There was also the greeting speech of the director of AAWO “Motrat Qiriazi” who addressed the participants with words of thanks and special gratitude that join the Albanian schools, thus inheriting our diverse language, culture and history.
Quite exciting and motivating was the word of the teacher Mirjana Lukic who, although about 50 years in America speaks fluently the Albanian language and motivates the generations born and raised here to preserve and inherit our beautiful Albanian language.
Teacher Mirjana with a professional career not only in New York public schools but also as a lecturer in the Department of Teaching at Mercy College and Touro College was added to the teaching group giving a professional dynamic to it. The children enjoyed for several hours the sounds of Albanian music, creative games, traditional Albanian food and many other entertainments.
Director Drita Gjongecaj tells us that this school year had, among other things, these innovations:
The Albanian language program was launched for the first time and with wide participation in Yorktown, NY. New students have also joined the program from Manhattan and Eastchester.
Challenges have not been absent this year, such as some restrictions from the post-pandemic situation, geographical distribution, limited time, etc.
The Albanian School of Children of the Eagle and AADL & C are already systematically conducting qualifying seminars for Albanian language teachers in America, Europe and beyond. A good part of its activity is found in the publication entitled “Perspectives of mother tongue teaching in Diaspora schools.
