Photo courtesy of Glynis Davis

Students Enjoy State French Convention

Thirty-seven St. Joseph’s Academy students of French were among the 300 students who attended the 2010 Association Louisianaise des Clubs Français des Ecoles Secondaires (ALCFES) or French State Club Convention, held January 29-31 in New Orleans. This year’s convention theme was La Mascarade/Masquez-vous en francais. 

“It’s a great feeling when everyone laughs at the officer skits and dances to the convention song.” Stephanie Cronan '10

Senior Stephanie Cronan served as this year’s ALCFES president, and senior Maria Rachal was the Region III representative. As president, Cronan planned and ran the three-day gathering, at which 23 Louisiana schools were represented. She was assisted by Rachal, who won a scholarship to participate in a five-week, French-language immersion camp this summer at Université Sainte-Anne in Nova Scotia.

“It was incredible to finally see a year’s worth of work in action,” Cronan said. “After all the planning with all the officers and teachers, when it actually happened, it was unbelievable. It’s a great feeling when everyone laughs at the officer skits and dances to the convention song. I adore the French language and culture in Louisiana, and I hope that ALCFES inspired more students to get involved. After working so long as president, it’s hard to believe it’s finally over.”

Rachal expressed similar sentiments. “Being able to see ALCFES come together after a year of planning and organizing was amazing,” she said. “When I found out I received the scholarship, it definitely made my already awesome weekend even better. ALCFES 2010 was an amazing experience that I will never be able to forget.”

French teacher Jacqueline Labat, who accompanied the group to New Orleans along with French teacher Glynis Davis, expressed pride in the leadership of both officers. “Stephanie and Maria were at ease speaking with our dignitaries as well as communicating with students from all regions of Louisiana,” she said.

The purpose of the annual convention is to give students a wide range of immersion opportunities to communicate in the world language. Among the event’s highlights was a scavenger hunt in the French Quarter, where participants held conversations with French speakers at an antique book store and a Gem de France boutique. Conventioneers visited the historic Cabildo, where they saw the death mask of Napoleon, and the Sala Capular, home of the transfer documents of the Louisiana Purchase. They also visited the Presbytere Mardi Gras Museum. There were also ice breakers, cultural competitions, music and video competitions, as well as a masquerade ball.

Guest speakers included Benoit Bourke, director of International Studies at the Université De Moncton; Olivier Brochenin, consul general of France in New Orleans; and David Cheramie, director of the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana (CODOFIL).

“It is so rewarding to see the students having fun with the language and learning at the same time,” Davis said.

Junior Susan Fasano was elected treasurer of the State French Club Association and won the costume contest dressed as La Madeleine. Sophomore Holly Smith was elected as a representative for Region III.

For the fourth consecutive year, SJA captured first place in the play competition. The actresses were seniors Hillary Johnson, Gina Cavaretta, Lucie Calderon, Jessica Bordelon and Emily Seiter; Fasano; and sophomores Laura Flandez and Amy Francioni.

Senior Emily Avery finished second in the culture quiz bee, and sophomore Jenny Adair finished second in the spelling bee. SJA’s banner was the third-place winner in the most artistic category. Chairing the banner committee were seniors Kacy Maranto, Kenna Maranto, Olivia Reinecke and Haleigh West. The Marantos designed the t-shirt SJA students wore to the convention.

Kenna Maranto said her fourth and final French Convention exceeded all expectations. “It is always a joy to see that so many students are so involved in the French language and culture,” she said. “I will miss going to French Convention, but this convention was a blast, and it was great to spend my last ALCFES in New Orleans.”
 
Kacy Maranto agreed. “New Orleans is such a great city to have the convention in,” she said. “The French Quarter was great as always and even better with all of its Saints decorations.”

Fasano said her first French Convention was a highly memorable experience. “I had a blast,” she said. “It was a lot of fun meeting people from other schools who love and enjoy learning French as much as I do. Everyone who competed in the competitions from SJA did great. I can’t wait to go back, and I look forward to helping plan next year’s convention with the rest of the ALCFES representatives.”

Avery said she especially enjoyed sharing the experience with those who share her passion for the French language. “It’s so much a part of our culture, and I think it’s important to learn about our history by learning about the language,” she said.

Bordelon said as a French IV student, she was able to apply what she had learned in the classroom to conversations with her peers and the speakers. “My favorite part of the convention was visiting the historical sites in the French Quarter,” she said. “We are so lucky to have so much French culture just an hour away. From the tiny bookshop to St. Louis Cathedral, each one had its own unique attributes. I also truly enjoyed being in the skit. We worked hard perfecting our pronunciation and stage presence to win first place.

“French Convention was really special for me this year,” Bordelon added. “I have attended each convention since freshman year, and each one has been just as good as the last. I have great memories from all of them but especially this year’s convention.”

Faculty members Heather Villien and Shelby Lipe also served as SJA chaperones.


Mindy Brodhead Averitt
Communications Director