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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

LOCAL

MAY 27 – JUNE 2, 2021 | PAGE 15

PLAY ACTIVITIES, such as piecing together a dinosaur while only using the target language, are what drive home the ability for younger children to absorb another language with their sponge-

like brains. (Photo: Courtesy CommuniKids)

Language Immersion Tactics Provide Real Results

Continued from Page 3

gram. The purpose in enrolling his son was so he could communicate with Sansfuate’s Frenchspeaking parents fluently. Even Sansfaute’s English-speaking spouse has started to pick up some French being around his son.

Cristina Chapman’s son graduated from CommuniKids nearly a decade ago, and has maintained a fluent grasp of the Spanish language since then. While Chapman, who is Puerto RicanAmerican, is glad that her son can speak to his grandparents in their natural language with ease (while also translating for his father, who only knows English, while abroad), her main motivation was for him to take pride in his culture. Understanding the language of his Puerto Rican roots opened the door to just that.

“All of this love for not only the language, but for the culture and history, started at CommuniKids,” Chapman said, and mentioned that her son did reports on countrymen such as baseball player Roberto Clemente and painter JeanMichael Basquiat. “It’s almost like language led into a discovery of what it really is like to be a bilingual child. It colored his journey as an elementary and middle school student.”

At the heart of connecting students with a foreign language is CommuniKids’ “learning through play” model, or Early Childhood Second Language approach as its officially called. The model tasks teachers with speaking either Spanish, French or Mandarin full-time — even during recess — so children become used to pointing out certain objects or asking to go to the bathroom in the target language.

One way that children become used to the desired language is by playing dress up. Students pretend to be parents, grandparents and even babies, according to Echevarría, which takes a common game for children and makes it a brain teaser where they talk to each other while acting out their various roles. Teachers are there as well to help guide the students’ play into educational ends.

Echevarría also said that having the students do science experiments is a beneficial exercise. Not only do the kids expand their vocabulary, but they learn about the world around them. For example, Echevarría said that teachers will have the children address an object in their chosen language, and then see if it sinks or floats in water.

So, why did this exceptional preschool branch out into Falls Church to begin with (its original school is still in D.C.)? The answer may be one you already deduced just from getting to know your neighbors.

“As we started looking for a location, we definitely gravitated towards the city of Falls Church because of the commitment to education and a lot of young families,” co-founder Piacenza said. She used to be a teacher at George Mason High School. “All of the Falls Church City schools have a common language program that goes from kindergarten through the IB program in high school. So we were really attracted to the Falls Church community.”

In case you needed a reminder of how ingrained CommuniKids’ lessons are in its former students, look no further than Casas Reidenbach’s daughter.

While she’s now at a Montessori school, she managed to teach her classmates how to speak Spanish.

Casas Reidenbach said that her daughter could’ve never had done that if she learned the language at home. To her, it was because of the fundamentals she learned at CommuniKids and its (accomplished) mission of making students into global citizens that prepared her for that role.

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PAGE 16 | MAY 27 – JUNE 2, 2021

CALENDAR

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

FALLS CHURCH CALENDAR

LOCALEVENTS

THURSDAY, MAY 27

Scavenger Hunt (ends June 1).

Participants will use clues to find keywords or phrases located at specific locations (i.e. parks, historical markers, notable buildings) throughout the City. At the end, participants submit the form with each keyword to the Recreation and Parks Department and earn a free Scavenger Hunt themed t-shirt. For more information, visit fallschurchva.gov/1763/MemorialDay-Scavenger-Hunt.

News-Press “Spot of the Week.”

Readers and supporters of the Falls Church News-Press can join the staff at a restaurant in or around the City of Falls Church to celebrate the paper’s weekly publication. Learn how to become a member of the News-Press, get a chance to purchase one of the paper’s books, “The Front Page: The First Five Years: 1991 – 1996” or just get to know members of the staff better. This week the NewsPress will be at Pistone’s Italian Inn (6320 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church) from 6 – 8 p.m.

Beyer Auto 3K Fun Run (Ends

May 31). The Beyer 3K Memorial Day Fun Run returns for its 40th year to The Little City. This year’s Fun Run will be virtual. Register for the free Fun Run online, and participants can run their own 3K between May 24 – May 31, and pick up their free t-shirt outside the Community Center (223 Little Falls St.) on Monday, May 31 from 8:30 – 10:30 a.m.

Falls Church Farmers Market. The Falls Church Farmers Market runs every Saturday, where attendees will find fresh, local produce, meat, dairy, flowers & plants, honey, music and more. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Falls Church) 8 a.m. – noon. For more information, visit the Calendar item’s page at fallschurchva.gov/547/Farmers-MarketTo-Go.

In-Person Early Voting (Democratic

Party Primary). In-person early voting for the June 8 Democratic Party Primary. All registered voters in the City of Falls Church are eligible to vote early in-person for the June Democratic Party Primary at the Office of Elections. Full election details at fallschurchva.gov/ vote. City Hall (300 Park Ave., Falls Church). 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Memorial Day Ceremony. The Memorial Day Ceremony includes remarks or performances by the Falls Church Veterans Council, the Falls Church Concert Band, and more. Last year, the community came together remotely to pay tribute. This year, attendees are invited to watch the ceremony live and in-person at the Veterans’ Memorial, located outside the Community Center. Preregistration is required and all attendees will be asked to wear a mask. For those unable to come in-person, Falls Church Community Television (FCCTV) will record the ceremony. To register, visit: web1.myvscloud.com/wbwsc/ vafallschurchwt.wsc/search. html?primarycode=230002. Community Center (223 Little Falls St., Falls Church). 11 a.m.

Memorial Day Parade. Led by 2020 Memorial Day Grand Marshal, Lindy Hockenberry, the 2021 Memorial Day Parade will feature vehicles from many City of Falls Church Departments and the VFW Council. This year’s parade will not be held exclusively on Park Ave., and instead travel throughout several City streets and neighborhoods. 2:30 – 4 p.m.

All Night Grad. The event will be held outside in the Clare & Don’s patio and State Theatre parking lot to facilitate a Covid-safe event. The event will include games, live music and entertainment, and food & refreshments. The restaurants will be open for regular patrons; the grads will be separated from the public. Links to register and volunteer are available at georgemasonhighptsa.org/all-night-grad-information.html. Clare and Don’s Beach Shack (130 N. Washington St.) and State Theatre (220 N. Washington St.). 7 p.m.

“Always...Patsy Cline.” Based on a true story about the legendary country singer’s unlikely friendship with a fan from Houston named Louise Seger, this musical play comes with down home country humor, true emotion and even some audience participation. Audiences will revel in 19 of Patsy’s heartfelt songs including unforgettable hits such as “Crazy,” and “Walking After Midnight.” Cherry Hill Park (312 Park Ave., Falls Church). 7 p.m. $35. creativecauldron.org.

FRIDAY, MAY 28

SATURDAY, MAY 29 MONDAY, MAY 31

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2

THE CACTUS LIQUORS will be at The State Theatre in Falls Church on Saturday. (Photo: Facebook.

com/TheCactusLiquors)

THEATER&ARTS

FRIDAY, MAY 28

LIVEMUSIC

THURSDAY, MAY 27

Michelle Swan and friends. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 6 p.m. 703-858-9186.

Civic Duty — Outdoor Concert.

Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). 7 p.m. 703-255-1566.

Sol Roots Show. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 7 p.m. 703-241-9504.

Ken Wenzel & Cross Kentucky. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). 7:30 p.m. 703237-0300.

FRIDAY, MAY 28

Josh Allen & Garrett Acoustic

Show. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 4:30 p.m. 703-241-9504.

Ethereal Sounds w/ Knox Engler and friends. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 6 p.m. 703-858-9186.

Back to the ‘90s — Outdoor

Concert. Jammin’ Java (227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna). 7 p.m. 703-2551566.

Bongo District Live. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). 7:30 p.m. 703-2370300.

Rusty & The Lost Highway Band.

JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 8 p.m. 703241-9504.

SATURDAY, MAY 29

Skyler Foley. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). Noon. 703-858-9186.

WhoIAre. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). 6 p.m. 703-858-9186.

The Cactus Liquors. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). 7:30 p.m. 703-2370300.

Kreek Water Band. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 7:30 p.m. 703-241-9504.

SUNDAY, MAY 30

Memorial Day Fundraiser for Fisher House Foundation with Live Music

and BBQ on patio. Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street, Ste A Falls Church). Noon. 703-8589186.

Gordon Sterling & The People. The State Theatre (220 N Washington St., Falls Church). 6 p.m. 703-2370300.

MONDAY, MAY 31

Josh Allen Band Memorial Day

Show. JV’s Restaurant (6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church). 5:30 p.m. 703-241-9504.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT MAY 27 – JUNE 2, 2021 | PAGE 17

MAY 27 7THURSDAY

Civic Duty

Jammin’ Java

7 p.m.

227 Maple Ave. E., Vienna

703-255-1566 • jamminjava.com

28 FRIDAY

Ethereal Sounds

Falls Church Distillers

6 p.m.

442 S Washington St., Falls Church

703-237-0300 • fcdistillers.com

Bongo District

The State Theatre

7:30 p.m.

220 N Washington St., Falls Church

703-858-9186 • thestatetheatre.com

29SATURDAY

Kreek Water Band

Live & In Concert

JV’s Restaurant

7:30 p.m.

6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church

703-241-9504 • jvsrestaurant.com

with MIchelle Swan

BY MATT DELANEY

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS

All of you were probably on some kind of favorable trajectory prior to the coronavirus upsetting your apple cart. Maybe you were about to get the hang of that new skill you’d been taking classes for, or were finally building up the courage to get a fresh start in a new city...before your life was frozen for 14 months, that is.

However, for those who were lucky enough to avoid the pandemic’s worst outcomes in unemployment or death, it’s unlikely you suffered the secondary pangs that singer Michelle Swan did.

“I like to joke when I play that my third record came out [on] Covid day one,” Swan said wryly. “I literally remember getting the box of CDs dropped off at my work, and a week later my friend wasn’t feeling well.”

The February 2020 release of “I Feel” was naturally going to be followed by a promotional tour around the region, until that all had to be put on hold. Now Swan has been making up for lost time, with her latest stop coming to Falls Church Distillers tonight.

Wait one second — let’s not paint Swann as some victim who spent the year looking for couches to faint on. She made it clear to the News-Press that she didn’t dwell on her unfortunate timing for long, saying that she had been raised to recognize the gratitude for everything she did have.

And she had a lot. She never got sick, and she still was able to put food on the table. Maybe most surprising for Swan was her typical troubles in writing songs vanished during the lockdown as she cranked out five new pieces.

But that wasn’t a balm for the struggles of leaving stage shows behind for livestreams, which created its own kind of misery.

“I was probably bordering on a little bit of a minor depression, as were a lot of my [songwriting] colleagues,” Swan said. “We were just trying to find ways to connect. I was not one that did the online stuff; I could not do it. I mean, I did a couple of them, but I’m just fueled by an audience in my performances.”

One of those scant virtual performances was her new album’s title track.

The song’s raw lyrics and frenetic acoustic guitar convey a cry for help, making the tune’s (fittingly) grateful closing message come across even as a surprise to the artist.

When she’s not playing her originals, Swan is covering everyone from The Beatles to Jack Johnson to Kenny Loggins, and tries to keep the split between her own music and covers 50/50 during her sets.

Falls Church Distillers has become somewhat

MICHELLE SWAN. (C������� P����)

of a home base for the longtime regional artist. And Swan’s using that platform to fulfill her role as the “elevator” by bringing some up and coming talent to perform with her. That includes Jillian Matundan and Cherith Yuly, the vocalist for Honky Tonk Casanovas, who will be joining Swan at the distillery.

So those who do make their way over will be treated to not one, but three artists who’ve distinguished themselves in their own right. Though, word to the wise, if you get the urge to tell Swan she reminds you of Melissa Etheridge, it’s best to keep that to yourself.

Michelle Swan will be playing at Falls Church Distillers (442 S Washington St A, Falls Church) tonight at 6 p.m. For more information, visit fcdistillers.com.

These singles whet the appetites of the FCNP editorial team this week:

 Nicholas F. Benton – Madame George by Van Morrison  Matt Delaney – Sister Golden Hair by America

 Nick Gatz – Til I Collapse by Eminem

 Ted White – Walk Away Renee by The Left Banke