MAY 2017
Opera G. K. Chesterton
Bollettino dell’Opera Gilbert Keith Chesterton per i sostenitori Numero 3 anno VI - Maggio 2017 - Capitani Coraggiosi Società Cooperativa sociale - Via Valtellina snc 63074 San Benedetto del Tronto (AP) Tel. e fax 0735 659365
EVERY DAY A NEW BATTLE Dear friends, We have yet again arrived at the end of the school year. Looking back, I can see how time has flown past and how every day has brought and brings a new battle. The first of which is to impart to our students that which has been imparted to us: faith, hope, and charity most importantly; but also delight, enthusiasm, and a sincere and deep friendship. The second battle is to ensure that our students fight alongside us to become solid and joy filled men and women. The third battle is to make our school something beautiful and irreplaceable for our pupils. The fourth is to help them understand and accept the need for hard work, small sacrifices and practice. The fifth battle is to teach them to never
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renounce – for the rest of their lives – their innocence and wonder for everything, from the smallest flower to the gift of their own existence. I could continue this neverending list of daily battles, but I will try my best to summarize them into one: the battle to always love the Truth; to keep it alive in our and their lives, minute by minute; to know the Truth with one’s heart and with one’s mind; to use it; and to spread the Truth. We must always, always continue to fight these battles in our every day lives. It may seem that it is impossible, but our Lord will miraculously bring to fruition all that we offer to him with humility and determination. How wonderful it is to see the fruit of our students, to see them g r o w a n d fl o u r i s h a n d strengthen themselves. It may seem that an age has past since September 2016, but today we are all occupied with the end-ofyear exams and so we are all
focused on giving a small part of ourselves to our small community as we face this (momentarily) final hurdle. So with the images and words in this issue of our newsletter we are launching new challenges! More specifically, we are adding cooking and hair-cutting to our technical school, hoping to humbly offer something even more beautiful to those who come through our doors. A humble but sincere offering, we only wish to bring Jesus Christ to all through our school and through our students. I ask you once again for trust and help; I am sure that you will give us both because these everyday battles are not only ours, but yours, too. Marco Sermarini
The first competition dedicated to G.K. the author On May 6th , 2017, the first annual competition dedicated to the English author G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936) was held. Any state, private or homeschool elementary class could participate. The Chesterton Society of Italy, in collaboration with Pump Street - Chesterton’s shop, through the Scuola Chesterton, presented this educational competition that aims, through a variety of disciplines, to unite the cultural vision of our students. It aims to keep the genius, positive intuition and experiences of the author alive. Above all, the “Concorso G.K. Chesterton” competition aims to honor the great debt of gratitude that we owe to the man that continues to make the lives of many “undeservably happy”, as he himself would have said. Why did the Italian Chesterton Society and the Scuola Libera G.K. Chesterton (Chesterton School of Italy) create this course for elementary schools? • • • • •
To sustain the passion of all teachers that see their professional obligations as an adventure not only for themselves but for their students To share this experience, making of it a launch pad for educational innovation To cultivate and to grow students’ interest and curiosity in the quest for reality To facilitate a true meeting and dialogue with the author To promote and value the students’ creativity and their capacity to express themselves
The morning of May 6th began by giving a tour of our school to the participants of the competition, led by the students of the Scuola Chesterton. The rest of the day (which included the presentation of the creative projects done by the various classes and the awards ceremony) was held the beautiful Centro “La Contea” di Santa Lucia, our own little “Shire”. We invited Annalisa Teggi (author and translator), Rodolfo Casadei (journalist for Tempi), and Fabio Trevisan (Chesterton enthusiast and expert extraordinaire) as our panel of judges. We would like to thank them for being such wholehearted supporters of our school and all our initiatives. The following is the results of the awards ceremony: In first place, “The garden of aphorisms”, a creative project put together by the third grade class of the Catholic school “Maria Immacolata” in San Benedetto del Tronto, Italy. In second place, “Saint George and the Dragon”, a video created by the second grade class of the “C. Speranza” elementary school in Grottammare, Italy. In third place, “A ‘thank you’… for every moment”, put together by the fourth grade students of the Catholic school “Maria Immacolata” in San Benedetto del Tronto, Italy. Chiara Grazioli (Italian professor)
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Little pieces of a good world From the 21st to the 23rd of April, our middle school students went on a class trip in Friuli, Italy. They thus, at the end of a year of hard work, had the opportunity to visit exciting and beautiful places and to rest a little before beginning the final review before their final exams. The true reason we took a class trip so far away from home (far for Italians, that is; more than 500 km) is because we were invited by one of our friends and supporters of our school: Mauro Pittaro. Mauro is one of the owners of the winery PITARS in San Martino al Tagliamento. For a few years now, Mauro generously supports our school, even giving us the wine that was used at our annual fundraising Gala. Thanks to Mauro’s invite, a few professors and I accompanied our students. You can see by the photos the happy faces of our pupils as we visited the following places: Aquileia, mother church of one of the greatest city of the Roman Empire from which Christianity spread throughout northern Italy; Sesto al Reghena, Benedictine Abby built in the 8th century dedicated to the hospitality of pilgrims and wayfarers; Valvasone, a small medieval town that has maintained its urban fabric from when it was first built, and many other incredible sights.
brought to life by men that, providing work to tens of
We also had the possibility to visit one of the largest mosaic studios of Fruili and Mauro Pittaro’s winery – two realities through their passion, have grown throughout the years, employees.
The small towns and studios visited are an example to us professors and for our students of how beauty comes from loving a place, specifically one’s own home. From the love shown to these places can come magnificent things, even job opportunities that allow us to explore our passions and enjoy what we do. Now that we are back at home in San Benedetto del Tronto, a long review awaits us. Good luck, ragazzi! Michela Iobbi (Art professor)
This Mad Variety Friday, May 5th, 2017, the middle school students of the Scuola G.K. Chesterton staged the play: “This Mad Variety”! No other title for our show could have been more appropriate. It began with a ‘mad’ request: put on a show without knowing the students or their abilities with only two months, and, perhaps even madder, to find a show suitable for them; maddest of all, I said, “Yes! Let’s dive right in and see what comes of it!” After seeing what has come of this adventure, what can I say? Oftentimes in life something unexpected happens to disrupt our lives, but this unexpected request placed the students, many helpful friends and me directly on stage, to great success. I am grateful to have had this opportunity. These young actors were outstanding; they gave it their all, each with their own talents and difficulties. Theatre lessons allow students to have different experiences. Memorizing, learning to speak loudly and clearly, public speaking and learning to manage one’s stage fright, learning about a character… these are all small things that, once conquered in theatre are, in my opinion, useful tools in everyday life, even when these young students become adults. Daniela Alesiani (Theatre professor)
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“One does not frequent the Scuola Chesterton, one lives it.” I made the first real decision for my future at the end of 8th grade. There are always many options and (specifically in Italy) deciding upon a high school is the first step on a path towards what we dream to be as adults; it is no small choice. I am sure, however, that choosing the Scuola Chesterton from among the many other schools was, by far, the best option. What I saw as an “obligation” gradually matured into truly a “choice”, my choice. Five years of growth and improvement, of warm friendship and help, of final exams and final sprints, of fear and satisfaction - looking back and seeing all, I have reason to be proud, but it is also a lesson. In many, too many occasions I realize I have been lacking, unenthusiastic, stubborn and superficial. In just as many occasions, there has been a hand waiting to help me over these obstacles. I can sincerely say that I have been instructed and educated in this unique and, today, rare way. I must thank in particular my classmates and my friends that have been an example and help to me; I hope that I have been the same to you in some way. I have had the incredible fortune to meet many people in these give years and they have, all in their own way, left a mark on me. I am sorry to see it all end: one last year of theater, galas, educational trips and meetings. But there are some things that do not end with the last exam. It is a medal around your neck that makes you proud of your choices and maybe, sometime in the future, can be an example for others. It is a medal one with hard work and dedication. One does not frequent the Scuola Chesterton, one lives it. Pier Luigi Ciabó (13th – and final – grade) Here at the end of my eight years at the Scuola Chesterton, a question comes to my mind: “What is that thing, that factor, that stamp that distinguishes us from all the rest?”. The response comes almost instantly: we are no school, we are a family! And not only for the fact that a few of our professors are our parents or aunts or uncles, but because we have never been abandoned, left to ourselves. Each one of us is taken by the hand, accompanied the whole way to our goal, just as in a family. Each one of us takes care of the other, and knows that this is a great responsibility. This is what makes us different; not the studies, not the schedule, not the method but the affection and the gratitude that can be read in our faces. All the rest comes after, and the “practical” side of things has a suddenly new and completely different taste. All the energy and effort has been aimed to maintain our, the students’ serenity and growth. With this spirit, things such as afternoon tutoring, trips around Italy and the world, evenings spent with friends and teachers are only natural. At the end of my Chesterton adventure, I can say that I have felt fiercely loved and guided and, if I had to, I would repeat it all again without a shadow of a doubt. Francesca Sermarini (13th – and final – grade)
Want to know how you can support the Scuola Chesterton - The Chesterton School of Italy? To learn more about our school, you can visit our donations page at www.generosity.com/education-fundraising/scuola-chesterton-of-italy We thank you for your prayers, affection, and generosity. It is only with the help of these valiant supporters and Divine Providence that the Scuola Chesterton is able to open its doors each year.
See you next year!
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