Ranney Sophomore Takes Third in French Poetry Recitation Contest

On Thursday, May 20, six of Ranney’s finest Foreign Language students traveled to William Patterson University in Wayne to compete in the Orlando Saa Foreign Language Poetry Recitation Contest. Students were required to memorize poems in French or Spanish and to recite them before a panel of judges made up predominantly of college professors. They were judged on delivery, pronunciation, intonation and poise. The competition was fierce, but sophomore Hannah Simpson won 3rd place in the Beginners category for her recitation of Pont Supérieur by Jules Supervielle.

The Orlando Saa Foreign Language Poetry Recitation Contest is named for Dr. Orlando Saa, a professor of classical languages and Spanish language and culture at the William Patterson University. For the past 20 years, Dr. Saa has guided the program, which annually attracts more than 700 students from 70 secondary schools throughout the state. Dr. Saa’s own poems appear in more than 30 anthologies in the United States and abroad.

The Ranney contestants spent long hours preparing and practicing with their foreign language teachers and delivered stunning performances. Also representing Ranney in French poetry were juniors Charlotte Fleming and Alyssa Staats, and representing Ranney in Spanish poetry were senior Chris Lombardi, sophomore Maura Guyler and freshman Jimmy Soldati. What a triumph for the Ranney School Foreign Language Department.

Félicitations Hannah!

For additional information on all Ranney School news, please contact the Communications Department at communications@ranneyschool.org.