C3 is Back and Better Than Ever

English as a Second Language teacher and Cultural Connections Club adviser Kristine Wisnieski is back!

After a year off for maternity leave she is ready to kick start this year off right, by getting her students excited about learning about different cultures. Even though Mrs. Wisnieski just came back, she's leaving again in March to have another baby. However she still wants to keep this club up and running.
The students that are helping her accomplish this goal are seniors Jessica Varona, president, and Nicasha Martin, vice president; and juniors Shayla Grahan, treasurer and Gleydis Merino, secretary.
One activity the club will be doing this year is raising money for United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), which helps kids around the world by providing medicine, clothing, and food. They fund-raise by selling candles and bake goods.

Alex Marji, a freshmen at Jamesville-Dewitt High School, says that the UNICEF goal of a $125 is what made him interested in the club.

But the club doesn't just raise money. They also take field trips, like to Green Lakes Lanes to bowl, New York City to learn about the history of immigration, to Alexandria Bay to see Boldt Castle and go on a private boat tour, to Genesee Country to learn about American history, and The Corning Museum of Glass to learn about glass blowing.

During the weekly meetings members do cultural presentations. A person or a group of people from the same culture can share traditions and special things about their culture to inform the other students of what it is like.

"The Cultural Connections Club is great way to meet new people and learn more about other students cultures," says Mrs. Wisnieski. The different nationalities and cultures in this club are: Cuban, Albanian, Italian, German, Algerian, American, Native American, African American, Jamaican and Nigerian.

"The best part about this club is that it brings together a lot of people," said Mrs. Wisnieski. Though the club averages between 20-30 members, Mrs. Wisnieski is always looking for more because she can never have enough students in this club.

The students also really enjoyed having Mrs. Wisnieski as their advisor. "When Mrs. W leaves again, I will be miserable," said junior Anna Shtikyan.

So, if you're looking for something to put on your college application, you should stop by. "This is a good multicultural activity because colleges don't only look at your academics they look at you as a whole," said Mrs. Wisnieski.