WisItalia, in conjunction with the Consul General of Italy and the Italian government, is able to give certain Wisconsin schools/programs that teach the Italian language, grant funds for their language programs. Grant funds may be used to purchase teaching materials, to augment teacher or teaching assistant pay, or for any legitimate and academically sound activity that furthers the study of Italian language and culture.

St. Joseph receiving grant funds from WisItalia

St. Joseph receiving grant funds from WisItalia

As of 12/2009, WisItalia distributed $8,500 to 9 Wisconsin schools/programs for the 2009-2010 school year.

Tony Bruno, WisItalia President and Frank Alfano, WisItalia Treasurer, started sending out the checks to the schools (that had applied) at the end of August, with most of the checks being sent in October, 2009. The photo to the left is of Peter Pingitore (WisItalia area representative for Kenosha) presenting the $1,000 check to Kenosha's St. Joseph President Robert Freund. Next to Mr. Freund is Joanna Stenson, Italian language teacher at St. Joseph and WisItalia Secretary; St. Joseph Principal Edward Kovochich; and Ralph Annina, Italian language teacher at Bradford High School and WisItalia Vice-President.

Nash Elementary School, Kenosha

Nash Elementary in Kenosha began a new children's after school Italian program this year. Pictured in the photo is Pellegrina (Rina) Pingone-Debartolo - primary (K-2) instructor and Ralph Annina - intermediate (3-5) instructor handing the $500 check to Marty Pitts, Principal of Nash Elementary. Kenosha has a practice of rotating the children's Italian language program to different elementary schools in the Kenosha Unified School District. For the last several years, the program was at Somers Elementary School.

Also new this year is an Italian program starting at the newly combined school, Mount Carmel/St. Therese Elementary School in Kenosha. Italian will be offered one day a week to all the different grade levels in the school.

List of Schools/Programs Receiving Grants To-Date

Kenosha:

Bradford High School ($1,000)
Bullen Middle School (Italian Language Enrichment Program) - ($500)
Mount Carmel/St. Therese Elementary School (NEW PROGRAM THIS YEAR - ($2,000)
Nash Elementary School (Children's After School Italian Program) - ($500)
St. Joseph's High School and Interparish Junior High School ($1,000)
Tremper High School ($1,000)

Madison:

Italian Workmen’s Club: Evening Adult Program and Saturday Italian Children’s Program ($1,000)

Milwaukee:

Victory K8 School for the Gifted and Talented Italian Immersion Program ($500 - NOTE: Had already received $500 in May for the 2009-10 school year)

Pewaukee:

Trinity Academy ($1,000)

Educators Receiving Grants for 2009-10 School Year

WisItalia provides grant funds to assist educators who are enrolled in an approved program leading to licensure to teach Italian in Wisconsin's public schools and who are committed to teach Italian in Wisconsin. WisItalia is able to award grant amounts of $500 per school year per teacher, not to exceed a total of $1,000 per teacher.

Educators who have received grant funds for the 2009-10 school year:

Lisa Meli, Preble High School, Green Bay
Andrew Muller, Spring Harbor Middle School and Wright Middle School, Madison
Saruccia Bendetto, Victory Italian Immersion School, Milwaukee
Steven Farsetti, Victory Italian Immersion School, Milwaukee

Previously, WisItalia provided grant funds to Cathy (Walker) Laurenzi, Victory Italian Immersion School, Milwaukee, who is now fully licensed to teach Italian in the public school system in Wisconsin; and Joanna Stenson, who previously taught at Bradford High School, Kenosha, and who is currently at St. Joseph's Junior and Senior High Schools - private schools in Kenosha.

Updated March 6, 2010