Lacordaire Academy Kindergarteners Bring Local Community Workers to Life

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At Lacordaire Academy, public speaking isn’t something students wait to learn. It starts in Pre-K 4. Recently, the Academy brought this early confidence to life with Community Helpers: A Kindergarten Interview and Public Speaking Project. Guided by their teacher, Mrs. Monika Rains, Five- and six-year-olds stepped into the role of journalists, choosing local community members to interview. Their subjects ranged from healthcare providers and public service workers to skilled tradespeople, food and personal service professionals, and creative artists. Students interviewed everyone from beloved librarians to their dentists, pharmacists, hairdressers, firefighters, electricians, architects, gardeners, and favorite local bakers, and answers were hand-recorded with pencil and paper. 

The project culminated last Friday, when each student dressed as their interviewee and delivered a public speaking presentation in front of the entire school community, performing the answers they had gathered. In a fun twist, fourth graders stepped in as interviewers, giving the kindergartners the chance to practice responding to questions as their interviewee. This role reversal let the youngest students experience both sides of an interview. 

Ophelia Fowler ’34 interviewed a grocer from Violante & Son Butcher and Deli Specialties. Performing her interview on stage, Ophelia spoke in the voice of the grocer, sharing, “I help the community by providing fresh groceries and making sure that everyone has access to quality produce.” She then delivered the grocer’s advice to young people: “Stay in school and focus on reading and math, because those skills will benefit you throughout life.”

Jacob Medina ’34 interviewed Ronnie Bernard, a Montclair-based private chef.  When a fourth grader acting as interviewer asked, “You mentioned that you work out of a ghost kitchen. What is a ghost kitchen, and is it haunted?” Jacob confidently delivered Chef Ronnie’s response: “A ghost kitchen is not haunted at all! It’s a professional space that chefs use to prepare food, but customers don’t eat there. It allows chefs like me to cook and run a business without having a full restaurant.” 

Jurnee Williams ’34 interviewed a photographer from Montclair’s New Moon Photography studio. Presenting her findings, she shared the photographer’s words, saying, “I love meeting all kinds of families, especially kids and babies. Every session is different and fun!”

Noah El Moussi ’34 interviewed a pharmacist from Bloomfield’s Terry’s Drugs. In his presentation, Noah voiced the pharmacist’s perspective: “People need a place where they can ask questions about their health and get advice from someone they trust.” He also performed the response to his question about tools of the trade: “I use a computer, a phone, and my brain. Thinking carefully is the most important tool of all.”

Temperance Cortese ’34 interviewed a local children’s librarian. Recreating her interview on stage, a fourth-grader asked, “How would the community suffer without libraries and librarians?” Temperance then delivered the librarian’s response: “The community would lose many free services like books, computers, lunches, snacks, and performances. There would be fewer safe spaces for kids to gather and make friends. Many children meet their friends at storytime.”

The Community Helpers project is a multifaceted exercise in both communication and physical literacy. Students learn to engage with a subject, ask questions, and accurately record responses, while also developing the public speaking skills needed to present, memorize, and perform in front of a full audience.

“Public speaking is incredibly important, even for kindergartners,” said Mary Ryan Thornton P’08, who leads the Academy’s Curriculum Enrichment programs. “It helps young children develop a high level of confidence when speaking both in small and large groups. Our students learn to  use appropriate hand  gestures, and facial expressions to convey a message with confidence, resulting in their strong ability to express themselves clearly. Learning how to ask questions and communicate politely builds skills that will be an asset to them throughout their lives. It’s really wonderful to see our students develop these abilities at such a young age. We set the bar high for all our children and they always seem to meet or surpass our expectations.”

“This project also teaches our students to appreciate the diversity of skills and career paths in their community,” said Megan Mannato, Head of School. “Our children are learning that every role is important, that everyone has something unique to contribute.”

After the performance, one parent remarked, “I did not expect such a high level of execution from kindergarten students!” 

Lacordaire Academy is named after Père Henri-Dominique Lacordaire, one of the most respected Catholic preachers in post-revolutionary France, celebrated for his sermons at Notre-Dame Cathedral. In keeping with Père Lacordaire’s legacy of education through public speaking, the Academy offers a dynamic, multi-level curriculum designed to build confidence and poise. Students participate in an award-winning Forensics public speaking team at the elementary, junior varsity, and varsity levels, a debate team, mock trial, creative dramatics classes, student ambassador programs, and opportunities to deliver readings at school prayer services, alongside many  regular performances throughout the year ranging from Shakespeare to contemporary plays and musicals.