Students receive family history lesson

Riverview students Brady Schick, Nicole Geronimo, Leif Glassman and Mason Gauger join hands to take an Oath of Allegiance outside the school Oct. 9, when they engaged a simulated historical activity.
Riverview students Brady Schick, Nicole Geronimo, Leif Glassman and Mason Gauger join hands to take an Oath of Allegiance outside the school Oct. 9, when they engaged a simulated historical activity.

Riverview School simulates Ellis Island pilgrimage

By Jason Arndt
Staff Writer

At the turn of the 19th century, Ellis Island in New York was a stopping point for many immigrants, who sacrificed their past lives in other nations by seeking a better way of life.

Since then, millions have arrived at the site, according to the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation.

The foundation launched in 1982 by President Ronald Reagan, who sought to preserve the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, is funded through private donations.

Inspired by Ellis Island’s history, seventh-grade students at Riverview School in Silver Lake have simulated this journey for at least 15 years, teacher Alby Glembocki said.

Glembocki and colleague Craig Flater supervised this year’s educational adventure on Oct. 9.

“They get to learn what it was really like to be an actual immigrant,” Glembocki said.

Dressed in 1800s style clothes, students underwent a series of stations, including mock health checkups, a written citizenship exam and group activities.

Additionally, about 15 Wilmot Union High School German and French students came to give insight into communication barriers, only speaking in a foreign language.

“They speak to them in just German or just Spanish, and the students have to try to understand what they are asking them,” said Glembocki.

According the Flater, Riverview students found communicating in another language challenging, but fun.

“I know they enjoyed the one where they were processed and tried to communicate with people using a different language,” he said.

Researching family history
Another activity students engaged in was an exploration into their family history.

According to Glembocki, the students found the research enlightening. She has encouraged others to do the same, as she stresses the importance of knowing where you came from. One way of tracing your family history is to check obituaries . If you are from Philadelphia, for example, you might want to start by visiting https://www.genealogybank.com/explore/obituaries/all/usa/pennsylvania/philadelphia/philadelphia-inquirer. From there, you can trace your family back generation by generation.

“A lot of them were surprised at what happened to their family as they tried to get to America,” she said.

Flater agreed, adding students pinpointed where their family came from, and the struggles they went through.

“They looked into their own family and found out what it was that brought their families here,” he said.

The struggles, Glembocki notes, include leaving other family members behind while working to establish a foundation in America.

Upon dismissal, students gathered around the school flagpole, where they joined hands and sung songs in honor of gaining citizenship.

About the foundation
The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation website is accessible at www.libertyellisisland.org. Once there, people can conduct their own family research, and learn more about historical events surrounding the Statute of Liberty and Ellis Island.


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