Yavneh Academy fourth graders presented their annual Storytelling Festival of Fables for 2014 on Monday evening, March 31, and Tuesday evening, April 1, to their parents and guests in an exciting program.

In our fast-paced, media-driven world, they proved that there is still room and love for the quiet spoken story, which continues to engage young imaginations. Ms. Julie Della Torre, Yavneh’s beloved resident storyteller for the past 12 years, presented five workshops to the students teaching them about characters, dialogue, setting, presentation and morals. Ms. Della Torre founded and coordinated the NJ Storytelling Festival and has taught adults at Rutgers, William Paterson and the NJ Library Association. She has led workshops and performed at storytelling festivals throughout the area. With degrees in special education from Kent State and an M.A. in communicative disorders from the Johns Hopkins University, she is well versed in the educational benefits of storytelling in all venues to audiences of all ages.

The students were guided through the process of choosing, analyzing and learning their fables by the classroom teachers Mrs. Lynn Bloom, Mrs. Linda Gans, Mrs. Sarah Koolyk and Mrs. Alison Landa, along with the festival coordinator, Yavneh Academy librarian Mrs. Rachel Glasser. They also presented their fables to other Yavneh students in grades 1–5 during the school day. It was a wonderful celebration of stories and the dedication and determination of our students! Yavneh: Oft’ Told Tales

Yavneh Academy fourth graders presented their annual Storytelling Festival of Fables for 2014 on Monday evening, March 31, and Tuesday evening, April 1, to their parents and guests in an exciting program.

In our fast-paced, media-driven world, they proved that there is still room and love for the quiet spoken story, which continues to engage young imaginations. Ms. Julie Della Torre, Yavneh’s beloved resident storyteller for the past 12 years, presented five workshops to the students teaching them about characters, dialogue, setting, presentation and morals. Ms. Della Torre founded and coordinated the NJ Storytelling Festival and has taught adults at Rutgers, William Paterson and the NJ Library Association. She has led workshops and performed at storytelling festivals throughout the area. With degrees in special education from Kent State and an M.A. in communicative disorders from the Johns Hopkins University, she is well versed in the educational benefits of storytelling in all venues to audiences of all ages.

The students were guided through the process of choosing, analyzing and learning their fables by the classroom teachers Mrs. Lynn Bloom, Mrs. Linda Gans, Mrs. Sarah Koolyk and Mrs. Alison Landa, along with the festival coordinator, Yavneh Academy librarian Mrs. Rachel Glasser. They also presented their fables to other Yavneh students in grades 1–5 during the school day. It was a wonderful celebration of stories and the dedication and determination of our students!