Jenna Barone-Shoosmith's Project

My name is Kathi Barone and I am writing this about my daughter Jenna Shoosmith.

Her school, Hudson Elementary in Tempe, Arizona, held a Multi-Cultural Celebration on March 29th. Students were encouraged to research their family history and traditions to share with the entire school. Jenna researched her family history, following the path of the Pugliese and Barone families through the 20th Century. Her primary source of information was the family history compiled by Jennifer Rowell.


Jenna's presentation displayed a timeline of significant events (from the earthquake & tsunami that hit Palmi in 1908 to Jenna's own birth in 1997) and classic family pictures, including Francesco & Rosa Pugliese in the 1920's and Bruno & Jennie Barone & children in the late 1930's. Stella D'oro cookies and grapes were shared as examples of traditional Italian food with the students and parents who visited the display (the health department strictly prohibits the serving of any home-made food items).

Through the course of the multi-cultural celebration, Jenna learned that Sara, her best friend at Hudson, is also of Italian descent. Josephine, Sara's mother, sailed from Sicily with her family to settle in America when she was a young girl. Josephine taught Jenna and Sara the Tarantella, which they, in turn, taught other students to dance at the multi-cultural celebration.

Jenna and I wanted to share this with you as we look forward to this upcoming family reunion. See you there!!!

Kathi & Jenna