Trumpet playing silence, balloons symbolizing hope and letters from students for Giovanbattista, the young musician killed in Naples. The great welcome party that raises awareness.
Principal Laura Patrizia Cagnazzo: “No more violence, no more degradation. The suburbs are abandoned”. And the appeal to parents against school dropouts: “Take your children to school, educate them, give them a sense of dignity and rules. We will be close to you. School is on the front line, it is the future of our children”.
The trumpet that plays the Silence. And then the flight of the white balloons, released into the sky at the foot of Vesuvius, accompanied by thunderous applause. Following a moment of prayer, intimate, accompanied by the thoughts of the students themselves.
Thus, on the first day of school, the two branches of the Istituto Comprensivo IC3 “De Curtis – Ungaretti” commemorate with a double event the memory of Giogiò, Giovanbattista Cutolo, the 24-year-old musician killed by gunshots in Naples.
“Ideally we have made our thoughts fly upwards, towards Giogiò. These white balloons symbolize hope, to say never again violence, never again degradation – begins the Headmaster, Professor Laura Patrizia Cagnazzo – Where there is heart, where there are feelings, there is future. School is a place of culture, of legality, but above all it represents the future for our children”.
It is exciting to return to class in Ercolano, with a double event, in both buildings, designed to raise awareness among young people and families, and then open up to the big party, with lots of music and colors, Prof. Trampoliere, balloon art, the choir accompanied by master instrumentalists, to welcome the children of the first classes. Once again, the De Curtis – Ungaretti institute confirms itself as a stronghold of legality for the transmission and construction of values.
“A boy dying at the hands of another boy is terrible – says the Principal Laura Patrizia Cagnazzo – There is no reason for the death of a young person. Today is an important day for everyone, especially for our children who are entering school for the first time, both in primary and secondary school. We have decided to dedicate this double moment, in both school buildings, to Giogiò for two reasons: first of all because he was a musician and ours is a school with a musical focus. And then because it is a tragic and absolutely unthinkable death. Our children wanted to commemorate him like this, with a simple memory, made of music and cheerfulness. Our young people must express the future in their best guise, through culture, music, beauty, education, which in many territories and in many suburbs often is lacking”.
Institute and teachers “on the front line”, in building a culture of legality, with series of meetings, projects and testimonies of illustrious figures committed to fighting violence.
“Ours is a very active, committed school”, insists Principal Cagnazzo who also launches an appeal to families against school dropouts: “Send your children to school. Educate them, give them a sense of dignity and rules: without those we cannot move forward. We need your participation. Respect the school, as we respect you parents. We will do our best to be close to you. Happy school year. The children in the fifth grade accompany the students in the first grade to class: it is a symbolic gesture, the big one will guide the little one and it will be like this forever”.
LETTERS WRITTEN BY STUDENTS
Meanwhile, middle school students are entrusting their reflections to writing. "A few days ago, a 20-year-old boy was shot in the back in Naples, simply for a parking space. How is it possible that a 16-year-old boy is armed and capable of killing a person? Society has failed," the kids write. "In 2023, these things still happen too often. We don't dare imagine the pain of parents who discover that their child has been killed and can no longer realize his dreams and build a future. We hope that it never happens again and that school helps us understand the value of life and the beauty of living together." And more verses in Italian, French, and English to tell the horror of the loss of a young musician: "Giogiò, you will always be our hero."
Thoughts that are impossible not to be crossed by. “The journey of life is like an obstacle course. A life cut short does not die as long as it remains in people’s memories. The dreams that you, Giogiò, were unable to realize, we can carry forward with our actions, with daily gestures, with words. A person killed for such a trivial reason is the victim of a society that still devours humanity today. A dream can also be cultivated together, in a class, among friends who love each other. Dreams, even the most unattainable ones, must be made to fly high, even with a little imagination”.
Music as the leitmotif, then leaving room for the big party, among colored balloons, drawings, artistic performances. “If you are afraid then hold my hands”, sings the school choir accompanied by the instrumental teachers on the notes of “Supereroi” by Mister Rain. And again 'O Surdato 'Nnamurato, a great classic of Neapolitan song, so as not to miss the great artistic heritage of Naples, 'Oye como va' and 'L'effet de masse'. Finally everyone claps their hands to the rhythm of 'Barbie Girl'.
Present, together with the parents, were also the institutional representatives of the Municipality of Ercolano.
“I continue to get emotional every time I come to this school and even this morning I almost had tears in my eyes for the great passion that you can feel – underlines the Councilor for Education, Carmela Saulino – The story we have commemorated involves two boys: one who finds the right path, good, and the other who went towards evil. How can we intervene? By making the boys go to school, the only true bulwark of legality. Only school can offer a better future and a better path. School teaches what a citizen is. We must defend school tooth and nail, so our children can be the good in this city. It is a sun that we must make shine. Preserve, guard and take care of this place of legality”.
THE OUTSKIRTS AND THE HEADMASTER'S APPEAL TO PARENTS
“At school we are children’s collectors. We call them, we prevent school dropouts from becoming a plague. Unfortunately, the suburbs are all abandoned and we must no longer allow this. This is why we are on the front line, with our teachers, with the council, and we often manage to get them back on the right and proper path. It is not always easy. Families need a lot of support and the social network must help parents understand how important their children’s future is. – is the message from the Principal Laura Patrizia Cagnazzo – Without culture, without education, without beauty, you can't get anywhere. We also teach this, the love of beauty. That's why we have a very beautiful, very welcoming school, immersed in a territory that is the Vesuvius National Park. We need it to be appreciated by the community. In recent years, immediately after Covid, the need to be a community, to be closer to the territory, has reawakened. Today, when addressing the parents present, I emphasized respect for the rules, timetables, order, cleanliness, inviting them to follow their children. There is a parental and social responsibility. We owe it to our young people, to our suburbs, but above all to our future".
Finally, a thank you to all the teachers and staff: "In just 24 hours we managed to put together this welcome. And all of this is possible only with the commitment and dedication with which we work together with our children and our young people. What was taught yesterday is valid today, and will be valid tomorrow and always, towards the future. Love towards culture, education and beauty. Let's not forget to love beauty".
EDITORIAL TEAM
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