Jan. 11, 2026
By Leah Campos
Staff Writer
As the holidays approached, about 65 students and seven staff members gathered in the media center during lunch on Dec. 11 to eat Italian food and play the Italian bingo-like game tombola.
The event, which was open to everyone, was organized by the Italian Club and its advisor Signorina Percontino. She started this tradition three years ago when she became a teacher at LHS.
“What I enjoy most about tombola is bringing that piece of Italy to Lyndhurst,” Percontino said. “Not every school gets to [play tombola], and I hope more kids keep coming out next year or the year after.”
Percontino said she enjoys sharing the culture she grew up with as a first-generation Italian American.
“It’s nice to see them experience [these] traditions for the first time,” Percontino said.
Italian Club president junior Kiyarra Hart, a three-year club member, contributed to the event by bringing bottled water, which accompanied the meal of pasta, meatballs, tiramisu and cookies.
“Since my freshman year, I have loved tombola,” Hart said. “Tombola is such a big part of Italian culture, and you get authentic food.”
Hart, who called out the game’s winning numbers with junior club member Sophia Yandola, said another highlight of the event was exposing newcomers to the club.
“It’s a great way to see the Italian Club environment, so maybe it inspires them to want to join,” Hart said.
Junior Christopher Penny, a three-year club member, has been participating in this event since his freshman year, when his sister, Class of 2025 graduate Gianna Penny, encouraged him to attend.
“What I enjoy most about tombola is bringing that piece of Italy to Lyndhurst.”
“[I] actually won a little purse and ended up giving it to my mom for Christmas,” Penny said. “I thought it was really fun. That’s why I keep coming.”
Penny said he also likes the educational aspect of tombola.
“It helps me get more familiar with the Italian language, because they call the numbers in Italian and the teacher speaks Italian,” Penny said.
He said he also appreciated the diversity of the students at the event.
“A lot of people there get to learn about different ethnicities and backgrounds. It’s a really great experience,” said Penny.
