Embracing and Celebrating Diversity
By Salinder Evans, Assistant Principal, Wilburn Elementary School
March 2007-- Wilburn Year-Round Elementary held its second International Festival on Oct. 27 to embrace and celebrate the diversity at the school. I implemented the initiative because building a strong relationship between the school, students and parents is essential for school success. The festival embraced the philosophy of family and community with children at the center. Administrators, teachers, non-certified staff members, community groups, volunteers from the Southeast High School Honor Society, and parents worked collaboratively to make the festival a success.
As a part of our International Festival, students and their families were asked to be a part of Wilburn’s family tree by sharing their family heritage. Each family made a leaf that included the student’s name and picture, as well as heritage information. Students, parents and staff members were encouraged to wear the traditional attire from their ancestral culture. They were also asked to participate in the International Food Experience. For this activity, parents were asked to prepare their country’s favorite dish and bring it to share with others at “A Taste of Wilburn.” Mediterranean, Japanese, Chinese, German, Caribbean, European, American, Mexican, Indian, Korean, French, and South American dishes were served. Wilburn’s Community in Schools coordinator Kristy McLean and the PTA board hospitality chairperson coordinated the Taste of Wilburn activity.
Every grade level studied different continents or picked individual countries from a continent. For example, the kindergarten team broke down the continent of Asia by tracks. Track 1 studied Japan, Track 2 China, Track 3 Korea and Track 4 Vietnam. They made displays of items and artifacts in the hallway for parents and students to view at the festival. The art specialist, Stephanie Debnam, displayed artwork from different countries throughout the school. Lessons aligned with the N.C. Standard Course of Study for individual grade levels. The Intervention Team and Special Programs Department displayed a map of countries represented at Wilburn.
Principal Jennifer Carnes opened the International Festival program with a welcome. Students, staff members and community groups gave performances. I did a roll call of different countries and asked members of the audience to stand up when their country was called. The third grade sang “Hello to the Children of the World” directed by the music specialist, Dawn Spiggle, that captivated the essence of the festival. Speakers and participants in the assembly provided information on popular tourist attractions, family life, food, geography, cultural differences, schools/education and languages on various countries. Shakira Williams, a second-grade teacher that lived and studied in West Africa, gave a presentation on West Africa. Steven Raubenheimer, a one-on-one teacher assistant originally from South Africa, gave a presentation on South Africa. Marie Beltran, a Title I teacher originally from Peru, worked with the first grade to present a Peruvian story told to her by her grandmother. Nandita Dhulia, a teacher assistant originally from India, along with students from Korea, Africa, and India, modeled their native wear between performances. Erdyne Vereen, the dance teacher at Zebulon GT Magnet School who owns Vereen’s School of Dance Arts, Inc., brought her dance group to perform two North American dances – one hip-hop dance routine and one tap dance routine.
Every effort was made to show that we value and recognize all cultures represented at Wilburn. The International Festival was a night in which Wilburn, “ A School of Many Nations,” celebrated its diversity.
The Family Tree…One Tree, Many Branches
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