Van Schaick Grade School celebrated World Culture Awareness Day on May 21 with a new tradition: hosting current and former English language learners from Cohoes High School to speak to the elementary students about their cultures and what it was like moving to America.
The countries represented were: China, Haiti, Mexico, Sudan, Ukraine, and Venezuela. Students spoke about their home countries and what their lives were like, including their schooling, clothing, diets, climate and more. They even said hello and goodbye in their native languages.
VSGS Principal Jacqueline DeChairo and the Building Leadership Team envisioned this event as a way to help students understand and appreciate the rich cultural traditions that surround them daily.
“We recognize that our neighborhoods are becoming more diverse each year,” said Mrs. DeChiaro. “By exploring various cultures together, our children learn that differences make our community interesting. These experiences help students build meaningful relationships with classmates and neighbors from all backgrounds, fostering a sense of belonging for everyone.”
Students both young and old enjoyed their time spent together.
“I loved the interaction with the kids,” said junior Alaa Mahmoud, representing Sudan. “They asked fun questions about sports, natural disasters, climate and what we do in our free time.”
CHS English as a New Language (ENL) Teacher Kerry Bottenfield was proud to witness her students demonstrate such enthusiasm towards sharing their cultures with the students at Van Schaick Grade School.
“Many stepped beyond their comfort zones by speaking before a larger audience,” she said. “Following the event, they expressed how much they valued the experience and their hope to expand it into a larger, more widespread event in the future. Thank you to Mrs. DeChiaro and the staff of VSGS for organizing this event and welcoming these high school students into their school community.”