For the second time in school history, Mills Pond Elementary hosted an International Night, celebrating the rich cultures and traditions of members of the school community.
The event, sponsored by the Mills Pond Elementary PTA, featured twenty countries represented in the World Showcase and Cultural Talent and Fashion Show.
Mills Pond Elementary School students and High School East World Language students all performed and contributed!
Attendees travelled around the World Showcase and learned about the different countries such as Armenia, Colombia, Greece, Tajikistan and Turkey at interactive country board presentations created by students. They created a craft or participated in a
language activity and immersed themselves in the culture. Student performers shined during the Cultural Talent and Fashion Show from performances with the Chinese devil sticks, Armenian song and ethnic dances. Parents introduced their child dressed in attire native to their country and shared information about the outfits during the Cultural Fashion Show.
There were outside organizations who shared their talents and culture that evening. An exciting performance by Ryu Shu Taiko: Drums of Japan opened the event. The Stony Brook Chinese School Dancers performed two beautiful traditional Chinese dances in traditional clothing. The Jeevedhara School of Dance dazzled the audience with a classical Indian dance wearing traditional Indian dresses. The St. Paraskevi Greek School dance performances several energetic Greek dances. Musician and author Johnny Cuomo, closed out the event with a fun interactive multicultural music performance.
Ethnic food trucks American Wonton and Eatcetera provided delicious ethnic cuisines and kids earned a free ice cream cone from Mr. Softee courtesy of the PTA when they received a stamp from each country in their passport.
This event would not have been possible without the support of Principal Ireen Westrack, World Language Director Vincenza Graham, World Language teacher, Clara Antunes, Music Teacher, Stephanie Messana, Mills Pond PTA parent, Wan Ling Fahrer and the MPE PTA board, security guards and custodian crew.
