Multicultural Celebrations Bring School Community Together

In alignment with one of the school’s guiding principles to welcome the diverse experiences and viewpoints of all individuals, students learned about various cultures and traditions throughout Multicultural Week.  

Examples of global exploration and learning took place across campus all week long.  
 
In Lower School, students read books, created art projects, and learned traditional dances. 

In the Middle School, the week started with an assembly during which students presented about Chinese New Year, Black History Month, and Polynesian cultures. Middle School teacher Nico Rumboll demonstrated how to make mate, an Argentinian beverage from his home country.  

In the Upper School, student-led affinity groups like the Black Cultural Workshop (BCW) and the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Council hosted events during Upper School assemblies, such as presentations on black history and LGBTQ+ history as well as a lip sync battle.  

Upper School students also spent time with Lower School students to discuss different cultures and lead them through activities. 

"By having Multicultural Week, we have the opportunity to take focused time to learn about, celebrate, and collaborate about the cultures and aspects of those who make up our community," says Ray Mitchell, `24, one of the student leaders behind Multicultural Week. "Multicultural Week is the acknowledgment, celebration, and coming together of our differences to highlight the beauty of diversity within the Country Day community and worldwide." 

SAGE Dining Services also supported the week's mission by offering Indian, Latin American, Southern, Asian, and Italian-based menus for lunch throughout the week. Shiva Shyam `26 also held a Southeast Asian food tasting, and Vic Quintero `25 provided a Latin American drink tasting. 

The school community then came together on Thursday, February 9, for Multicultural Night. Formerly known as International Night, Multicultural Night is a Parents' Association-sponsored event during which community members bring dishes and provide entertainment based on their cultures.  

"As we continue to focus on the PA's mission of building community, Multicultural Week provides us with the opportunity to pause and share more about the experiences and cultures within our school community," says Johanna Brun, Parents' Association social co-chair. 
 
More than 450 members of our school community came together for Multicultural Night to spend time with one another, enjoy 75 dishes provided by Country Day families, and enjoy the entertainment of 16 performances. In line with the school’s mission to “better a dynamic world” all utensils, trays, and dishes used for Multicultural Night were compostable.  

“This is an important night for our community – it gives us the opportunity to celebrate the many cultures that make this school so special,” said Zofeen Khan, one of the lead organizers of Multicultural Night. “And to see a turnout like this only confirms how important it is for so many of us to have the time to celebrate and explore other cultures.”  

Click here for pictures and videos of Multicultural Night.