Cultures meet at school

Placing his palms flat together with his fingers pointing up, Dylan Johnson demonstrated the proper Japanese greeting.

“Konichiwa,” he said, bowing his head and closing his eyes. “That’s how you say ‘hello.’”

Johnson, 5, is a kindergartener at Seymour-Jackson Elementary School but can already say several words and phrases in Japanese as well as in Spanish. So can his big sister, Sydney, 9.

Part of the reason the two students embrace diversity is the exposure they get to different cultures by attending Jackson. The school is populated by many English Language Learners from countries all over the world, including Mexico, Japan, Puerto Rico, Russia, China, Guatemala, the Philippines, Vietnam and Honduras.

Earlier this week, the school celebrated its multiculturalism by inviting all students and parents to take part in Cultural Night, an annual event that gives families an opportunity to learn about several different countries, including the United States, through displays the students helped make.

Nearly 1,000 people made their way through the hallways of the school Tuesday night, stopping to “visit” each destination, where they could try foods and view items from those countries.

 
Both Dylan and Sydney agreed Japan was their favorite.

“I like the chicken, it’s good,” Sydney said of the teriyaki chicken she sampled as part of the cultural experience.
Many students also said they liked the chocolate and strawberry pock sticks, a popular Japanese snack.

But Sydney wasn’t limiting herself.

“I like trying all the different food,” she said.

As a fourth-grader, she has participated in Cultural Night in the past but said it was more fun this year because it was her brother’s first time.

Michele Johnson, Dylan and Sydney’s mother, said she appreciates that the school teaches the students about different cultures and that her children have classmates and friends from around the world.

Working for a Japanese company, Michele said she always encourages her children to accept and embrace diversity.

“This is an excellent opportunity for them to understand and respect other cultures,” she said of Cultural Night.

Daniela Basquez, 8, said she liked the event because other students could learn about Mexico, the country her family is from, and she could learn about other cultures.

“I think I liked Guatemala the best because the food was good,” Basquez said of which country she liked “visiting” the most.

After having her passport stamped with a sticker, she was off to her next destination, Russia, where she tried Russian tea.

Parent Maria Munoz and classroom aide Yamile Fontanez were enjoying their time handing out samples of coconut milk and other tasty treats from Puerto Rico.

Both agreed Cultural Night is a wonderful way to introduce children and adults to the many cultures that make up the world.  

“I think it’s great for people to know about other countries,” Munoz said.

“It’s very important for children to learn about different cultures,” Fontanez added. “We learn something every day.”

Award winners

Before the start of Cultural Night, the school celebrated the accomplishments of its English Language Learners by presenting awards to students and adults who ELL teacher Renee Strietelmeier said go above and beyond in the program. Those receiving special awards were:

Newcomer of the Year: Yuki Sakai

Outstanding English Language Learners:

Kindergarten – Genesis Munoz

First grade – Tania Hernandez Ramirez

Second grade – Natalie Garcia, Wendolinne Zarate Bailon, Andrea Rodriguez, Megumi Ueyama

Third grade – Connie Li, Sergio Galicia, Maithy Nguyen

Fourth grade – Rintaro Koizumi

Fifth grade – Hao Li, Andres Castro, Jessica Buenrostro

Parents of the Year Award: Mr. and Mrs. Loeza Bello

Teachers of the Year: Jessica Raynor, Rosemary Albright and Kelli Darlage