Schools host multicultural festival

— Almost 400 people attended the Gravette High and Middle Schools’ International Festival held last Monday at the GHS Performing Arts Center. Meghan Walker, English as a second language coordinator for Gravette Schools, planned the festival which included a potluck dinner following the eclectic program.

In addition to the many parents, school personnel, faculty, mentors and school patrons attending, the GHS and GMS 120-member combined choir provided an evening of entertainment. There was fellowship, food from many cultures and shared stories of today’s multicultural world.

The program opened with two special fi lms which pictured intercultural examples and relationships reaching from New Orleans to the Congo, from West Los Angeles to Uganda and others.

Megan, who spent many of her formative years on the African continent, including in the nations of Kenya and Zaire, related her experiences and how they shaped her life. Those experiences and cultural influences serve her in her position as ESL coordinator at GHS.

Erika Ortiz served as her interpreter for all of the presentations.

Two members of the Spanish Club, Maricruz Garcia and Kaylea Turner, read poetry as organized by Kimberly Williams, GHS Spanish teacher.

An overview of Hmong history was presented by Emily Vue, and Angela and Alicia Lee performed two selections of elegant Hmong dancing.

The combined choirs, directed by Shelly O’Dell,sang a selection of Latin American and African songs.

After the program, all attending retired to the commons to feast on a vast array of ethnic dishes representing many cultures, as well as American selections. During the feasting, placards on tables challenged those attending to engage their table companions in conversation to learn their customs and cultures.

During the meal, Kim Schneider, Gravette Public Library director, presented information about the history of the library and the resources the library provides to the community and area. Information about the community, schools and PTO was made available and door prizes donated by local businesses were awarded.

Walker expressed thanks to all who assisted her in planning and presentingthe evening’s event, including those mentioned above and Leta Witt, ESL aide, the Gravette Student Council and Melinda Griffi n, the GHS Spanish Club, Ian Galloway, Patti Bertschy, Zina Weihe and the many others who assisted with the preparations, setup and cleanup as she added her appreciation to them.

The aim of the two-hour long activity was to help members of the community, particularly parents and families of students in ESL classes, to build relationships that will foster growth and understanding among the various ethnic cultures that are increasingly common in America today. Also provided was information about the ESL program offered by the school.

The accompanying photos show just a few of the highlights of the program, as well as the dinner and personal interaction that followed.

Opinion, Pages 7 on 10/23/2013