The first Exploring Your Culture Day at Churchville-Chili’s Middle School, held on January 31, encouraged students in grades 5-8 to reach out to family members, learn about their unique backgrounds, traditions and family heritage, and proudly share their stories with others.
In just one sixth grade classroom, students discovered family roots from places as far-ranging as Macedonia, Turkey, Poland, Ireland, Italy, Korea, England, France and Jamaica. One student shared her family’s antique Native American horn rattle and hand-beaded baby moccasins. Another student displayed a vintage book printed in German featuring photos from Passau, the town her ancestors came from. Others enthusiastically explained customs, foods, arts or beliefs that have shaped their families over the generations.
The experience was designed by the Middle School’s faculty Equity Team to support the goal of creating a welcoming and affirming environment for all students. The Equity Team includes over twenty faculty members working to promote diversity, equity and inclusion throughout the year.
Participating students had two weeks to collect information and visuals that represented their family history, heritage, values, language or religion. Each created a special project highlighting family culture – a poster, digital slide or collection of artifacts – and then presented their family story to classmates. Students broke into small groups to discuss why understanding their culture and that of their classmates is important in fostering positive relationships. Ideas for continued recognition of other cultures were also shared.
“Just as every student belongs to their individual family, they also belong to our school family,” said Middle School Administrator Megan Wideman. “We want to create an environment where students feel safe, respected and more connected to one another and to the adults in school. The goal is to better understand each other and celebrate our differences every day of the year, not just on Culture Day.”
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