John O. Arnn Elementary School at Sagamihara Family Housing Area outside Tokyo is a school of diverse cultures and backgrounds.
To celebrate that diversity, the school is holding a weeklong cultural diversity event filled with food, fun and, organizers hope, better cultural understanding.
“We have so many cultures in our school, and we try to showcase as many of [them] as possible, so kids can understand that cultures are important to them,” said literary support specialist Gwendolyn Burnett, who chairs the event with fourth-grade teacher Jerryce Law. “The theme is ‘One School: Many Cultures.’”
As part of the event, the school will hold a parade Monday in which students are asked to dress in a style representing their culture or one they enjoy, Burnett said. The students will parade around part of Sagamihara, a housing area attached to nearby Camp Zama.
During the week, community members and Japanese nationals will visit the school to demonstrate cultural activities such as pounding mochi, the traditional Japanese pounded-rice delicacy.
Other events include dance performances and displays. On Thursday, each grade will present projects from their social studies classes at a big carnival with food and games.
The school holds cultural events each year to raise awareness. Burnett said the school’s multicultural diversity, along with living overseas, offers students a great chance to learn about their world.
“They learn a lot about different cultures, and they get to have fun,” Burnett said.
Multicultural Week
Monday: Multicultural Parade starting at 8:45 a.m.
Tuesday: Performance assembly 1:30-2:30 p.m., including: Arnn Band and Chorus; Phil Am Dancers; Sagami Dai performers; Hispanic dancers; Arnn Step team/Dancers
Wednesday: Mochi pounding, 9:45 a.m. to noon and 1-2:40 p.m., under the pavilion on the playground
Thursday: Carnival, 10-11 a.m. and 12:30-1 p.m.; fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade classes will set up booths with interactive activities about cultures they are studying.
Friday: Open room visitation; during the morning, fourth to sixth grades will visit younger pupils’ classrooms.
— Stars and Stripes
