The fifth Brackett Culture and Creativity Night was held on November 17 in the school gymnasium. As always, it was a chance for those in the school community to share a culture that is important to their families, whether that be their family’s country of origin, beloved food and crafts, what it’s like in another state in the US where their relatives live. or talking about different kinds of family structures.
At the display tables, attendees were able to explore the history and culture of a variety of countries including El Salvador, Turkey, Greece, Mexico, Singapore, and Poland. Not to be confined to only ONE country, one family also had a table focused on the countries that were formerly part of the Eastern Bloc. History and crafts from Slovakia were a hit, as well as the always-popular crafts from India that included the help of a Brackett graduate, onhand to paint mehndi patterns with henna. This year saw the return of the Braille table, at which one of our students (and his older sister, now in middle school) taught people about the Braille alphabet. Another family had a booth on LGBTQIA history, at which kids could make a self-portrait doll or cutout, dressed in the way that expressed themselves best.
Two Brackett committees also participated in the festivities. The Library Committee pulled together an impressive collection of books from the school library that tell stories from many different cultures. The STEM committee brought a world map with photos of famous landmarks, and kids could build their own models of the structures out of Lego, or, on a larger scale, out of red plastic cups.
Food is always a highlight of the Culture and Creativity Night and this year was no exception. Attendees were able to sample the cuisine of El Salvador, India, Germany, Greece, Brazil, Turkey, Mexico, and the official cookie of Massachusetts, chocolate chip. The food of Louisiana was on hand as well, with the return of the popular New Orleans table that offers hot sauce tasting. Vote for the hottest one!
Coming together to learn more about each other and celebrate similarities and differences is one of the many ways APS elementary schools build community. The enthusiasm of the volunteers who organize the evenings, and that of all those who participate by sharing their culture or attending, makes the events very special and something that the families look forward to year after year.
