A second Multicultural Night has been set for February 21, 2019, 6 to 7 pm, at the Petrova Elementary School in Saranac Lake. Countries that will be represented include China, Japan, Bosnia, Wales, Gambia, Italy, Australia, Philippines, Ethiopia and more.

Last fall, two colleagues at Petrova, Temnit Muldowney and Jesse Jakobe, met to talk about ways of celebrating the diversity within their elementary school. From this dialogue was born the first Multicultural Night, which featured over forty families who participated and more than 200 attendees. Families brought posters, artifacts, food and clothes. Students prepared three panel posters featuring information and photographs about their countries.

The second Multicultural Night has had an even larger reception from the school community. Sixty families have signed up to present and 330 people have RSVP’d to attend.  This year live music, an international themed photo booth are planned. For children there will be free books celebrating diversity, including cultural, religious and gender diversity.

Paul Smith’s College and the Cooking Club of Petrova are providing international cuisine, including Bangers and Mash (Ireland) and Benachin (a one pot rice pilaf dish from Gambia). As students visit each country, they can collect stickers for their ‘passports.’

Photo provided.