April 24, 2008

SCHOOL SCENEin Almaden Valley

Cultures take center stage at Graystone’s multicultural Heritage Day

By Jeanne C. Carbone
Staff Writer

Cultures from around the world were celebrated at Graystone Elementary School’s Heritage Day April 18.

Megan Cheung, Regina Meng, Charlene Te, Sarah Shih, and Katie Chiu are excited to perform a Taiwanese folk dance at Graystone Elementary Heritage Day. Megan, Sarah, and Katie are from Graystone and Regina and Charlene attend Williams.

“Heritage Day is one of my favorite Graystone events,” said Principal Dave Beymer. “This is the fourth year of the event and each year it grows in popularity and support. Graystone is a very diverse school and it is always great to see how well we come together to celebrate the different heritages at our school.”

Heritage Day’s 2008 theme was “Rhythms Around the World” celebrating famous places and landmarks. And with China, Greece, India, Iran, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Scotland, Taiwan, Turkey and Vietnam represented, the event was a true American melting pot.

“The event is sponsored by the Graystone Home and School Club and run by parent and grandparent volunteers,” said Carol Chiu, Heritage Day co-chair, whose hard work along with chairs Ayana Simmons and Negin Hojabri make the event one of the must-attend celebrations of all cultures at the school. “Heritage Day has many working parents who coordinate their booths and spend many late nights getting ready.”

Lisa Macaluso Kearton and her daughter, Michaela represent Italy at Graystone’s Heritage Day celebration. Photos courtesy of Graystone parents

Those late nights paid off as Heritage Day came off without a hitch with a cultural parade, passports for the kids to visit every country, cultural booths in the new Super Dome, food from the countries represented, a slideshow of famous places and 14 ethnic programs with song and dance. So popular was the annual event, the 450 passports printed were all used by eager travelers.

Chiu was pleased that Heritage Day had sunny weather. The first two years of the event the volunteers wrung out wet flags of the countries at their booths as they were barraged with rain. Last year, a downpour in the morning had them scrambling at the last minute. This year, the costumed kids in traditional dress paraded on the blacktop.

Graystone second grader Katie Chiu danced a Taiwanese Folk Dance using Chinese handkerchiefs with five other classmates while Joseph Chiu, a kindergartner helped serve water. Simmons is of Panamanian heritage and her three children, Zahir, Makeda and Khalil proudly marched in the parade. And Hooman, Hojabri’s son participated in the show and parade as well.

World maps at each booth displayed the location of each country. The Diakos and Kammerer families showcased Greece complete with the Parthenon. All the different ethnicities worked well together.

“When Mr. Beymer came here four years ago, he started our tradition of Heritage Day at Graystone and we are very grateful that he did,” said Chiu. “Graystone is such a rich, diverse community and we hope to continue this great tradition for many years to come.”

Seeking School News

Do you have a school event to promote? Know of a student who has done something amazing or a teacher who has gone above and beyond what is expected of them? We’d like to hear about it. Drop us a line at newsroom@timesmediainc.com or send us a fax at (408) 494-7078.