International Culture Week

My girls are so very privileged to live the life they do; for reasons too numerous to count.  But one of the biggest blessings is the school the girls attend and the education they are receiving.   And sometimes we lose sight of that in the day-to-day routine.  But this past week reminded me again of how much I love the kids school and how much their lives have been enriched by just being there each day.

Each year, just before the big holiday break, the whole school (pk-3 to the high school seniors) celebrates international culture week.  Now, being that we attend an international school, we pretty much celebrates our diversity and cultures each and every day, just by showing up and attending classes side by side.  But during Culture week, it is taken to a whole new level.  The children are asked to think about their customs and write about them, the parents are asked to spend time in the classrooms teaching the students about their family traditions, and the teachers themselves take the time to plan activities and learning around their own cultures.  The children are blessed to be shown that our differences can bring us together, and by adding diversity and cultural understanding to our lives, we become more than just individual pieces in a puzzle.  That by sharing our individual experiences with others it links us together into one giant puzzle of mutual understanding.  An amazing lesson to learn at their ages.

Fittingly, they actually made a puzzle piece to add to the cultural wall.

I signed up to spend time in both girls classes to talk about our American traditions of Elf on a Shelf, baking Christmas cookies and even making treasured ornaments for the tree.  Most of the pictures I got were in Stinkerbell's class, as I had another parent and an extra aide helping, so there was a free moment or two to snap away.

First up, a reading of The Elf on the Shelf.  And an explanation of what that was and how it works.  And lo, and behold, Fidget even showed up in the classroom to demonstrate her magic.

The H and I took some time to show the kids how to roll out and twist Candy Cane Cookies, and how to sew a felt ornament for the tree.  And then we let them loose.  And the chaos that is 13 first graders ensued.  And so did the laughter and the fun, and the dancing because of course there were carols playing. 

Stinkerbell's finished product.

MadHatter's finished product - and the only picture I got of her class!

Each and every day I looked forward to what the girls would bring home from school.  And I loved hearing the stories that went behind each of their creations and what they had learned from the parents and teachers that day.  Below is a sampling of what we got...

Hanukkah gelt and dreidl - both girls learned to play.

A traditional bowl from India and a Czech apple decorated for the Christmas dinner.

A Menorah made by MadHatter, and one colored by Stinkerbell.

A Snowmouse bell (not sure of origin) and MadHatter learned to spell her name in Arabic.

Czech orange and ornament.

They didn't just craft all week, though it seemed like it...Even Stinkerbell, who could cut, color and paste all day long, was a bit over it and asked her teacher when they could have math and centers again!  They did get a break on Wednesday when Mikulas and the deveil showed up to through m a party in the big gym...Just like last year there were stations for them to play at, and they needed to get a stamp from each station and then turn the stamped card in for a treat.  Fun was definitely had by all.

The devil left his mark on them both.  Don't worry, it is said to bring good luck in the new year.

All done - they got a chocolate and an orange.

By the time Thursday rolled around, we were all a bit exhausted.  But we still had the girls Christmas paries!  I am Stinkerbell's room mom (along with the talented H) so I got to be there for her party - which means I have pictures.  MadHatter, unfortunately, didn't have a party - just a pot luck - so there are no pictures from her class, again...I think I may have to rethink my strategy of not being room mom for both classes next year.

I brought the veggies (thank you Pinterest)

We made Gingerbread houses...

And Snowmen and pasta snowflakes.

And because that wasn't enough - we made trees out of ice cream cones...

And then had a feast, with food representing 7 countries.

Finally, we were at Friday.  This was the day the whole school dressed in their national costumes (or colors), got together for a sing along, and then did a parade of nations before heading home at noon for the break.

Because the U.S. has no national costume, we have to settle for dressing in red, white and blue.  Still adorably cute (and thanks to E for making MadHatter her patriotic skirt)

Stinkerbell's class got to dance and sing a song about Hanukkah in front of the whole school!

I tried to take pictures at the parade, but they wouldn't slow down...

 We capped the entire week off by going down the street to our local pizza place with friends to usher in a well deserved vacation.  What a week!