The cafeteria at I.S. 68 Isaac Bildersee, located at 956 East 82nd Street, was all abuzz on the evening of Friday, April 17th, with families, students and teachers who got together and welcomed spring with a Multicultural Celebration and Community School Forum that showcased their diversity and talent through various dances, music, foods and fashion.
Community School Director Charmaine Dixon welcomed everyone to the second annual event as they entered and suggested they grab a flag that represented their culture — meaning wave it! The room was decorated by KGT Designs in red, yellow, green, blue and other vibrant hues that really brightened up the space and reflected the national colors of many in the I.S. 68 family, as well as the wider community. Throughout the cafeteria, there were cards which depicted a country’s national flag on one side and revealed a fun fact about the country on the other side. Families were invited to take a virtual tour around the world using the information on the cards to discover more about different cultures.
Some learned that Cuba is famous for producing cigars and being home to the world’s smallest bird; the Dominican Republic is one of two countries (the other being Haiti) that comprise the island of Hispaniola; the steelpan was invented in Trinidad and Tobago, is made from repurposed oil drums and is a central feature of carnival celebrations; and Guyana is the only South American nation with English as its official language and is home to Kaieteur Falls, the world’s largest single-drop waterfall by volume.
Throughout the evening, guests enjoyed refreshing coolers and nibbled on assorted hors d’oeuvres while being entertained, alternately, with steelpan playing, drumming and music by DJ YUNG BLU. Eighth-grader Briana Chapman brought the house down with a melodious rendition of “I’ll Rise Up.” The celebration also featured a lively cultural fashion show. I.S. 68 student “models” and even some teachers had fun as they strutted down the “runway,” sporting bespoke African and Caribbean clothing and accessories, provided by A.J.Y.1 variety store.
Amid the festivities, parents and guardians took time to participate in a survey, by scanning a QR code, which allowed them to give feedback about matters concerning their children’s journey at the school.
The celebration culminated with a lavish spread of delicious foods, including a wide array of mouthwatering desserts.
