The Fox C-6 School District will hold an event this month to celebrate the different countries and cultures the students and staff who make up the district represent.
The district’s second annual Festival of Nations, organized by members of the educational equity committee, will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. today, April 17, at the Fox C-6 Service Center, 849 Jeffco Blvd., in Arnold. The event is open to the public, and admission is free.
About 500 people attended the event when it was held for the first time last year, organizers said.
“I hope this continues to be an event every year that everyone looks forward to,” said Simpson Elementary School assistant principal Cheryl Hayes, who leads the committee, along with Guffey Elementary School assistant principal Lisa Hazard. “As Fox C-6 grows, we hope we can continue to learn about each other and work together.”
Informational booths will be set up inside the Service Center, and they will highlight the culture of a variety of countries, such as Germany, Iraq, Bosnia, South Korea, Honduras, Vietnam, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Liberia, Turkey, Czech Republic, Mexico, Guatemala, Kosovo, India, Congo, Philippines, Afghanistan, Armenia, Russia, Nepal, China and Dominican Republic.
At least 27 languages are spoken by Fox C-6 students and families, Hayes said.
Kim Loomis, director of federal programs and human resources, told the Board of Education on Feb. 4 that the district has approximately 326 students who are learning English as a second language.
Some staff members, students and students’ family members will staff the booths at the Festival of Nations and will provide information and answer questions about their native countries.
Those who attend will receive a “passport,” and they will collect stickers from each booth, Hayes said.
“It is just exciting for us to see the nationalities and ethnicities that are in our community,” Hayes said. “The families who come are excited to present their culture and for people to ask them questions. They are excited to show their clothing and hand out food samples. It is a great time for everybody.”
She said several groups will perform at the event, including members of the elementary district choir, a Guffey Elementary dance group, a Bosnian Cultural Group, a Hispanic dance group, a Panama Pacifico dance group, Tactical Judo Solutions and a violinist from Inner Ear Youth Orchestra of St. Louis.
Food trucks selling various ethnic foods will be at the event, as will representatives from the Arnold Police Department, Rock Community Fire Protection District and Rock Township Ambulance District.
Representatives from the Jefferson County Library Arnold Branch also are expected to be at the event to help people sign up for library cards.
“For students and families who don’t have a library card, they can get a library card as summer approaches,” Hayes said.
She said the evening is a chance for Fox district residents to learn a little more about each other and continue to grow together.
“We hope this builds more of a sense of community,” she said. “It can be exciting and fun to learn about others. It gives families of different ethnicities a sense of belonging to our school district and community. It just builds the connections that we desire in our school district.”
Hayes said the festival is funded by the district and a $600 grant from the C-6 Educational Foundation.
“We are thankful of the support of our superintendent (Paul Fregeau), school board and cabinet for this event,” she said.
For information, email foxfestivalofnations@foxc6.org.