On Wednesday, October 23, Mount Pleasant hosted their second annual Culture Night – a school event in which students, staff, and admin come together to celebrate their shared and individual cultures. Culture is so much more than where a person was born; it encompasses a whole range of shared ideas, experiences, and traditions. Of course, this can include the cultures of certain races and nationalities, but it also can involve subcultures and interests (for example: Mr. Norton’s Sneaker Culture table!) Because culture is such a core aspect of one’s identity, it is incredibly important that individuals are given a space to freely express their culture and learn about the ideals and practices of others.
This year’s Culture Night featured a wide variety of student- and faculty-led activities. Booths in the cafeteria, student center, and gymnasium celebrated everything from Algiers to Space Culture & Gen-Z Culture. A wide range of ancestry, religion, and experiences were on display, with students and staff having the chance to design performances and run tables to represent what makes them unique. Homemade food and drinks were shared, including an appearance from student Nadia’s family’s local food truck.
The GSA and Blue/Gold clubs ran their own tables, celebrating queer and disabled pride respectively. As visitors explored, they were able to listen in to presentations and ask questions.
Families of students and faculties gathered in the student center to see performances of music and dances from a wide range of cultures. This included an Irish tap dance routine, as well as steel drums performances from Mount students, and even a performance from Social Studies teacher Mr. Bean and his band. The audience was called to join in to sing and dance to a traditional Harmonium song.
Later, an entire cultural fashion show was held, in which students flaunted outfits and styles from their cultures and proudly displayed flags of their native countries.
Mount Pleasant’s second annual Culture Night was a complete success and we hope to see more families come out next year to show support and learn about our diverse school.
