Croce Elementary Inspires New Generation of Global Citizens

From LVJUSD: Croce Elementary School took a tour of the world during its Annual Diversity Celebration Week from January 29th to February 1st. The week was a celebration of cultures coming together, visible throughout the entire school. “Our students will grow up in a global society,” said Principal Kendra Helsley. “Learning to appreciate and understand others whose experiences are different from ours is an invaluable life skill.”

Kicking off the week was the family Art and Dessert Night. Choir students sang folk songs from around the world, while families enjoyed treats representative of different cultures. Students displayed posters created to show art across the continents, including Chinese Dragons, mosaics, dot art, dream catchers, yarn weavings, Turkish tiles, and much more.

Volunteers from different parts of the world provided students with hands-on and engaging presentations, displaying flags from their home countries and giving students a chance to participate in some activities related to the country. Each grade had a special presentation from representatives of different countries - Afghanistan, India, Kenya, Mexico, and the Netherlands. Mary Walker has participated in Croce’s Diversity Celebration Week for the last three years. In presenting her home country of Kenya to the students, she taught them to greet one another in Swahili, shared her personal experience with her home and family, and gave an overview of Kenyan culture from different perspectives.

The presentations gave students a valuable glimpse into the world around them, beyond their school and neighborhoods. To cap off the week, students and their families put on a fashion show, displaying traditional garb from around the world, giving students a chance to show off another facet of their identities that their peers might not have been able to appreciate otherwise. “Through our celebrations and presentations, we find out how very much alike we all are,” said Helsley. “It promotes our value of inclusiveness.”

The Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District (LVJUSD) prepares students with the skills to contribute and thrive in a global society. “Croce’s Diversity Celebration Week helps our students to become global citizens,” said Kelly Bowers, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools. “Introducing students at a young age to the diversity of the world develops their respect and appreciation of all people,” she added.

Flags of different nations always hang from the ceiling of Croce’s multipurpose room (MPR), where much of the celebrations throughout the week took place. “A parent shared with me that every time she walks into our MPR, she looks up and sees her home country’s flag,” said Helsley. “It fills her heart with joy and makes her feel welcome and a part of our school community.” Those flags now hold more meaning for the students at Croce, perhaps from an invigorated pride in their personal heritage, a deeper appreciation of their friends, or a better understanding of their diverse world.

Images Via LVJUSD