Pleasanton Educational Options Students Host First Multicultural Day

PLEASANTON, CA — Students from Pleasanton Virtual Academy, Village High School, Adult Transition, and other Educational Options programs celebrated their first Multicultural Day last Friday.

Students created displays representing the food, music, and cultures of countries around the world, including Brazil, Canada, Egypt, Fiji, India, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, and the United States.

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“Students come from many different backgrounds, experiences, and programs, but they do not always have opportunities to connect in meaningful ways,” said Educational Options PTSA President Diana Rohini LaVigne. “Multicultural Day gave students a chance to share pieces of themselves through food, music, traditions, stories, and activities, while also experiencing cultures they may not have known much about before. Seeing the excitement and curiosity on students’ faces made all the work behind the event completely worth it.”

Students engaged with different cultures in multiple ways at the inaugural event. They enjoyed everything from sushi bites to gochujang meatball appetizers to stuffed pineapple cake prepared by students of the Village High School culinary program; they guessed the origins of world flags, examined authentic international currencies like a 5-billion banknote from Zimbabwe, and enjoyed a six-hour global music playlist created by students. All the while, they collected virtual passport stamps.

The program was led by English teacher Kurt Richey, Educational Options Principal Heather Pereira, Pleasanton Virtual Academy rising junior Anoushka Gupta, and the Educational Options PTSA. The event received a Certificate of Recognition from Assemblymember Liz Ortega’s office, which was presented at the event.

“I think programs like this matter because students learn about other cultures and classmates in a way that feels real and personal,” Pleasanton Virtual Academy student and event organizer Anoushka Gupta said. “There’s something different about being able to see, touch, taste, hear, and experience different cultures all in one place instead of just reading a book or watching a video about them. It creates memories, gives people something shared to talk about, and helps students connect while trying something new together.”

For more information on Pleasanton’s Educational Options program, visit EducationalOptionsPTSA.org.