Kindergartners Go Globetrotting

Kindergartners at took a field trip around the world in one evening during a special reading event at the school on Feb. 10. The students spent the prior seven weeks learning about different countries, their languages, cultures and traditions.

During the "Reading Around the World" event, the children filled up their pretend passports by visiting classrooms representing different countries including Mexico, China, Poland, South Korea, India, Russia and France. Kindergarten parents originally from those countries read a variety of children’s books in their native languages, while teachers provided the English translation.

Willow Grove parent May Lozins, who is from Taiwan, volunteered to read a book in Chinese.

“I think it’s wonderful,” Lozins said of the event. “Kids can know each country is different and know the different costumes, know what is their habit. Even my daughter can point out each country on the globe. I think it’s fantastic they're doing this.”

Willow Grove Reading specialist Svetlana Sutic was dressed in her traditional Serbian attire of a gold trimmed vest, a red peony embroidered shirt and hoop hearings for the evening. She to highlight ’s diverse population.

“I think the whole goal of the evening is for the children [to get] exposure so they realize there’s diversity and for them to feel welcomed and proud of their heritage,” said Sutic. “Also, that literacy does connect the world and literacy is something that connects us all.”

“I think it's a great thing and very interesting to see all the different languages and expose the kids to this,” said Ryan Blechman, father of a kindergartner.

More than 200 parents and students attended the event.

“I’m overwhelmed with the turnout. We’re all so happy that so many people came out,” Sutic said. “I think this is a wonderful indication of how welcoming the community is, to have this sort of activity be part of the district.”

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