Billy Bulger and a Peruvian Dance Group Highlight CM's International Week

Editor's note: The following is a press release.

Former Massachusetts Senate president Billy Bulger, a Peruvian dance performance and an impressive student showcase were just some of the highlights of Catholic Memorial School’s International Week, which ran from March 26-30.

As an academic endeavor, the week involved every first-year language student at the school creating a project to demonstrate his love of international cultures or his own ethnic background.

But every CM student found himself immersed in international culture all week. The department organized various cultures' foods in the cafe, prayers in different languages, videos of unique cultural sports during lunch periods and special guests visiting each day.

On Wednesday, the entire school gathered in the Perry Gym for Inca Son, a native Peruvian music and dance performance. Members of the group performed the native Andean "scissor dance" while playing various Peruvian instruments in a live concert.

On Thursday, Irish Studies students welcomed former Massachusetts Senate president Billy Bulger and his wife Mary. Bulger discussed the legacy of Irish American politicians (including himself) in the city while answering students questions about famed Boston mayor James Michael Curley and his own tenure in the Senate.

And at Thursday night's celebration, students were the center of it all, showcasing their Roman aqueducts, traditional Jamaican food and photo slideshows of their travels. Hundreds of parents and friends turned out for the event.

"The audience [on Thursday] could not have been happier," said World Language chair Peg Sittig. "We had grandparents and parents who were thrilled with what the kids had done."