Celebrating the World Week

Celebrating and Honoring the Diversity of our Community!

by the Director of Equity and Social Action Jenny Abbey and the EC Communications Staff

In November, Eastside Catholic engaged in our annual Celebrating the World Week to honor the diversity of our community. With this year’s theme of “Grounded,” we asked all community members to reflect on what keeps them spiritually, mentally and physically grounded.

Throughout the week, a wide range of daily activities unfolded. Prayers from around the world, school announcements in multiple languages, themed No Junk menus and affinity groups showcased at lunch all contributed to our vibrant school atmosphere.

What a wonderful way to feel belonging than to share your culture with others and see it not only celebrated but reflected back to you!

Each lunch period featured engaging activities for everyone. On Monday, students wrote “what keeps them grounded” on a leaf cutout, which was then added to a large paper-mâché tree in the hallway. On Tuesday, students placed stickers on a world map representing their cultural heritage. Additional daily activities included listening to music from around the world and designing thank you cards.

One of the week's highlights was the Interfaith Service with the theme “Sacred Ground.” The service began with a captivating Pacific Islander affinity group musical performance, led by EC alumni and Director of Student Life, Elisha Pa’aga ‘15. The Thespian Club presented “The Cracked Pot,” an Indian folklore story illustrating the beauty of different perspectives. The service featured prayers of petition delivered by students and faculty from diverse cultural backgrounds, read in different languages and signed by our ASL students. The EC Choir ended the service with a Hebrew song, culminating in a true celebration of diversity at our Interfaith Service.

Celebrating the diversity of the world and our school community holds significant importance for everyone, especially our students, fostering a sense of belonging.

A new addition this year was the Faculty and Staff Cultural Potluck, attended by over sixty faculty, staff and their families. This event served as a wonderful opportunity to build community and share the diversity of our faculty and staff through something that everyone can relate to food! From Tom Kittridge’s 12-hour slow-cooked pulled pork, Aberra Tesfay’s extensive Ethiopian spread, Lisa Snow’s shortbread to Amilia Lou’s chicken curry, the potluck showcased a rich tapestry of flavors allowing everyone to eat well and even take leftovers home to enjoy later. I'm looking forward to next year's Cultural Potluck!

Celebrating the world's diversity and our school community is important for everyone, especially our students. It fosters a sense of belonging as students encounter reflections of their identities in daily prayers, No Junk menus, sacred books at the Interfaith Service, the musical selections we sing and listen to and the multilingual announcements. Aligning with this year’s theme in Equity and Social Action of “belonging,” Celebrating the World Week provides a platform for students to share their cultures, reinforcing the idea that Eastside Catholic is a grounding place for all. What a wonderful way to feel belonging than to share your culture with others and see it celebrated and reflected back to you!

For more information about our rich and diverse community, check out our Equity and Social Action page on our website. You can view additional photos from the Celebrating the World week on our Facebook page.