Celebrating the Mosaic of Cultures at IDS-CC

The International Day Celebration Kickoff highlighted the many cultures represented at Independent Day School-Corbett Campus.

Nov. 11, 2011 (TAMPA, Fla.) –The pounding thunder of African drums – djembe, axatse, donno and gangokui – performed by 12 fifth graders echoed throughout Corbett Hall. The rhythmic pattern generated spontaneous dance steps and clapping as Independent Day School-Corbett Campus students filed in and filled the bleachers.

A final, reverberating "whack," followed by spirited applause, signaled the start of the school's International Day Kickoff Celebration – an annual event highlighting the many cultures that comprise the IDS-CC community and launching a schoolwide focus on cultural understanding throughout the year.

"Did you know that within our school of just 500 students, there are at least 38 different nations of origin represented, and that collectively, we can fluently speak at least 14 different languages," Valan Zuccolillo, one of the event's eighth-grade student narrators, told the audience.

An African drum ensemble comprised of fifth graders performed as IDS-CC students entered Corbett Hall for the International Day Celebration Kickoff.

"Today we would like to create a shared understanding of what culture really is and celebrate our own cultural diversity here at IDS-CC," continued classmate Megan McBride.

The presentations that followed created an international kaleidoscope of music, dance, poetry, dress, games, and ideas and involved every grade level and division. For example, the entire Primary Division, all PreK3 through second-grade students, recited the poem, La ronda de la paz de los niños del mundo in Spanish.

Intermediate Division students including third, fourth and fifth graders provided a high-energy display of a variety of Latin dances. Another group of third graders demonstrated a musical cultural game from Ghana called Oboe Asi Me Nsa.

All Primary Division students recited a poem together in Spanish during the celebration.

From the Middle School Division, sixth graders reported on influential international scientists who are the pillars of the world's science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) community. Several eighth graders presented an international fashion show. Some shared the dress of their family's native country, such India and Pakistan, and others displayed traditional dress worn in China and Burundi. And seventh graders shared personal reflections on the meaning of world peace.

An International Baccalaureate World School, IDS-CC is committed to developing students who are internationally minded and have an appreciation for global perspectives. From PreK3 through eighth grade, those global perspectives are woven into academic lessons, the visual and performing arts, electives, clubs, and community service. Through classroom technology, including ooVoo, Moodle, Skype, and Google Docs, IDSers collaborate with students in China, Sweden, and most recently, Italy. Students have the opportunity to study with peers in Spain and live with host families, as well as to participate in study trips with IDS-CC teachers in places such as China, Sweden, and Peru.

"As a school, we create continual opportunities for students to grow in international-mindedness," said middle school English teacher Jenn Jagdmann, who helped organize the International Day Kickoff Celebration. "In addition, we have a widely diverse school community with students, families, and teachers who are excited about sharing their different backgrounds. It's an environment that helps students grow in their appreciation for other cultures and as global citizens."