Swormville explores the world through ‘Flavors of Fellowship’

SWORMVILLE — The halls of St. Mary School were filled with parents, students, wonderful smells, delicious foods, as well as art and music from around the world on Wednesday, Feb. 12. The school’s first ever “Flavors of Fellowship” International Night was a scrumptious success. 

Teachers and students from all grade levels, Montessori pre-K through grade eight, worked for weeks on the event. Each grade chose a country, researched the food, history, dress, artwork and culture, then prepared posters, decorations, costumes, and of course, food from that country.

Second grade prepared kneopfle, cheese fondue and chocolate from Switzerland, while fourth grade offered a taste of Myanmar through chicken curry, rice, tofu with garlic ginger, and crickets. Polish pierogi, Ecuadorian empanadas, and Chinese dumplings were also on the menu.

Families who attended the event purchased “passports” beforehand and were able to have two tastings from each country as they made their way through the classrooms. Alumni volunteers helped serve the food and punch the passport cards, along with our teachers and parent volunteers. Everyone enjoyed themselves and left with not only a full tummy, but a deeper connection and understanding of the cultures and ethnicities within the SMS community.

While sampling delicious food may have been the main draw of the evening, teaching students to embrace diversity is important. It gives them the social skills necessary to thrive in a community environment. Learning about other people’s differences helps children build tolerance, respect and empathy.  

Food just happens to be one of the most fun and tasty ways to learn about a new culture, but sharing multicultural stories and folktales through diverse art and literature also helps children understand others better. Many folktales have important teachings about values, and art from around the world lets students embark on imaginary journeys that teach valuable lessons about diversity and understanding.

Children are growing up in a diverse world and it is the responsibility of schools to show them how fun and exciting learning about different cultures can be. SMS faculty hope that the fun had at “Flavors of Fellowship” will foster curiosity and appreciation amongst students for the rich tapestry of our global community.