Warrenville students ‘rub shoulders with other cultures’

Fifth-grade students at Johnson Elementary School in Warrenville recently took a trip to Botswana, where mosquito nets hampered their entrance into their rooms.

Meanwhile, fourth-graders danced the morning away in Brazil and third-graders went to Greece to participate in some Olympic-style games.

And the “travel” did not cost Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200 a penny.

For the sixth straight year, the school celebrated Multi-Cultural Day, a day administrators say gives students a brief glimpse into cultures outside their own.

“It’s an opportunity for children to learn about other civilizations and cultures that exist in America,” said second-year Principal Derick Edwards. “They learn tolerance and learn they are not only individuals, but they can step out of their own comfort zones.”

Edwards said the sentiment is particularly important at Johnson, one of the most racially mixed schools in the district.

Every year, thanks to donations from the school’s Parent Teacher Association, students spend a morning involved in activities with specific international themes.

The themes usually fall in line with a curriculum taught by teachers. Each year, each grade level focuses on the same region.

The result is that by the time they move on to Hubble Middle School, each student has “traveled” to six world regions: Mexico, Europe, Asia, the Mediterranean, Latin America and Africa.

The idea sprung from a similar celebration hosted at Madison Elementary School for the past nine years. When Gail Lobue and colleagues thought up the idea, they thought it would be perfect to help the children get to know each other.

“We thought, ‘What a great way to have our children rub shoulders with other cultures at the school,’” she said.

Melanie Smith has taught at the school for 21 years and said the programs get evaluated every year.

Because of that evaluation, the program has evolved and this year included several dancing and music demonstrations, as well as food from across the globe.

“Every year it gets better because we find out what works and what doesn’t work,” she said.

For social worker Julia Maher, the day is a chance to see her students in a less-sterilized and more enjoyable setting. She said even letting students learn by doing for one day helps set them up for future lessons.

“Because it’s multidimensional, with food, bands and music, it’s a mind-broadening experience,” she said. “They won’t learn everything in one day but they will have an idea there are people in the world that think differently, or in a different way.”

As he walked the halls, trying to peek into as many classrooms as he could, Warrenville Mayor David Brummell said he was impressed by the event.

“To see them embrace it, it’s fun and educational,” he said. “It’s all good stuff. Every room, the kids are into it. It’s just a really special day.”