Culture Fest inspires diversity among students
Bright, colorful flags filled the cafeteria, representing the diverse identities on campus. CVHS students gathered together to celebrate Culture Fest on Friday, Feb. 27. Each of the cafeteria tables had an activity meant to foster a sense of community. At one table, people were asked to write down a family recipe they wished to share, and other tables offered similarly interesting activities. Alongside that, tables filled the cafeteria as different clubs assembled with games, food, and more.
As the night kicked off at 6 p.m., students chattered as they walked from table to table, meeting with different clubs and learning about new cultures. The French Culture Club taught students about Mardi Gras, a lively festival filled with rich history, and gave out macarons, while students got the chance to make their own masks. Students gathered around the Filipino Club, eager to grab some lumpia and halo-halo.
At the ASL Club, students spun a wheel, answering trivia questions about Deaf history for candy. The smell of food wafted through the air as BSU gave out mac and cheese along with rice and beans, and the East African Student Association gave sambusa, triangular deep-fried pastries.
“I loved helping kids learn about Mardi Gras and helping them make masks for Mardi Gras,” shared senior Sifan Badaso, secretary of the East African Student Association.
Half an hour later, the excitement reached its peak as several students went up to perform. Senior Eden Teclemariam was the announcer for the night, and performances were kicked off by the national anthem from CVHS choir students. After that, the exciting performances only continued.
The German Club performed a beautiful waltz, with four students dancing elegantly on stage. Two of the performers included Harper Kieley and Paul Grazzini. Next, the room filled with electric energy as the K-Pop Club danced to “Touch” by KATSEYE. All dressed in pastel, their movements were sharp as they danced to the trending song. Their performance left the audience astounded as they brought the energy in the room to a high applause that rang out throughout the cafeteria.
“I could tell everyone put a lot of effort into their performances and they did absolutely amazing. There was so much to do and I got to try so many amazing new foods,” commented senior Memphis Duncan, who attended the event for the first time.
A symphony filled the cafeteria as the only middle school performer for the night, Xavier James, played a beautiful violin solo. Next, Latinos Unidos performed two very colorful dances. Their bright dresses swayed as they danced to “El Toro Mambo” and “El Son de la Negra.” This same showcase of talent continued throughout the night as performers displayed different identities, highlighting the diversity that makes CVHS so special.