Students at Denair Elementary Charter Academy will mark International Day of the Child on Wednesday with an afternoon of fun events to celebrate cultures from around the world.
The event will take place on campus from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Parents, family, friends and community members are invited. There will be games, booths, food and music for all to enjoy.
International Day of the Child was inspired by Children’s Day, which has been celebrated annually in Mexico since 1925 to recognize children as an important part of society and to emphasize loving, accepting and appreciating them. DECA began participating in International Day of the Child about five years ago.
“This event celebrates the wealth of cultures present in our school and community and provides an opportunity to showcase and appreciate our shared similarities,” said DECA Principal Laura Cardenas.
There are several performances involving students scheduled Wednesday.
Denair Middle School’s World Languages Club members will show off their dancing skills in the gym starting at 2 p.m. They will be followed by DECA students in first through fifth grades, who will perform cultural dances from 2:30 to 3 p.m. Kindergarteners from DECA’s dual immersion classes also will sing and put on a cultural fashion show.
Cardenas said there are multiple classrooms activities throughout the school year that provide important background and context to help students appreciate International Day of the Child.
For instance, she said lessons about social studies and geography expose students to
different countries, cultures, traditions, customs and global citizenship. Spanish classes include stories or poems inspired by other cultures.
Arts and crafts allow students to create things that represent other ways of life. And learning about and performing music and dances from around the world opens children’s minds to other perspectives.
Finally there is there is an element of social-emotional learning when students participate in discussions about diversity, empathy, understanding and respecting different cultures.
