WESTFIELD – The 1st Annual International Festival at Westfield High School took place in the cafeteria on Friday morning. Hosted by the Foreign Language and English Language Learning Departments, along with the music department, the festival’s purpose was to initiate cultural awareness and helping students better understand the different nationalities.
Students had the opportunity to make food that represents their nationality or another culture and put it on display for everyone to experience. According to Mary Ayer, who is a French teacher at the high school and helped coordinate the festival, there was anywhere from 800 to 1,000 students that assisted with the event.
German food was one of several different cultures that was on hand for the festival. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick)
Ayer is glad that students, staff, and parents were all on board with the idea as she sees it as a positive benefit for the school and a chance for students to broaden their perspective and learn about the different cultures.
“This brings them (students) together, they can show off their favorite dishes,” said Ayer. “This is a day we can all be proud.”
The countries or areas that were in the festival included Ukraine, Middle East, Africa, Germany, Spain, France, Denmark, Central and South America, North America, and more.
Besides the food, there was also music being played and decorations that were set up to represent the various cultures.
Students that were actively engaged in setting up the festival were enjoying the experience.
“All the countries, I like to see that,” said Eric Bone, who’s a senior and brought food as well as set up balloons.
Alexis Madsen, who is a sophomore and in French II, helped decorate and really enjoyed “seeing everyone into it.”
Also looking on and taking in the festival was Westfield High School Principal Chuck Jendrysik, who was in full support of having the festival and was very pleased with how it turned out.
“I’m incredibly proud of the outstanding effort,” said Jendrysik. “As a principal, it’s very important to me that students are aware of different cultures.”
