Families and sixth-grade students from Jefferson Middle School gathered in the school’s main gym April 21 for Multicultural Night, an evening of cultural celebration, community connection and student engagement.
The event featured student-led exhibits and activities that highlighted the diverse cultures represented in the school community. Attendees explored cultural displays, sampled traditional foods and participated in an engagement activity that entered them into a raffle for prizes.
The evening created a welcoming space for families to share and learn about the rich cultural backgrounds that contribute to the school’s identity.
Savannah Rainey, a sixth grader at Jefferson, was one of the participants. Rainey performed with her Irish dance troupe from Trinity Dance Academy.
“Obviously, I love dancing, and I wanted to show my school what I actually do for dance, and how I do it,” Rainey said. “It felt really good. It was fun.”
Rainey said the hardest part of dancing at her school was worrying about making a mistake during the performance, but “it’s okay, I’m all in it for the fun.”
“We had over 20 countries and cultures represented across several regions of the world,” said Principal Dr. Adam Bulfer. “Our 6th-grade students showcased the countries and cultures they researched through artifacts, written descriptions, and conversations with families and guests.”
All families received a passport when they arrived and were encouraged to visit student tables. As they spoke with students, they wrote down facts they learned about different countries, cultures, traditions, food, clothing, government and family history. Once guests collected facts, they could visit the passport station to receive stamps and raffle tickets for gift card drawings.
Bulfer said he was proud of how the evening turned out.
“We welcomed 288 guests, and the gym was filled with great conversations, student pride, and family engagement. It was wonderful to see our 6th graders confidently share their learning and personal connections to culture. Trinity Dance Academy’s traditional Irish dancing added a special touch, and the food, artifacts, and conversations made the event feel meaningful and celebratory.”
Bulfer said he was grateful to families for attending, participating and asking Jefferson students thoughtful questions.
“We also appreciate Frida for partnering with us and helping bring the event to life, as well as Mrs. Fugarino, Mrs. Riggs, and Ms. Norton for their hard work supporting students throughout the project. Overall, it was a strong example of community, learning, and cultural pride at Jefferson.”