On November 4, HS223 shone with the colors of the world!
HS223’s Annual Culture Day happened on Monday, November 4, 2024.
For the entire school day, the HS223 community enjoyed and participated in fun, cultural activities in order to know more about and celebrate each other’s identity and culture. Culture day at HS 223 is a fun day where students and teachers gather together as big families; they create wonderful memories by doing activities that allow them to interact with each other. 2024 marks the third year that Culture Day has been celebrated at HS223 and just like in past years, students and teachers work together on the Culture Day Council to plan activities for the day.
One of the most important aspects of Culture Day is the work in affinity groups. Students do a survey about how they identify, and then are placed in communities with students who identify the same way. They talk and do other kinds of activities in their affinity groups.
Alesandra Cortes, a senior at HS223 was a facilitator in the Mexican affinity group. She said that she, “Wished students, mostly the facilitator, had more input in the document used in the affinity groups, and the class should be a little more big and diverse: A mix of students of each grade because the small team was awkward. She said her class had “mainly 9th graders, some juniors and other students from other grades.”
Once again, the Culture Day included a fashion show where students perform a poem, a dance or drawing that highlights where they come from. Kiya Walls, a freshman at HS223 wrote a poem about her experience being an African American, and this is what she had to say “Performing at the talent show was very nerve racking. I was rushing to put finishing touches on my poem and looking at how big the crowd was from backstage. When I got on the stage my stomach dropped and my heart was pounding until I started reading my poem. I heard Oooos and Aaaas and a lot of cheering. It made me feel very relieved and proud of myself. I would do it again.”
Students were also treated to a Block Party in the Courtyard. This included cultural dishes from around the world.
“I feel like the food was better this year than the previous year.” Amy Ramirez 26’
Overall, HS223 Culture Day proved to be a success.
English teacher, Ms Drame would like to give a special shout out to the Culture Committee, “Thank you to the Culture Committee for making this wonderful event possible and feeding us all!”
