The holidays are a time for traditions , but those traditions differ greatly depending on the culture and the country .
Maria Ilona Darrigrande , a kindergarten Spanish immersion teacher at Poplin Elementary , wants her students to understand there are many holiday traditions around the world .
“ We are part of the world and if they know about other cultures and other languages , we are opening more doors and possibilities to them ,” Darrigrande said . “ They will be able to be involved in different places , learn about different people , and realize they are part of our world .”
After about a month of preparation , Darrigrande ’ s kindergarten students entertained their parents and the community at large with the Presentation of Latin American Holidays . In the first part of the program , students sang familiar holiday songs translated into Spanish .
“ It was really neat for the kids ,” said the school ’ s media coordinator Beth Medlin . “ All of our kindergarteners and first graders got to hear songs that they knew but they were in Spanish . It was a nice community event as well , with the parents and families coming .” Students particularly enjoyed wearing their reindeer costumes , some even had noses that glowed .
“ I loved singing ,” said kindergartener Rebecca Joya . “ My favorite song is Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer because you get to wear the big red nose . I like when it lights up .”
For kindergartener Lauryn Williams , singing Silent Night in Spanish was a particular treat . “ Me and my mom like to sing so much . My mom liked our songs . She had me sing for my grandma and my papa . They thought I sang good , too .”
After the choral presentation , students took their parents ’ hands and led them back to their classrooms . The co-teacher in the Darrigrande ’ s class , Ivonne Duarte , is from Colombia , which is in Central America . She brought one of her holiday traditions to share with parents .
“ We celebrate el Día de las Velitas or Day of the Candles on Dec . 7 ,” Duarte said . “ We light candles and celebrate and spend time with family . Sometimes we make a wish , like peace around the world .”
For this part of the program , each student sat down with their parents and family members , lit a candle and made a wish for the betterment of the world .
After the traditional Velitas , students made cookies with their families . “ That was the present we gave parents , time with their children to make a wish and then time to prepare cookies ,” Darrigrande said .
For kindergarteners , this was a very popular part of the program . “ My favorite part was making cookies ,” said London Chilczuk . “ I made a gingerbread man . It was my first time to make cookies . The hardest part was the frosting . I put white in the middle and green on the sides . They were delicious .”
Darrigrande , who is from Chile in South America , said her
4 • Jan / Feb 2017 • Parent Teacher Magazine
Holidays around the world celebrated at Poplin Elementary
Maria Ilona Darrigrande , a kindergarten Spanish immersion teacher at Poplin Elementary , makes sure her students know how holidays are celebrated around the world .
students are also studying holiday traditions from other countries , including Sweden ’ s St . Lucia ’ s Day , the Hindu festival of lights called Diwali , the Mexican traditional festival called Posada , and Hanukkah , a holiday in Jerusalem .
“ I want these children to be global students ,” Darrigrande said . “ You know we have differences , but even though we have differences , we know we can live together . It ’ s the way you can learn about other people , other cultures and other countries .”
School principal Scott Broome stressed the importance of expanding the global intelligence of his students .
“ It ’ s imperative that our students experience life as it is lived in other parts of the world ,” he said . “ By presenting a cultural project like this , students had an opportunity to experience some of the celebrations of Latin American countries . This time of the year , it ’ s important for our boys and girls to understand that the holidays may not look in other countries like they do in America .”
For 6-year-old Marco Palacios , the lesson has not been lost . “ I like to study about other countries . I like learning Spanish . I like talking to my grandma . She speaks Spanish . One day I also want to learn to speak German and French .”
“ If you go to another country and you hear somebody talk in another language , you can just try to speak their language ,” said Piper Kauffman . “ I like speaking Spanish .” — This article was provided by the Union County Public Schools Communications Office .— This article was provided by the Union County Public Schools Communications Office