Arroyo Vista students enjoyed a trip around the world in, oh.. about an hour during a special event. The AV International Festival was held over two days in the school’s MPR, with students experiencing the vibrant cultures of over a dozen different countries.
The Arroyo Vista PTSA wanted to create an event that included the entire campus and celebrated the rich cultural diversity of the community. Families signed up to create a booth that showcased the history and culture of their family heritage. Each display featured photos and information about the country’s history, food, music, landmarks, geography and more. On the day of the festival, parents volunteered to serve as docents, dressing in traditional clothing and engaging the student groups as they walked through the MPR. The countries displayed included:
- Pakistan
- India
- Colombia
- Mexico
- Finland
- Greece
- Philippines
- Egypt
- South Africa
- China
- Vietnam
- Sweden
- Brazil
- Chile
- Polynesia (Hawaiian culture)
- American Samoa
- Iran
- Peru
- Kazakhstan
Students enjoyed regional treats and candies, played games and learned dances and practiced handwriting in different languages. They were given personalized passports to receive a stamp from every country they visited as a keepsake for their international journey. The elementary students toured through on Thursday, and the middle school students on Friday.
