International Week begins on February 24th, featuring door decorating, an international parade, the Festival of Cultures, and even different lunches from a variety of countries. Meridian is proud to represent the cultures of students with these different backgrounds.
Several students look forward to the events, with the world parade being a major highlight. With 100 countries represented, students dress up in their cultural attire and showcase their nationality to the school. Sophomore Miranda Oyiriaru remarks on the world parade, “During the world parade, I was representing Nigeria; it was very fun and empowering.” Miranda also mentions the Festival of Cultures, where she often runs the Nigeria booth.
The festival is held the Saturday after the parade, where parents and students host booths representing their countries, serve food, organize games, and have the chance to teach others about their culture. Clubs also host their own booths, and primary and secondary students have the opportunity to perform cultural dances and songs.
Jose Serrano, a freshman at Meridian, was excited to take part in the various International Week events. “My favorite part of International Week is seeing everyone’s countries of origin and how diverse our school is,” he shared.
Ms. Chapel, the organizer of the international events, reflects on the growth of International Week over the years. “The world parade and festival have always been a part of the tradition, but each year we have added things such as the culture maps, door decorating, hallway décor, and classroom activities.”
She also highlights the significance of International Week at Meridian. “As an IB school with students from around the world, it’s important for us to take the time to learn from each other and share who we are and where we’re from.”
Ms. Chapel further discussed her hopes for the future of International Week. “I have enjoyed seeing more involvement from our secondary students in the Festival of Cultures and would love to see that grow… We are always open to suggestions regarding what students may want to do to help us celebrate, including activities students can lead.”
Overall, International Week was a huge success and one for the books. Meridian hopes to see the celebration grow, with students eager to showcase their cultural backgrounds.
