Holmdel HS Students Spark Idea For School's First Culture Festival

HOLMDEL, NJ — In one corner of the globe next week, young people will deliver a message of unity amid their own diversity.

Multi-cultural performances, cuisines and artifacts can be shared by all at the first Holmdel High School Culture Festival.

The festival is Monday, March 25, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Holmdel High School.

And the impetus for the big event came from students, made possible with work by staff and administration, too.

"This event not only celebrates the vibrant diversity within our community, but also highlights the leadership and creativity of our students," said district Superintendent Dr. J. Scott Cascone. "I am immensely proud of the initiative shown by our students, staff, and administration."

And one student in particular has been singled out for helping jumpstart the concept, said Mittal Shah of the Holmdel Indian Association.

Sophomore Jayden Francis, along with other students, took up the cause for the idea, working with cultural clubs and honor societies, Shah said.

"The idea came from a couple of students just wanting to give back to their community. We wanted to unify our home life and school life a little more by sharing our cultures," Jayden said.

According to a recent U.S. News & World Report overview of the high school, the total minority enrollment is 27 percent.

Regarding the Monday night program, Jayden explained how it will work:

It will involve two parts: First is a series of performances in the auditorium, showcasing some of the cultures around the globe. Then there will be a Culture Fair in the gymnasium, featuring booths from each represented culture.

"Guests can play games, purchase tasty appetizers, or even sport some traditional body art to celebrate, fundraise and share information about their cultures," said Jayden.

Education is at the core of the event.

"We wanted to show and educate our community about the many different cultures around the world," she said.

And the spectrum of cultures spans all regions. Here is the list of Language Honor Societies and Culture Clubs participating:

• Chinese Culture Club
• Chinese Honor Society
• French Honor Society
• Greek Culture Club
• Spanish Honor Society
• Italian Honor Society
• South Asian Culture Club
• Japanese Culture Club
• Muslim Student Association

You can RSVP to the event here. The event is free and the RSVP is not not binding, but will help in estimating attendance.