Sand Creek Middle School Hosts ESL International Potluck Dinner

October 2011

English Language Learners and their ESL teachers, Mrs. Mlambi and Ms. Swanson, hosted an International Potluck Dinner for family, teachers, staff and friends at Sand Creek Middle School on October 19. Students brought special dishes from their native countries of China, Pakistan, Burkina Faso, Japan, Peru and El Salvador. Students and teachers alike enjoyed sharing a meal that celebrated their cultural heritage. Following the meal, fifth and sixth grade students shared bilingual digital stories spoken in their native languages as well as English. Their stories included digital images of their native homelands and revealed interesting facts that they have learned through both library research and interviews with family members. Seventh and eighth grade students presented creative and colorful posters displaying what they and their family members find most interesting and special about their native countries. It was a unique opportunity to learn about each student’s culture, people, language and places of interest within each respective country. Sand Creek's Weir Room was transformed into a global neighborhood filled with sights, smells, sounds and languages from around the world.