The annual Multicultural assembly showcased many of the different cultures on Friday, Dec. 5. Members of Multicultural Club worked to ensure proper coordination and solid effort towards the festivities.
“We are planning it in a more organized way, we are basing things on popularity and need, we have overall better structure of the festival as a whole and are expecting to be better.” Johan Cruz says.
Sponsor and science teacher Margarita Owens-Araiza helped with most of the preparations for the festival and employed the members of many of Northtown’s clubs as well as her own leadership classes to bring all hands are on deck.
“I’ve been doing a lot of different things, I made the QR codes and everything involving signing up for booths and performances, helped make some different Canva posts for Multicultural Festival and then I’ve been emailing important people asking them to come to the festival,” junior Lucy Reddin said.
Vital parts of preparation were already under way for the festival and for the assembly itself early in the semester. The assembly is the first major performance of the process, with members of clubs preparing to do their part to show to the school what they are a part of.
“My culture inspired me to take part in the Fan Dance and Hat Dance because they represent traditions I’m proud of. It’s a fun way to share my culture with others and celebrate it through dances. I’m really proud of how everything is coming together. The dances are beautiful and full of meaning, and I can’t wait for everyone to see them at the festival and also seeing other performances.” junior Vivian Nguyen said.
This tradition is now in its fifth year–originally started by Class of 2024 graduate Reed Pierman–and has allowed students to share unique and individual cultures in their specialized ways.
Along with the festivities and celebrations, Northtown also had decorations that filled the school. Every club got their own hallway that they used to present themselves, which was then voted on by the student body.
“I’m really looking forward to the decorating. It’s so fun to stay after school and get to decorate the halls with your friends with the anticipation of people showing up. We get to wear our merch and order food and it’s just so much fun to be creative and make changes and work all together the day of,” junior Abigail Kenney said.
Many students worked toward making the festival happen, along with support Owens-Araiza.
“Everyone is contributing to the festival in so many different ways,” Kenney said.
That evening, the community was invited into the school in the evening to experience traditional foods, and to see another round of performances.
