What’s Right With Our Schools: East Brainerd Elementary International Day

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – The great American melting pot is alive and cooking at East Brainerd Elementary School. Students with roots in nearly 20 different countries go to school there.

News 12 was invited to their recent International Fest. It’s a diverse example of what’s right with our schools.

Kristen Stackpole is an ELA teacher at East Brainerd.

She explained, “International Fest started in 2018 as a way to celebrate the diversity in our school here at East Brainerd Elementary School. We have a multitude of cultures and we wanted to celebrate that fact. We have 28 different cultures represented here. And they will have an immersive event where they interact with the country or culture that is represented.”

Stackpole continued, “Then, from there, they will have a little passport to stamp. And then they get a world souvenir from their global tour. I think when you belong to a school community or a learning community, it’s important that you feel like you belong, and that you’re welcome. And so, our goal here is to not only celebrate where maybe our ancestry stems from, but also welcoming those that are new to our country. And so, they feel like they have a place here.”

Matt Hard is a parent. His father is and his family are from Palestine.

Hard explained, “It’s beautiful to for everyone to get to see how different everyone is, but how similar things are. And how each culture has its own differences that are all unique. And that they aren’t scary. They aren’t hard to understand. And it’s great to share it all through food too right. Everybody loves to eat.”

Vance Davis is a student at East Brainerd.

Davis said, “So, I only have two classmates from two different countries. The rest are from this country.”

Davis’s mom Anna added, “I just think it’s important for him to learn different cultures. He can learn how people celebrate different holidays, and just learn to appreciate where people come from. I think it’s really cool. And I think we need love and peace more than ever. And we can get there if we can understand each other better.”

Stackpole also said, “They always tell me that they love dressing up in their native attire from their cultures. They love trying all the foods. They love the performances and getting to see their friends and family perform on the stage.”