Students at had the opportunity earlier today to receive a glimpse into the lives and cultures of Native Americans, as part of their “Native American Day” celebration, held in the school’s all-purpose room.
Third-grade teacher Carol Webster explained that November is “Native American Heritage Month”, and that a program and an assembly of this nature was a wonderful learning tool for the students. “Events like this will make sure children are aware of different cultures and where those cultures came from,” Webster said.
Also participating in the presentation were the classes of fellow instructors Skye Mulligan, Donna Cade and Barbara Doyle. Mulligan even contributed directly to the program, by bringing in several Native American artifacts obtained through her travels.
Webster added that the program was divided into a series of stations that students would rotate between at regular intervals around the all-purpose room. Each of these stations contained Native American crafts, artifacts, music, food and games. Parents and community volunteers were also encouraged to attend the celebration of culture, as part of .
“We have parents, senior citizens and other community members here also, so (the event) is inter-generational,” Webster commented. “We also have first-grade students coming in, who are partnered with their third-grade buddies. This has been a tradition at Whiting Elementary School for many years.”
Dr. Frances Scudese, the first-year principal at Whiting Elementary School, stated that the learning experience of the culture was made very “realistic” for the children, and thought it was nice that several classes were integrated into the program.
In the various stations set up around the all-purpose room, one could find beef jerky, a Native American rain stick, a bean toss game, Navajo sand painting and the chance to make Sioux necklaces.