The reviews are in, and the future looks bright: With the success of its third annual Celebration of Cultures—an event that reflects the school’s values of diversity, unity, and inclusion—Pascack Hills’ World Culture Club says it looks forward to continuing the tradition for years to come.
Held on Friday, May 2, the student-led event capped weeks of planning by social studies teacher and Asian Culture Club advisor Mrs. Yeam. It brought together a wide range of student organizations, including the Asian Culture Club, Black Student Union, Jewish Student Union, Latino and Hispanic Culture Club, Muslim Student Association, Student Immigrant Alliance, and World Culture Club.
From periods four through seven, students filled the cafeteria to enjoy an array of festivities—henna art, music trivia, calligraphy, watercolor painting, hamsa crafts, and hands-on activities about immigration and geography. Cultural food stations offered samosas, tiramisu, falafel, Haitian rice, ramen, empanadas, and more.
Preschoolers from the Early Childcare Development Program also joined the fun, performing with students from the French National Honor Society.
When the celebration first launched, Pascack Hills had just three cultural clubs: the Asian Culture Club, Latino and Hispanic Culture Club, and World Culture Club. “It’s nice to see how much the school has diversified in demographics over the years,” said Mrs. Yeam, who founded the event.
The data backs that up. According to the New Jersey Department of Education, since 2021 the district has seen steady increases in multilingual learners and in students identifying as Asian, Latino, African American, multiracial, and Pacific Islander.
What took place?
With the success of its Third Annual Celebration of Cultures, which encompassed the community’s values of diversity, unity, and inclusion, Pascack High School’s World Culture Club says plans are in the works to continue this offering well into the future. The event, held Friday, May 2, culminated weeks of planning on the part of social studies teacher and Asian Culture Club advisor Mrs. Yeam. The event brought together many different cultural groups, including: The Asian Culture Club, Black Student Union, Jewish Student Union, Latino & Hispanic Culture Club, Muslim Student Association, Student Immigrant Alliance, and World Culture Club.
The Importance of the Community and Beyond
As our community diversifies, it is important to show the importance of celebrating all different cultures and ethnicities. By all students coming together, they are able to learn more about their own culture as well as others. Mrs. Lutz, advisor of Pascack Hills Jewish Student Union, said, “It is an honor as an advisor to collaborate with other cultural clubs in order to find our shared commonalities and learn more about each other.” By every cultural club being represented, our school is able to show and be proud of the amazing diversity. Pascack Hills hopes to continue this extraordinary event which will continue to bring unity to our school.
What was presented?
Throughout the day, from periods four to seven, students were able to join their peers in the cafeteria to enjoy a variety of festivities, including; henna, music trivia, immigration tests and maps, calligraphy painting, water coloring, hamsa crafts, and a variety of cultural foods, like Samosa, Tiramisu, Falafel, Haitian rice, specialized ramen, empanadas, and more. In addition to each club, the preschoolers of Pascack Hills Early Childcare Development Program also performed with French National Honors Society students.
The Greater Effect
This event has brought so many different and amazing cultures and ethnicities together. Originally, this community only had three cultural student groups at Pascack Hills; The Asian Culture Club, The Latino & Hispanic Culture Club, and the World Culture Club. Over time, however, many different clubs have come into the picture. Mrs. Yeam, the founder of this celebration, states, “When I first started organizing this event, there were only three cultural student groups at Pascack Hills, so it’s nice to see how much the school has diversified in demographic over the years.”
According to the state of New Jersey Enrollment Trends by Student Group as well as Racial and Ethnic Group, since 2021, the Hills community has increased in multilingual learners by 0.5%, an increase in students with two or more races by 0.5%, an increase in Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders by 0.3%, an increase in those of Asian descent by 1.6%, an increase of those of Hispanic or Latino heritage by 2.4%, and an increase in those of African American descent by 0.4%.
Pascack Hills has diversified in demographic and is proud to show this inclusion and diversity among the school community, showing that it is accepting of all different cultures.
The Unique Impact
Each club has a unique impact on each of the students in the community. Junior Julie Rodriguez and Freshman Gabby Garcia say the Latino Hispanic Culture Club has made them grow much closer as friends and with their community. Julie shares that she initially didn’t even know that Gabby had a similar cultural background as her, but was able to become close friends once finding this similar commonality. Both girls say they are proud to have a place where they are able to go and celebrate their culture with each other.
Sophomore Mackenzie Wright stated that the Black Student Union at Pascack Hills has helped create a sense of family for her and helped decrease racially motivated hate crimes. Makenzie states, “I hope the new freshmen coming in each year are able to find security and a home in the Black Student Union. That’s what I love about this club.”
This is a similar reason why Sophomore Zahraa Islam co-founded the Muslim Student Alliance at Hills last year. She explained, “My partner and I decided to join this club because we think it is really important to have safe spaces for minorities. I think it is good that we have this club for open discussions. You don’t even have to be Muslim to join because everyone is welcome.”
At a booth offering warm, golden samosas and sweet, sticky dates wrapped in parchment, Zahraa explained how her South Asian background shaped her menu. Spiced lentil fritters sat beside creamy mango lassi, while her friend from an Arab background brought fluffy pita and bowls of bright, lemony Warak Eneb. “There’s no such thing as ‘Muslim food,’” Zahraa said. “You don’t have to be a specific culture to be Muslum. This is why, since I am South Asian, I brought South Asian food.”
Clubs like these help foster a sense of belonging and community, as well as educate. Zahraa believes that it is important for these clubs, like her own, to exist to help represent underrepresented cultures in our community, like her own. She also shared how she has made so many more connections and memories with friends. Zahraa shared, “We are able to connect with the world on a less religious basis through things like social media, our fastathon, bake sales, and helping out with the food pantry. It is nice to have this bond, even with those who aren’t of Muslim descent, to help share our culture and community.”
Photo Gallery of the event:
