Cultures from around the world are convening in Gregory A. Hogan’s gym on May 8 for the school’s first-ever world fair.
Mackenzie Nolan, a YMCA settlement worker, is one of three educators spearheading the event. She thought it was a perfect fit for the school as the student population is so culturally diverse.
“Our newcomer families are always eager to share and teach others and I think that was a goal here for our little Sarnia community to actually learn from our newcomers too,” says Nolan.
Heather Hagan, an English-language learner teacher at the school, says there are about 18 to 19 families signed up for the event with some coming together to share tables.
“There are communities within communities. It’s amazing to see,” says Hagan.
Nolan adds the group had expectations for what cultures might be represented but it grew from there.
“When we saw the sign up it was like whoa, I didn’t expect that or I didn’t know that,” Nolan says.
Just in time for catholic education week, Gregory A. Hogan’s world fair will see participating students and their families set up booths so visitors can experience and learn about their culture without leaving Sarnia.
“Since it’s a French immersion school too, our Grade 8 French teacher is putting on a French cafe. So she will combine and showcase some of the France culture versus the Quebecois culture. And the Grade 8 students will be prepared to showcase some of those pieces but also point out the similarities and differences,” explains vice principal Tina Jarvis.
One family participating is the Maciel family, who hails from Brazil. Alexandre Araujo Maciel’s two daughters attend the Catholic school and they, in addition to his wife, Gisela, are looking forward to bringing some Brazilian eats to share.
“As far as we know we are the first Brazilian family to enroll our children in Gregory Hogan five years ago, and after that a lot of different Brazilian families have done the same…My wife is particularly good at Brazilian recipes, they are very well received. And we thought it would be good for us to represent Brazil in the world fair,” Maciel tells the Journal.
Maciel thinks something like this is a great way to showcase the many different cultures that make up Sarnia and Gregory A. Hogan itself.
“When my eldest daughter started five years ago at Gregory Hogan it was pretty much a full Canadian school. Nowadays it is quite a diverse place with a lot of migrants from all over the world and particularly from South America. I think that the world fair is a great idea to represent how the student community at Gregory Hogan is today,” says Maciel.
While the world fair might only have families from the school showcasing their backgrounds, the event is open for the public to attend and experience everything the world has to offer.
“Our theme for Catholic education week is ‘we are called to love’ so this is the perfect theme for our world fair. When you come in the front doors, we are going to have the French cafe in our community room…and then when you get past the community room and into the gym that’s where all the other countries will be set up,” says Jarvis.
Victoria Ennett, a child and youth worker at the school, hopes students and the community are able to enjoy a night of learning and togetherness.
“It goes back to that theme for the week of Catholic education week, and how we are called to love and called together to be here as one. And we learn together and we can then celebrate together,” says Ennett.
Details:
What: world fair
Where: Gregory A. Hogan Catholic School (900 The Rapids Parkway) in the gymnasium
When: May 8, 5 – 8 p.m.