Hopatcong High School’s Multicultural Club, founded last year and now boasting more than 15 members, recently observed American Indian Heritage month, according to a Hopatcong Borough Schools statement.
The creation of this day was the culmination of a number of foundational efforts made over time, originally at the request of Native Americans, and ultimately made substantial by cooperative efforts of various government officials. This designation was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush following a joint resolution of Congress in 1990.
To honor the special month, the Multicultural Club members crafted dream catchers and learned about the people's history while listening to Native American music.
This event is just one of the many that the club has on its agenda this year. Future plans include honoring Japan's Girls Day and Boys Day, letter writing and pot luck getherings.
For December, the club will write letters to soldiers.
“I remember writing letters to soldiers in my fourth grade class," said senior Claudia Saavedra, the group's president and founder. "I thought it would be a nice thing to do since soldiers can get lonely, especially during the holiday season."
Saavedra contacted her fourth grade teacher, Carmela Catizone of Durban Avenue Elementary School, for help, and received encouragement. Then the teenager "added my own twist to the letter writing" project to turn it into an even more educational activity for students.
"Instead of just writing in English, those members that know how to write in a different language will be writing letters in that language," Saavedra said.
The club was formed after Saavedra and Pamela Brennan, who teaches English teacher at the high school, started discussing the variety of cultures at the school and talking about how difficult making a transition from one culture into another must be. They took the idea, explaining it as a plan to explore cultures as a means of showing students that we are all very much the same, to Athletics/Events Director Thomas Vara, who liked it.
“The Multicultural Club is a great way to get a positive message out there,” he said.
“When formulating this club, the students and I laid out the goals for the foundation of the club”, said Brennan. We recognized the diversity of the school’s population already, but we wanted to celebrate cultures by recognizing them monthly."
Therefore, each month, the club will erect a library display depicting facts and and visuals honoring a different culture.
“For the month of November, we [displayed] the dream catchers made for Native American Heritage Month," Saavedra said, noting that a Thai holiday is the next focus. "We will display paper lanterns for the festivals Loi Krathrong celebrated on the 16th and Yi Peng celebrated on the 17th in Thailand.”
Members hope the club's celebrations of other countries and cultures will open other students' minds, boost tolerance and smash stereotyping.
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