Multicultural Food Fiesta

Miss Hanna’s Fifth Grade Class at Bernice Vossbeck Elementary School was the gathering place for over 100 people on Friday, May 22, 2009. Everyone showed up ready to sample over 20 international dishes made (mostly) by the students with some help by the parents.

The Multicultural Food Fiesta is a culmination of months of hard work by students and teacher Miss Jennifer Hanna. She has been hosting the MCFF for 20 years now! She believes that by hosting this event, it will increase cultural awarensss, and perhaps the children will have a new found respect for their family values and their heritage, in turn making them a bit more humble and appreciative .

Each student in her class starts off by selecting either their mom or dad’s heritage to study. And that’s when the hard research work starts. The kids researched the history of the country, the people, clothing, jobs, and the local currency. Students also explored landmarks and historical sights of the country. After many rewrites and editing, and photo searching, the reports were typed and printed. Finally the children were able to assemble their posters and secure them to the walls along the hallway at school.

For the MCFF, everyone was required to dress up in costume according to their heritage, so as guests started arriving, they were met by people from France, Mexico, Italy, Israel, Thailand, India and other locations. Parents, grandparents, teachers from Bernice Vossbeck Elementary and teachers and students from Lynden Middle School were there. Even school staff and students from Lynden High School showed up! Everyone knows that Miss Hanna holds an open invitation for the MCFF.

After a heartfelt greeting by Miss Hanna, the adults were invited to meander through the buffett line and fill their plates. The smells coming from her room were mouth watering and out of this world! After the adults went through the line, students were invited to partake. Everything was absolutely delicious. I think  just about everyone went through the line at least twice! I know I did…well okay, maybe 3 or 4 times!

It was an afternoon of recognition for the students, visiting with other parents from another culture and enjoying the company of everyone. What a wonderful morning and afternoon. Thank You Miss Jennifer Hanna and the Fifth Grade Class at Bernice Vossbeck Elementary!