Pioneer Charter School of Science celebrates its annual International Day

(Editor’s Note: The Pioneer Charter School of Science in Saugus issued the following press release this week.)

  On May 5th, PCSS 2 in Saugus hosted its annual International Day, a night of student-led cultural activities for the whole family. The school’s art teacher, Jacqueline Tisevich, known to students as ‘Ms. Tis’ spearheaded the event. Tickets included admission and a to-go box for cultural food, with proceeds going to a school-wide field trip to Canobie Lake on the last day of school.

  Held in the school’s gymnasium, students and their families set up booths to represent over 20 cultural heritages, representing places including Albania, Brazil, and the Democratic Republic of Congo to Guatemala, Uzbekistan, and Latin America. Each booth featured country-specific traditional food and a tri-fold with facts about the country represented. The students facilitated much of the evening independently, serving food and talking to peers about their heritage and traditions.

  The night included various performances from students, including dances and musical acts. Open to all in the PCSS 2 community, students, parents, and guardians mingled with faculty and other families as they learned about each other’s unique cultural backgrounds.

  PCSS 2 teachers and students acknowledge this event’s importance to the school’s community. International Day is an opportunity to build relationships and foster communication about celebrating unique cultures, with the freedom to express themselves through clothing, cuisine and performance. While the experience is entertaining for the students, it is also a time of pride, fostering increased understanding and tolerance toward others’ ways of living.