Sachem's Samoset Middle School Cultural Awareness Week

To educate students and staff about cultures around the globe, Samoset Middle School will host its National Cultural Awareness Week from November 9th-13th.  The week is coordinated by Dr. Thomas Burger, Mrs. Lisa Carlen, Mrs. Kathy Morgillo and Mrs. Melissa Capuano and will be filled with exciting and stimulating activities and performances. 

The week begins with morning announcements that highlight the goals of the week, and cultural music will be played during lunch periods on Monday. Last year’s 6th grade students created a cultural mosaic quilt of flags from around the world which will be hanging in the gymnasium.

On Tuesday, the cafeteria will be transformed into the United Nations with over 36 flags from various countries displayed on the tables. Students will participate in national "Mix It up at Lunch Day" where they will be provided with a random flag postcard and have to find the matching table and sit there for the period.  The goal of this activity is to have the students meet new classmates and discuss the week's activities. 

On Thursday, students and staff are invited to wear clothing from their cultural/ethnic background. Students and staff are asked to sign Samoset Middle School's declaration against bias behavior during lunch periods.

On Friday, Samoset will hold two morning assemblies concurrently that involve the entire school.  Students put on cultural performances in the gymnasium including karate demonstrations, Irish step dancing, students singing songs in their native languages, as well as other performances.  While half the students in the gymnasium enjoy the performances, the remaining students will be in the auditorium viewing a video from the Teaching Tolerance Center. 

Following these presentations, teachers will hold discussions with students about the day's events.  The English and History classes will conduct mini-workshops throughout the day addressing intolerance and bias behavior, reflecting upon lesson plans from the Teaching Tolerance Center. Students will continue to work on cultural awareness lessons and discuss the issues of intolerance throughout the remainder of the school year.