South H.S. students stage cultural performances for Brooklyn Ave.

Students at the Brooklyn Ave. School gathered on Jan. 30 for an assembly featuring performances by members of South High School’s Cultural Arts Society to celebrate the end of the Parents as Reading Partners program.

“What a celebration of art and music and culture, and your outfits look beautiful,” said Brooklyn Ave. School Principal Scott Comis following performances featuring Chinese dragon costumes, Indian Bollywood and hip-hop dancing and an impressive Chinese yo-yo display set to thumping drum and bass music.

Stephanie Cuozzo, a librarian at the elementary school, and Patty Franco, a South High School Spanish teacher and advisor for the Cultural Arts Society, helped organize the event. Cuozzo said it was interesting to see some children connect with displays of their ethnic heritage.

“When the Mexican dancers came out, a few kids knew the words to the song,” she said.

Advisor Jeff Hsi, who formed the Cultural Arts Society, served as emcee of the assembly.

Comis, who said 15 different languages are reflected in his student population, applauded the performances. “What a wonderful way to celebrate the cultural diversity we have here at the school. The skits are great — the children relate very nicely to it. It really reflects our motto, ‘We are many, we are one.’”