Thursday, October 1, 2026
Traditional clothing, family heirlooms, music and cultural traditions took center stage across the Lynbrook school district this spring as students and families celebrated their heritage through multicultural events at the district’s elementary schools.
Marion Street, Waverly Park and West End schools each hosted celebrations, inviting families to share customs, artifacts and traditions from around the world and giving students an opportunity to learn about cultures both familiar and new.
For Lynbrook High School sophomores Caleigh Pacheco, Noor Mayan and Mgbodichinma Agwu, volunteering through the school’s Culture Club offered a chance to connect with younger students while sharing their own backgrounds.
“We teach them about new cultures, but we learn about new cultures ourselves,” Pacheco said.
Pacheco represented Colombia, displaying a traditional dance skirt, a soccer jersey, the country’s music and other connections to her family’s heritage. Mayan represented Afghanistan with traditional clothing, jewelry and cultural artifacts, while Agwu shared information about Nigeria.
“It has helped me share my culture with people who are unable to experience it,” Agwu said. “There are not a lot of Nigerian people in this area. It’s nice for young people to learn about Nigeria’s culture.”
Mayan said that exposing children to different cultures when they’re young helps them develop a greater understanding of others. “The world is very diverse, and it’s important to be understanding and accepting of others,” he said.
At Waverly Park’s Multicultural Day Fair on May 15, families represented 14 countries with displays featuring clothing and artifacts associated with their heritage. Students stood alongside parents and grandparents, proudly answering their classmates’ questions.
“The students were so excited and proud to be standing with their families and teach[ing] others at the school about their culture,” Josie Botwinick, a fifth-grade teacher who helped organize the event, said.
Shay Rachman, a fourth- and fifth-grade special education teacher, said the event gave students a chance to embrace what makes them unique. “It’s a way for the students to be proud of themselves, where they’re from, and feel accepted and like they belong,” she said.
West End’s Multicultural Night, on May 20, featured 19 cultural tables, a fashion show and traditional foods prepared by participating families. Students and family members walked a runway wearing their nations’ attire while organizers shared information about the countries and traditions being represented.
“There was a fashion show — families would come in with their siblings and wear traditional clothing and cultural attire representing their background,” Megan O’Rourke-Schutta, a school social worker, said.
The evening also included cultural activities, a scavenger hunt and a book raffle designed to encourage students to explore traditions from around the world.
Jennifer Glatzer, West End’s English as a New Language teacher and reading specialist, said the event reflected the school community’s diversity. “One of the things I love about our school is that because everybody is so different, nobody is different,” Glatzer said. “We’re all special because we’re different in every way.”
At Marion Street School on May 15, families created displays featuring traditional clothing, music and cultural information, while students rotated through exhibits throughout the day.
“The students were so proud, explaining their culture and wearing traditional clothing,” said fourth-grade teacher Christine Castellano, who helped organize the event. “They fed off the curiosity of the other students, asking questions and building that connection between home and their school and classmates.”
The celebration also featured traditional dance performances and classroom activities tied to different cultures around the world.
Michelle Puglisi, a special-education teacher and co-organizer of the event, said that multicultural celebrations offer students learning experiences that extend beyond the classroom. “It’s highly engaging, a different way to learn outside the classroom, and gives them a hands-on experience with other cultures,” Puglisi said. “Everyone should have the opportunity to be seen and valued.”
