On December 12th of 2023, the Ipswich High School’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity team set up the Culture Fest as part of a series they’re doing that discusses Identity. Students as well as teachers volunteered to set up tables filled with various crafts, foods, and information about their culture or traditions. It was held in the cafeteria. Students were able to explore the tables and ask questions to the volunteers as they viewed the different presentations. The festival was a way to make the community stronger, as it would be inclusive and welcoming to everyone. 

The DEI team had many setbacks when it came to planning Culture Fest. First was the date. “The date changed, I think, three times,” Mrs. Shiels, a facilitator of the DEI team, recalled. “Initially, the thought was the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.”  They were able to eventually settle on the 12th of December. Although they received backlash from students about the timing, it was later confirmed that taking up both halves of R-Block was the only peaceful way to schedule the event without disrupting other classes. Another obstacle they had to tackle was how to get volunteers. The team put advertisements for the event all over, making posters, sending out emails, putting it on the morning announcements, and featuring it on the tv in the lobby. They spread the word to teachers, asking that the teachers relay the news to students who may be interested, as well as other staff members. Anybody could sign up and bring anything they wanted to. From food to hobbies and interests, all were encouraged!

However, when the day came, the DEI team soon realized that the date was the least of their issues. By splitting the four grades into two groups (two grades per group), they realized that the cafeteria didn’t have enough space to accommodate so many students. This led to congested lines as the students hovered around table displays, clumping together and preventing movement. After the students had been guided by teachers and staff to sitting areas, there wasn’t enough food leftover for the second group. “We told everybody to save half their food for the second group, and I think that message didn’t get communicated as well because it was as we were setting up,” Mrs. Shiels commented. Unfortunately, that didn’t account for the first group of students who took more than one serving. Moreover, with so many students to serve, they realized that the volunteers wouldn’t be able to view other tables either.

If they were to do it again next year, they decided that they would have each grade tour individually as opposed to two grades at a time. Additionally, they would have it located in the lower gym instead. That way there would be more space for everyone to stand at tables and learn more about the cultures being represented. Volunteers would either take turns leaving their table to visit others or they would set aside a separate portion of the food and crafts for them to enjoy afterwards. They had initially thought the event to be a one-time occurrence, but after receiving many positive reviews, they are strongly considering having the festival become annual.

After looking at student feedback, it was concluded that Culture Fest was successful. The DEI team went in with the goal of creating an engaging way for the school to come together and celebrate their differences. “Culture can be any part of your identity, not just the country where your family originated from” Mrs. Shiels shared that was their intended message. Although there were some issues that they intend to improve, many of the students thought that the tables were fun to visit and see. What table are you looking forward to next year? Perhaps Mrs. Collura’s cake table or maybe Mrs. Allman’s heart shaped basket-making station. Whatever it may be, Culture Fest has something for everyone!