When students, faculty and volunteers put on "Culture Night" at Red River High School last year, featuring foods and entertainment from countries around the world that have a presence at local schools, the event drew about 100 people.
They're looking to double or triple that number when they do it again on Tuesday.
"It was an even bigger success than we hoped it would be," said Ione Seidlinger, a paraprofessional who works with English Language Learner teachers. "All the notes and emails we received showed how much people in the community learned from their new neighbors and how much they enjoyed being part of this cultural diversity."
Students in kindergarten through high school will sing, dance, do skits and make presentations about their countries of origin, and some have teamed with ELL teachers to prepare special foods.
There will be chicken curry from Nepal, stuffed grape leaves from Iraq, tortillas and beans from Mexico, sushi from China and baklava from Bosnia. Somalia will contribute sambusa, vegetables and meat stuffed in a pita-like bread and fried.
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The food sampling starts at 5 p.m., with entertainment beginning at 6. The event is free and open to the public. Access is through door No.1 by Cushman Field.
In addition to the elementary and secondary students, UND students from Japan, Saudi Arabia and Brazil will participate, Seidlinger said.
She and ELL teachers Ivona Todorovic, who came from Bosnia 17 years ago, and Anne-Marie Studer, from Ireland, planned to get started on the food preparation Monday morning, assisted by some of the students.
Numbers of immigrant and international refugee children in Grand Forks schools have jumped in recent years as service agencies help to resettle families here.
"The success we had last year tells us that Grand Forks is really embracing the new Americans, and they are willing to learn about new cultures," Seidlinger said
Culture Night is sponsored by Grand Forks Public Schools and Bremer Bank. For more information or to volunteer to help with Culture Night or other activities, call (701) 746-2205, ext. 115.
Reach Haga at (701) 780-1102; (800) 477-6572, ext. 102; or send email to chaga@gfherald.com .
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