The Algoma District School Board has seen enrolment increases over the past several years due to students and their families from around the world resettling in the Sault.
Students from countries such as India, the Philippines, Taiwan, Brazil and Mexico and others have given the ADSB an increasingly multicultural character.
Superior Heights Collegiate will be celebrating its multicultural student body by holding its third annual International Festival from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 8.
The admission by donation event will include live cultural performances and food prepared by the Superior Heights Bistro and Foods classes.
The full text of a Superior Heights news release follows:
Superior Heights Collegiate and Vocational School is proud to announce its 3rd Annual International Festival, taking place on Thursday, May 8th from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the school. This dynamic, come-and-go event is open to the public and promises to be an evening of celebration, culture, and connection—showcasing the incredible diversity within the school community.
With this year’s theme, 'Unity in Diversity,' the International Festival invites guests of all ages to experience a vibrant and inclusive cultural journey. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to 'travel around the world' by visiting interactive booths featuring 22 different countries, each one created and hosted by students from Grades 7 through 12. Visitors will receive a special 'passport' upon arrival to be stamped as they tour each country, learning about traditions, clothing, geography, language, and more.
Superior Heights is home to over 65 International students from across the globe and offers a full range of ESL programming and Multilingual Language Learner (MLL) support. The school takes great pride in creating a welcoming and supportive environment for all students, regardless of their background. Leading these efforts is Melissa Santa Maria, the ESL teacher and MLL Instructional Support teacher at Superior Heights. Her passion for helping students thrive has helped the program grow and flourish. She emphasizes that events like the International Festival provide students with a valuable platform to share their culture, build confidence, and feel a deeper sense of belonging within the school.
“Seeing our students proudly share where they come from and what makes their cultures special is incredibly powerful,” says Mrs. Santa Maria. “It’s a night that reminds us all of the strength in our diversity and the joy of coming together as a community.”
The festival will also feature live cultural performances throughout the evening, including Indigenous drumming, Filipino singing and dancing, a Scottish pipe band, Superior Heights choirs and a Punjabi dance performance by one of Superior Heights’ own students. Guests can look forward to tasting traditional foods from around the world, prepared by the school’s Bistro and Foods classes. Additional activities will include kids’ crafts, an interactive world map, and much more.
Admission is by donation, with all proceeds supporting a local charity and United Heights, the school’s newly formed multicultural club, which aims to promote inclusion, cultural awareness, and student leadership.
Superior Heights invites everyone in the community to attend and celebrate the richness of cultures represented within its walls. Whether you're a returning visitor or a first-time guest, the 3rd Annual International Festival promises an inspiring and memorable evening.