By Amy Batista, Special Writer
MONROE — The Barclay Brook/Brookside PTA hosted its fifth annual Cultural Fair on Feb. 15 for students to celebrate cultures around the world.
It was a collaborative effort of parents, teachers and administrative and school staff, according to organizers. The chairpersons for the event were Foroozan Fayazi-Azad and Janet Baptista.
”The organization started its Cultural Fair committee five years ago when one of the principles asked it to organize a multi cultural event for students during school hours to showcase the diversity in our community,” said Foroozan Fayazi-Azad. “Ever since, the volunteers at cultural fair committee, get together around January to organize two separate cultural fair events for Barclay Brook and Brookside Schools in February.”
This year featured a “Show your Colors” day which encouraged the students to either dress in their traditional cultural costume or could wear colors of a country of their choice to the fair.
More than 550 students had the opportunity to learn and experience new countries’ cultures, customs, traditions, language and more as they “traveled” around the world during the event.
Tables were set up around the gym, and children rotated from one to another. The event has grown over the years from a one-day event held in the classrooms to multiple tables in the gym.
Each year the tables are changed, and more detail is added. This year, 13 different countries were showcased — Australia, China, Czech Republic, Costa Rica, Cuba, England, India, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, and Scotland.
At India’s booth, students participated in a tradition known as Rangoli, which is a form of Hindu decorative artwork. It is made with colored rice and is performed at times of the Festival of Lights to welcome friends and family outside the home or in courtyards for the goddess of wealth.
In addition, students had a chance to learn and practice some yoga moves from India.
At the China table, students learned a little about the Chinese New Year due to its timing.
The students learned a little about the Chinese Zodiac signs and that it is the Year of the Snake.
In addition to go along with the holiday, they learned it is traditional during the holiday to give someone a red envelope which represents good luck. The panda is the country’s national animal.
At the Australia table, the student’s learned about baby Kangaroos that are called “joeys,” and are the size of a jellybean.
Volunteers consisting of parents and several teachers, hosted each country. Each table included a display board that could include pictures, artifacts, currency, and more. Many of the presenters were dressed in traditional costumes to present the information to the students.
”The whole event is a joyful,” Ms. Fayazi-Azad said. “Enthusiastic teachers and volunteers ready to share their countries’ history and culture. Eager students ready to grasp all that knowledge.”
Volunteer and parent, Toniann Dibenetto of Monroe, who presented Australia at the fair shared her experiences of being involved in the fair during the past five years.
”I’ve done it every year,” said Ms. Dibenetto. “I always pick Australia. That’s my country.”
She picked the country where her husband used to live and where they still have family living there.
”This is one of my favorite things to do,” Ms. Dibenetto said. “I love the cultural fair. The kids are adorable. They like to ask a lot of questions and to see them be happy when they find something interesting and fun that they can relate to is very rewarding.”
It was Elizabeth Larys of Monroe’s first time volunteering at the fair. She presented Poland.
”I find it’s very important to children to learn a lot about different cultures, different parts of the world and maybe spark an interest to do something with that information,” said Ms. Larys.
Ms. Larys is the first generation of her family from Poland to live in the United States.
”My father was from Poland,” Ms. Larys said.
Ms. Larys chose to share foods with the students and Easter, which is a “big holiday there” according to her.
For Eemaan Siddiqi of Monroe it was also a first time volunteering which she described as a “great experience.” She presented Pakistan.
”Everything that you hear in the news is negative so I love telling the kids that there is a whole positive side which has always been there,” said Ms. Siddiqi. “The media always unfortunately talks about the riots, which are only in a fraction of the country. It was really cool to talk to them about the festivals and the normal life, the fun stuff, the camel rides, the food, the rich culture – very rich in handicrafts and talent, carpet, marble, textile, woodwork.”
Students learned how to say “hello” in each language of the countries as they “traveled,” and some of the countries had the word written down for them. In addition, the country flags and maps were on display. Students also learned about food, currency, art, music, dance, monuments and inventions.
”I love the expression on their faces when they hear about how different artifacts were made or how high is the tallest building or mountain in different countries,” Ms. Fayazi-Azad said. “This is pure joy for us as volunteers to see how interested these students are in learning facts about different countries.”
Ms. Fayazi-Azad reminded everyone that we are all “one big family.”
”This event teaches our student that it is ok to be different to speak a different language, to have different traditions, to come from different backgrounds,” Ms. Fayazi-Azad said. “We can share our history. We can learn simple words (even just a word “Hello”) from each other. We can teach each other different facts about our countries. But we are all one big family (human) who live in a big home (Earth).”

