More News

First came the parade, then the mini-concert and sing along, and then the Sioux Native American tribal dance.

And that was all before lunchtime.

Students and parents at Henson Valley Montessori School in Upper Marlboro celebrated the school's annual International Day on Friday with a kaleidoscope of cultures that administrators say takes students further than International Days celebrated at most schools.

At Henson Valley, students often spend the entire school year studying regions and cultures for presentation that also serve as a basis for the school's annual international trip.

"We get really in depth with our studies. [Students] are so excited — they go home talking about it," said David Schmitt, a nature/outdoors teacher at the school. "There are some families that go on trips based on the learning."

This year the school focused on Native American, European and Asian cultures. Students dressed in traditional garb, sang songs and made cultural presentations based on their studies.

For sixth-grader Garfield Simms, 11, of Fort Washington, International Day was a chance to show off what he had learned during his research on the Sioux Native American tribe. He and his classmates constructed a 12-foot tribal tepee in their classroom, and Simms led students in a tribal dance during the day as tribal chief.

"It's all fun, and you get to dress up," he said. "It's fun to pretend to be different people and learn things," he said, adding that he learned the tribal dance from watching videos on the Web site YouTube.

The day gives students a boost for planning their annual international trips. This year, the school hopes to send students to Italy to visit a Montessori school and to do volunteer work. Trips are paid for by fundraisers, said Sandra Wills-Hannon, a school spokeswoman. Students have sold hot dogs and pizza in the past to raise funds.

"Nobody hands [students] the trip, they have to works for it," Hannon said.

Parent Deborah Duckett of Suitland, who has a sixth-grader at the school, said before having children she would frequently go on trips to China, Japan and Chile — stories she tells her daughter who, she said, has an increasing interest in international cultures.

"I find that, in a way, I am learning from the kids and their studies," she said. "They get to study countries that they will possibly get to visit."

During the day, each student received a mock passport meant to encourage them to make international travel. Students at the school have already taken class trips to Honduras, China, Spain, Greece and the rainforest in Costa Rica.

Former students said global learning at the school has lasting effects.

Angelica Jones, 16, of Temple Hills said she traveled to Spain and Greece while a student at the school, an experience she won't soon forget.

"[The trips and education] just help you to see that every culture is different and you have to respect that," she said.