Hardy’s International Night celebrates cultural diversity

The gymnasium at Hardy Elementary School hummed with anticipation Thursday evening as families streamed through the doors, children clutching newly minted “passports” ready for stamping. By 5:30 PM, the space had transformed into something like a crossroads, with 17 countries represented through food tables, craft stations, and a stage where performers would share their heritage with friends and family alike.

This was Hardy’s International Night, now in its fourth year since the format launched, though celebrations of cultural diversity have long occurred at the school. What distinguished this gathering from a typical school event was its purpose to go further than just acknowledging differences.

Fourth graders Angela and Freida have attended every year. Their favorite elements, mango lassi and the lion dance performance, captured the event’s ability to share traditions through public demonstration. Fifth graders Aiden and Abe, who represented Nepal in dance, spoke afterward about cricket matches and Mount Everest proudly.

Principal Grant Smith explained the takeaway he hoped for the evening: students need opportunities not just to learn about other cultures, but to see classmates explain the elements that are part of their identities. The event creates what he called a space for students to “perform and explain and share.”

The evening followed with careful planning. From 5:30-5:40pm, the International Chorus, led by music teacher Mr. Corcoran, opened with songs spanning continents: “J’entends le moulin” from Canada, “It’s a Small World,” “El Coquí” from Puerto Rico, “Hum Honge Kamyab” from India, “Numi Numi” from Israel, “Mo Li Hua” from China, “Kye Kye Kule” from Ghana, and “Baba Hai Meta” from Egypt. The lineup itself shows just what elementary school students can process: multiple languages and musical traditions, and cultural contexts.

After this, many performances followed. An Indian Bollywood dance, followed by a Moldovan folk song, and a Nepalese dance. Lion dancers then performed, followed by kung fu demonstrations. The evening wrapped up with a participatory bachata and salsa session, where the audience danced in the gymnasium alongside performers.

Around the perimeter of the cafeteria, families staffed tables representing their countries of origin with food, crafts, language stations, games, and cultural displays. Children moved between stations with passports, collecting stamps.

Event organizers Ada Franchino and Sonia Kolenchary, who coordinated much of International Night’s logistics, described challenges that typically result in community event planning. Flow management has become increasingly complicated as participation grows. Organizers continue experimenting with space arrangements that allow circulation around tables and attention to performances.

The performers deserve better attention, Kolenchary noted. With tables and performances sharing the cafeteria, chaos sometimes overwhelms the preparation that students and families put into their presentations. Having all aspects in such a small space creates a sense of community at the risk of certain aspects being lost in the buzz.

Recruitment happens largely through class parent networks and returning hosts, according to Franchino. Once families host a table, subsequent years become a matter of scheduling.

The new school building has expanded what’s possible. More space means more countries represented and more opportunities for hands-on activities. Yet organizers continue refining the format. In past years, some countries presented brief PowerPoint presentations, and sometimes students presented their own research. Last year marked the introduction of outside professional performers alongside student and family acts.

In the future, Kolenchary envisions a possible international week leading up to International Night, with each grade studying and then representing a country’s culture. It would require teacher involvement and curriculum adjustment, but it allows for cross-cultural encounters to become an ongoing practice rather than an annual event. “I would like to see more kids participating and being involved so they actively learn about world cultures,” Kolenchary explained.

Hardy’s International Night focuses on the exchange of cultural traditions through student performances and family contributions. When fifth graders perform a Nepalese dance, they are sharing generational knowledge with a new audience. The event promotes a community model where distinct traditions are preserved while being made accessible to everyone.

This gathering differs from standard classroom lessons because it relies on the lived experiences of school families. The food and performances are provided by parents and relatives, offering an authentic look at the backgrounds of the community. These interactions allow students to see skills and histories that are not always visible during a typical school day.

The event’s value grows through its status as an annual ritual. Students participate year after year, consistently able to build an understanding of their friends’ and families’ values.

Swellesley’s student-produced arts coverage is funded in part by a grant from the Wellesley Cultural Council, a local agency supported by Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.