Over 300 Gather to Celebrate Upper Merion Area

15th Annual ESL Family Night

Upper Merion Area Middle School’s cafeteria was the setting for the district’s ESL Family Night on Thursday, October 15, 2015. Initiated fifteen years ago to welcome new international families into the district, this annual event grew from the humble beginnings of only a few dozen into a mega-celebration that boasted an attendance of 310 this year! It has become a highlight of the district, as a celebration of the rich tapestry of cultural and linguistic diversity that comprises Upper Merion Area School District.

Upper Merion Area School District families’ report over 75 different home languages spoken. Approximately 30% of its student population is bilingual, though only roughly 5% of its students currently enrolled on the ESL Program, which is supervised by Susan Silver, the District’s Director of Curriculum and Instruction.

Middle School Principal Adam Slavin’s opened the evening with remarks highlighting how much the district benefits from and is enriched by its diversity. Roberts Elementary Principal Anthony Grazel and Middle School Vice Principal Angela Regrut also were also on hand to lead the evening’s program.

Students, family members, school district staff, and community members jammed the cafeteria, enjoying a feast of foods from 45 countries prepared by the families. Delightful dishes ranged from a Chinese “Coca-Cola Chicken” recipe to Colombian “Empanadas” – a dish of flaky pastry filled with ground beef and onion to “Cochinita Pivil,” a traditional Mexican shredded pork dish heavily seasoned with chilies and herbs.

Guests were treated to a cultural presentation of the arts. Under the direction of Mrs. Vasanthi Nagaraj, Akanksha Anandanatarajan and Shreya, senior students of Vasanthi Classical Indian Dance Academy then performed Thodayamangalam. Members of The Coyle School of Irish Dance, directed by Mrs. Patsy Wrably Swope, performed dance steps to traditional Irish music. Additionally, Mexican Folkloric Dance Ensemble Yaretzi, directed by Mr. Alfredo Navarro, performed a folkloric dance from the state of Nayarit in the Mexican Republic.

As one comment card written by a guest best expressed the event: “It was like a big, beautiful family reunion.”

UMASD’s ESL Family Night was coordinated by the district’s ESL staff: Susan Kelly (Bridgeport), Kate Sawyer (Caley), Laura Verges (Candlebrook), Jennifer Wert (Roberts), Angela Della Valle (Middle School), Kerri DeCaro (Middle and High School), Nicole Miller and Katie Nagy (High School).

Photo 1

Dancers from Coyle School of Irish Dance

Photo 2

Dancers from Mexican Folkloric Dance Ensemble Yaretzi