Culture Day at Daycroft Montessori School Takes Students and Parents on a Tour of the World’s Diverse Food, Music, Art, Languages, and More
Ann Arbor, MI (February 5, 2010) – Today at Daycroft Montessori School of Ann Arbor, students invited parents aboard a day-long tour of the world’s continents, celebrating cultural diversity through appreciation of the distinctive food, music, art, languages, and more from all corners of the globe.
The festivities were part of Daycroft’s Culture Day, held each year at about this time at the school’s Elementary Campus on Zeeb Road.
Students and parents traveled from classroom to classroom, sharing findings from the students’ recent explorations of the world’s cultures. Students from lower elementary classrooms (kindergarten and Grades 1-2) presented group research projects on the distinctive cultures of South America, Australia, and Africa. Students from the upper elementary classrooms (Grades 3-6) showcased their individual studies of North American, European, and Asian cultures.
Amy Morrell and Niki Buchanan, co-head teachers in Daycroft’s Grades 5-6 classroom, were among the full team of Elementary Campus teachers and administrators coordinating Culture Day activities.
“At Daycroft we have students who can directly trace their roots to practically every part of the world,” said Morrell. “We have a community of students, parents, and teachers who themselves embody the cultural diversity we embrace every day here as part of our educational mission.”
Buchanan added, “What’s especially wonderful is that Daycroft parents are so willing and eager to share their cultural knowledge and experience – not only on Culture Day, but in the cultural studies we enjoy throughout the school year.”
Daycroft parents today brought dishes from their ancestral lands to pass, and, where fitting, joined in presentations on aspects of their ancestral cultures.
Daycroft’s focus on cultural diversity will be further highlighted on Wednesday, February 11, with Cultural Night at the school’s Preprimary Campus on Oakbrook Drive. There, preschoolers and kindergarteners from the Oakbrook classrooms will share with their parents in food, music, and fun themed to the upcoming Winter Olympics and the many diverse lands participating in those games.
About Daycroft Montessori School
Daycroft Montessori School blends the distinctive student-centered teaching methods of Maria Montessori with traditional and progressive teaching methods. Daycroft thus accomplishes its educational mission: to provide a personalized learning environment that appreciates individual differences, nurtures the whole child, and enables students to develop at their own pace and achieve to their full potential.
Daycroft is one of Washtenaw County's leading independent schools. It began as a preschool program in 1968. Daycroft has since grown to include a full-day kindergarten program, an elementary school program through 6th grade, before-school and after-school care, summer camp programs, and enrichment classes.
Daycroft has earned accreditation from the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS; www.isacs.org). It is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS; www.nais.org) and is affiliated with the American Montessori Society (AMS; www.amshq.org).
Daycroft Preprimary School (preschool and kindergarten) is at 100 E. Oakbrook Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48104. Phone: (734) 930-0333.
Daycroft Elementary School (grades K through 6) and Daycroft's administrative offices are at 1095 N. Zeeb Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48103. Phone: (734) 662-3335.
Media Contact:
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DesignHub, Inc.
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Daycroft Open Houses
April 13, 9-11 am
Oakbrook Campus (Pre-K)
April 15, 9-11 am
Zeeb Campus (K-6)
For the full schedule, see our 2009-10 calendar. (Download PDF, 24kb)
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