North’s ninth annual Multicultural Night, held Tuesday, Nov. 12, celebrated the school community’s rich diversity with a record-breaking 28 countries represented.

The event featured a vibrant showcase of cultural traditions, including food tastings, educational displays, and small group performances highlighting the unique backgrounds of North’s students and families. Julie Pinto, a North parent who has organized Multicultural Night for the past eight years, emphasized its role in bringing the community together to appreciate and learn from its many cultures.

“We have many families who participate and are so proud to showcase their heritage,” said Pinto. “I especially love it when the students take the lead and organize their country’s table with other students, teachers, and families.”
The Syrian table featured a performance by junior Maialen Alawam of “Lamma Bada Yatathana,” an Arabic song by Lena Chamamyan.

“Music in Syria is very connected to resistance and political reform,” said Alawam. “For minorities in Syria, music can be a form of political resistance as modern governments are tyrannical.”

The Nigeria table was particularly student-led, as many students who went on the Nigeria service trip in past years helped run the table with former history teacher Isong Ibokette, the trip leader. Students were able to share their experiences from the trip and share their passion for Nigerian culture.

The China table offered Tanghulu, a candied Chinese treat with fruit coated in hardened sugar, which is popular in Beijing, according to Christine Kwan, the China table coordinator.

“What is so wonderful is the array of cultures that are represented,” said Pinto. “Going forward, it would be great to build on that, as well as the small group performances by the students,” she added.