Heritage Christian School in Battleford brought global history and cuisine together during its annual Folk Fest.
Students from Grades 1 to 9 selected a country to research and present, showcasing facts, history, and traditional foods, many of which were available for purchase.
Evalina – Zambia (Image Credit: Ryan Lambert/battlefordsNOW staff)
“They love doing it,” said board member Breanna Nelson, noting the event has been a staple at the school for at least 20 years. “They love being able to do their own research and dive into what resonates with them, and it sticks because they’re presenting it.”
While some students explored their own heritage, others chose countries that sparked their interest.
“My oldest picked France, and my mom and dad have gone to France many times. My sister and I did a backpack trip to Australia, so my middle was very interested in that, then my youngest, who is 7, randomly picked China,” Nelson said.
Lizzie – Netherlands (Image Credit: Ryan Lambert/battlefordsNOW staff)
Beyond bringing families together, the event offers students a broader understanding of the world.
“Sometimes they come into a grade, and they don’t know where even these countries are,” said principal Gerald Wiebe. “We learn geography, the culture. It gives them a perspective of comparing our country with less fortunate countries. We can even appreciate Canada in different ways.”
Rylan – Australia (Image Credit: Ryan Lambert/battlefordsNOW staff)
Food remains a highlight of the festival, with students preparing dishes tied to their chosen countries.
“We get to taste food that (are) a pretty good representation of the country that they’re studying. It’s lots of fun. You don’t have to eat supper that day because with your tickets, you can go around enough times to have a pretty good meal,” Wiebe said.
Ukraine (Image Credit: Ryan Lambert/battlefordsNOW staff)
Wiebe also credited parents for helping make the event a success.
“I thank parents for being involved, a lot of the support and the food. For attending the event as well. So, I give parents credit and thanks for all their work too.”
Julyssa – New Zealand (Image Credit: Ryan Lambert/battlefordsNOW staff)
Gracie – Argentina (Image Credit: Ryan Lambert/battlefordsNOW staff)
Nora – Hawaii (Image Credit: Ryan Lambert/battlefordsNOW staff)
Charlotte – Spain (Image Credit: Ryan Lambert/battlefordsNOW staff)
Emily – Latvia (Image Credit: Ryan Lambert/battlefordsNOW staff)
Kian – Philippines (Image Credit: Ryan Lambert/battlefordsNOW staff)
Faith – Fiji (Image Credit: Ryan Lambert/battlefordsNOW staff)
As the school year winds down, the Folk Fest serves as a showcase for projects students have spent months preparing.
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