Culture Day Celebration | Community | City and Country School, New York

Culture can refer to many things and take on many forms. Merriam-Webster defines “culture” as: 

• “the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group“

• “the characteristic features of everyday existence shared by people in a place or time”

In our community, we also understand culture to include:

• The traditions, stories, and practices passed down through families

• The languages we speak and the ways we communicate

• The foods we prepare and the ways we gather

• The values, celebrations, and rituals that shape who we are

• The interests, hobbies, and routines that make up our everyday lives

We also recognize that conversations about culture will look different depending on a child’s age. Teachers will approach these conversations with intention, care, and developmental awareness.

Students play a central role in shaping their Culture Day experience. All students are encouraged to bring something meaningful to share – whether an item, a story, a photograph, a presentation, or a food – that reflects an aspect of who they are.

Families play an essential role in supporting Culture Day. You can participate by:

• Talking at home about traditions, stories, or cultural elements your child may want to share
• Helping your child prepare an artifact, book, photo, or item
• Supporting your child in selecting clothing, music, or foods that feel meaningful
• Helping your child practice or think through their share
• Contributing to the Culture Celebration Potluck in the evening

While in-person participation during the school day varies depending on each group’s schedule, families are welcome to be involved in whichever way works best for them. Your partnership helps deepen connections between home and school.

We know that being part of a diverse community means honoring the many ways our students and families experience and move through the world. Children look to adults to help them make sense of differences with curiosity, care, and dignity. To do this, we:

• Prepare students ahead of time. Teachers guide age-appropriate conversations on asking respectful questions, noticing differences without judgment, and responding with curiosity
• Frame the purpose clearly. Culture Day is about sharing, learning, and honoring – not comparing, labeling, or critiquing.
• Model curiosity and dignity. Adults demonstrate how to honor someone else’s story, tradition, or identity.
• Center student comfort and agency. Students participate in a way that feels affirming and safe for them.
• Provide strategies for navigating differences. Teachers give students language and tools to respond thoughtfully when encountering something new.
• Engage families as partners. Families are encouraged to continue conversations at home using curiosity, care, and dignity (e.g., noticing “different” rather than “weird,” and asking open-ended questions). Families also help ensure students feel safe and included. When many children and families participate in consistent ways – like wearing traditional dress or contributing a family dish – it reinforces that Culture Day is a shared, affirming community experience for all.

We encourage students and their families to think carefully before bringing fragile or sentimental items. While teachers have conversations about showing care and responsibility, accidents can happen in school. If you choose to bring a special item, please know your child is responsible for its safekeeping.

We encourage each family to bring a dish from their culture to share with the community. Contributions can include appetizers, main dishes, as well as sides. All we ask is that dishes observe our nut-free policy and that you share the ingredients beforehand. Please click here to let us know what you plan to contribute.

After gathering feedback from parents and teachers, we decided to shift Culture Day to January to help ease the intensity of the Spring Calendar and create a more balanced distribution of school events. Hosting Culture Day earlier in the year also opens up opportunities to build on the learning and conversations from the day throughout the remainder of the school year.