On Wednesday, May 23 Springhill Lake Elementary School (SHLES) hosted International Night for students, families and members of the community. The potluck dinner, with dishes prepared by school families, showcased foods from as many as 20 countries from which the families had originally come. After dinner around 200 people enjoyed performances by Diverse Dance and the Step Team. The multicultural flavor of the community is a source of pride at the school, so it was no surprise that International Night is one of its biggest celebrations of the year.
Eliza Hughes, one of nine ESOL (English for speakers of other languages) teachers at SHLES, said “We have about 30 to 40 percent of the school currently in ESOL, but if you count all families that speak another language at home, it’s well over 50 percent for whom English is not their first language.” The majority of ESOL students are Spanish speakers, although French, Arabic, Tagalog, and many other languages echo through the halls.
SHLES is the educational home to roughly 850 students from kindergarten through fifth grade, largely drawn from the Franklin Park community. The school embraces arts integration – dance, music and the visual arts incorporated with academics – to reach the whole child and the whole community. Dr. Ann Swann, assistant principal, coaches the Diverse Dancers. Jasmine Giddings and Corenne Harris lead the Step Team.
For Swann, this year’s performance may have been a bittersweet moment since she will retire this year after 45 years of service to the Prince George’s County school system. “Teaching has been a passion of my heart,” she says. “The years are not important, but working with students, parents and teachers has been the highlight of my life.”