Annual Taste of Pennoyer to celebrate school’s cultures

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Updated: March 3, 2012 8:23AM

A local school is gearing up for an event planned as a way to showcase the various cultures of its diverse school district.

“The Taste of Pennoyer is a huge event that unites all the cultures of our school,” said Melissa Christl, a second-grade teacher at Pennoyer Elementary School in a news release.

The Taste of Pennoyer event is held every other year.

“It is a night where the cultures of our community can appreciate all our differences and share our similarities,” Christl said.

Scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 2, the Taste of Pennoyer includes food and entertainment. The event is free to the Pennoyer school families.

Teacher volunteers Gina Dravilas and Samantha Lazich coordinated the event along with Christl.

Parents also take on various responsibilities in pulling the event together.

“We could not have done this event without all the help and support of our parent volunteers,” Christl said. “Some parents (took) on the role of chairperson to contact other parents to make dishes and encourage cultural performances.”

Some of the teachers are creating items to be sold to raise money for Pennoyer’s Parent Teacher Committee.

“Our PTC is there to help raise money to fund school programs and resources,” Christl said. “We thank all of our school families that participate and support the many futures of our school community.”

School District 79 Superintendent Michael Lubelfeld said the evening is a celebration of the cultural diversity at the school and community.

For more information about the Taste of Pennoyer event, contact the school at (708) 456-9094.