Fredonia Elementary Celebrates Diversity at Cultural Heritage Night

On January 23, 2025, Fredonia Elementary School proudly hosted its annual Cultural Heritage Night, an event that brought together parents, teachers, and administrators to celebrate the rich diversity of the school community. The evening served as an inspiring opportunity to honor cultural traditions and reflect on the ways our ancestors have shaped who we are today.

The event began with a warm welcome from Principal Mrs. Allen, who introduced the evening’s program and invited families to share their heritage. Eli Webster made sure the evening started out with wide eyes with his whip snapping, rope tricks and talking about ranching.

Honor Meng, the current Kaibab Princess, and Journey Tom showcased their cultural pride by wearing traditional attire, presenting musical instruments, and recounting stories about preserving their customs through the generations.  Henry Meng, Honor’s father, fried up bread for everyone to sample.

Hannah Webster, a parent, presented her family’s Legacy of Grit, sharing powerful stories of bravery and resilience. Mr. Maderal, a 5th/6th-grade teacher originally from the Philippines, shared a taste of his heritage by bringing Biko, a traditional Filipino rice dessert. Mele-Jane Tua’one shared her pacific island family history, the shells she had collected from the island and her favorite watermelon drink.  Dantzel Finicum and her mother Kaitlin told funny stories of a favorite ancestor that loved to sew so much she cut up her mothers dress to make doll clothes.  Peter Cluff highlighted special clothes and blankets his grandmothers have made for him.  

Meanwhile, Mrs. Dorene Mudrow captivated the audience with stories of her family’s ranching traditions and even demonstrated unique animal-calling techniques.  Local citizen Deloris, inspired by the presentations, joined in by singing and teaching everyone in attendance a dance.  

The event highlighted the importance of understanding and appreciating the diverse cultures within the school community. It was a celebration of heritage that deepened connections and underscored the value of history and tradition.