JIA YUN DANCE TROUPE
WAKEFIELD — Where can you start your night eating Cucupa (Cape Verde), Scones (Scotland) and Palue (Trinidad); watch Irish step dancing from our very own high school students, and then dance with Rumbafrica, a Congolese rumba group? Answer: International Night sponsored by the Wakefield METCO Program.
On Friday, April 10, from 6 to 8:30 p.m., there will be a gala at the Galvin Middle School celebrating 45 years of partnership between the town of Wakefield and the METCO program. There will be Heritage Poster Presentations (as of this writing) by 24 families, a Pot Luck Dinner, student presenters showing their talents and professional music and dance performers.
Shweta Singhvi will be offering the beautiful art of Mehndi at her table. This festive Indian art is traditional for celebrations like this. Make sure you stop by her table! Melanie Ricupero’s Second Grade Class from the Greenwood School will be presenting their Heritage Projects. Bridget Reed’s High School Italian Class will also be exhibiting a table on their work as well as tasty desserts.
TIERRA DEL SOL
Honorary Guests will include Dr. Jean McGuire, METCO Inc. executive director, John Shandorff, METCO, Inc. associate director, Diane Wiltshire, current Belmont METCO director and Mrs. Viola Wiltshire, granddaughter of a 1920s Black Wakefield resident.
The high school’s Rome Exchange Program will also be selling their fabulous Wakefield bracelets as a fundraiser for their trip at $20 each.
This is the last event of a week-long celebration Beebe Library has also been celebrating with WMETCO with its One World events. This Wednesday, there will be the final program with One World, One Craft. Come create a project that can be taken home or displayed at International Night.
International Night would not be possible without a grant from the Wakefield Educational Foundation. They would like to thank WEF for their guidance, creativity and energy in supporting WMETCO. Thank you also to the Lucius Beebe Library staff for their collaboration, resources to make our community’s heritage a week long celebration.
This event is open to the community. There is no cost. Come share in this exciting evening. Show your pride by wearing the clothes of your heritage! If you have any further questions, please refer to the Wakefield Public Schools Website. https://wakefieldpublicschools.org/WPS. Follow the District link on the top left corner to METCO. Once you are on that page, there is a link in halfway down the left column for International Night. Or you can contact, Joel Villegas, METCO Director, at 781-246-6440 x 6936.
