On the evening of April 3rd, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m., the school came alive with vibrant colors, music, and the delicious aromas of global cuisine during its annual International Night each spring semester. This exciting event brought together students, families, and staff to celebrate the diverse cultures of the school community. The night showcased unity, pride, and global appreciation, from cultural stations to live performances.
Mr. Cole Ross, who teaches English and ESOL, has led Wheeler’s International Night since joining the school two years ago. “I took over student council, which was in charge of big events like Homecoming, Wildcat Days, and International Night,” he explained.
This year, the event expanded to include all elementary feeder schools. “We moved performances to the gym, had stations in the hallway, and food in the cafeteria,” Ross said. With about 29 countries represented, he aimed to “truly represent every culture” by encouraging student and parent participation.
Although he was busy managing logistics, Ross enjoyed the experience. “I got to learn a few fun facts and try new foods,” he said. One highlight for him was seeing the kindergarteners perform: “They stood out to me because it must have taken a lot of confidence to perform in front of over a thousand people.” He hopes the event shows “how diverse our community is and how much we all care about each other.”
For this year’s International Night, Ms. Tori Byrd proudly represented France with the help of her NFHS students. “I invited students to participate first,” she said, explaining how they collaborated to prepare the table, food, and visuals. Together, they made nearly 20 crêpes, split them into portions, and designed a trifold display board featuring flags from around ten French-speaking countries. “We also decided to make a photo collage on our board,” she added. Although this was her first International Night at Wheeler, Ms. Byrd brought prior experience from other schools. Choosing France allowed her to connect with younger families. “It allowed me to meet people who could be prospective students in the future,” she said, referring to middle and elementary schoolers interested in taking French. Beyond showcasing French culture, Ms. Byrd aimed to challenge stereotypes. “A misconception we helped clear up was that French people might be rude, but, in my experience, they’re very kind,” she said. The crêpes popular in many French-speaking countries helped emphasize the broader diversity within the Francophone world.
Campbell Acedo (10) participated in International Night by representing Greece, a country she chose because of its stunning imagery and her fascination with Greek mythology. “I chose Greece because of the beauty of the pictures I’ve seen and my interest in Greek mythology,” she said. To prepare, she researched the country’s history and traditional meals. She found the mythology captivating, noting, “There is so much to it, and it’s what Greece is known for.” She also shared interesting facts, such as the Olympics originating in Greece.
Campbell collaborated with her friend Summer Thomas, who invited her to help with the booth. “It felt nice to show representation for a country that isn’t talked about as much,” she explained. Beyond showcasing culture, Campbell hoped to promote understanding and break stereotypes, saying the event helped “show ways of life for people and also cut down stereotypes we might have gotten wrong.” She’s eager to participate again: “I would do it next year and hopefully get more people involved.”
Summer Thomas (10) chose to represent Greece during International Night, saying, “I love Greek culture, and I think that the country is beautiful.” She prepared traditional Greek dishes like chicken, sausage, pita bread, and tzatziki sauce. “I was excited to share different phrases and words,” she added.
Summer made the experience collaborative and fun by working with friends to create the booth. She shared, “Next year, I’d probably choose a different country to learn about a different culture.” One of her favorite moments was the musical element: “I hope people remember my group song that we created during International Night.”
Sarah Goncalves attended International Night to explore new cultures and try different foods. “I wanted to learn more about other countries I didn’t know about and taste their foods,” she said. She found the experience eye-opening: “International Night helped me see how different and beautiful other cultures are through their food, music, and traditions.”
The event left a strong impression on her with its vibrant setting. “The overall atmosphere was fun, colorful, and full of energy, with people smiling, dancing, and enjoying the different cultures,” she recalled. Sarah was especially surprised by the diversity represented, saying, “I was surprised by how many different cultures were represented and how excited everyone was to share their traditions.” She believes events like this are essential because “they help students learn about and respect other cultures in a fun and friendly way.”
Sarah Goncalves attended International Night to explore new cultures and try different foods. “I wanted to learn more about other countries I didn’t know about and taste their foods,” she said. She found the experience eye-opening: “International Night helped me see how different and beautiful other cultures are through their food, music, and traditions.”
Even Israel helped represent Italy at International Night with journalism, admitting, “We didn’t know what country to do, and we picked Italy cause it felt like the easiest to do, in terms of food and decorations.” She was especially excited for people to try their food. “I feel like we did a pretty good job making the bruschetta, plus everyone loved Kamilla’s cannoli dip,” she said.
Working with Ms. Comstock and the journalism team, Evren said it was fun to participate again. “I’ve done it before for my sophomore year, so being able to do it again was enjoyable.” She believes the event is essential because it brings people closer together, especially within the Cobb community.” Although she’s graduating, she shared, “If I were an underclassman, I’d do it next year—just with more time to prepare.”
