Freeport Public Schools’ Archer Street Elementary celebrated its annual Festival of Lights on Dec. 17, bringing students and staff together to honor the diverse traditions of the holiday season. The event highlighted customs and stories from Hanukkah, Christmas, Las Posadas and Kwanzaa, with performances by students from kindergarten through fourth grade.
Kindergarten and first grade students opened the program by sharing the story and traditions of Hanukkah and performing a song. Second graders followed with a medley of Christmas songs. The third grade presented an overview of Las Posadas, a traditional Latin American holiday, and fourth graders closed the celebration with a performance of “It’s a Kwanzaa Celebration.
“This celebration is a wonderful opportunity for our students to embrace the diverse cultures that make up our school community,” said Assistant Principal Judith Friedman. “It’s inspiring to see how our students learn and share these meaningful traditions with one another.”
In the weeks leading up to the event, students participated in activities designed to foster cultural understanding. They learned songs in music class and created artwork representing each holiday, which was displayed during the celebration.
The Festival of Lights reflects Archer Street’s dedication encouraging students to take pride in their heritage and learn about the traditions of others.