More than 25 Bolles families representing 17 countries shared and celebrated their cultural heritage at the inaugural Whitehurst International Festival February 17.

“Our teachers and students were so excited to be part of this rich learning experience,” said Bolles Lower School Whitehurst Campus Head Christy Lusk.

The morning festival began in McGehee Auditorium with a dance and musical demonstration from various performers representing countries and cultures from around the world. Following the showcase, students returned to campus to begin 20-minute rotations through families’ cultural presentations.

Families and groups were stationed in classrooms throughout campus. They shared history, geography, traditions, clothing, food, music and dance from the culture they represented. Many presenters showcased photos and videos and some included single-servings of food for each visiting class. Families who presented on their culture included:

• The Grover and Prakhya Families, India
• The Stam Family, Nicaragua
• The Morel Family, France
• The Abramsky Family, Russia
• The Baldev Family, Belarus
• The Bouziane Family, Morocco
• The Patel and Telivala Families, India
• The Kirov Family, Bulgaria
• The Landa, Soares, Falacao and Cortopassi Families, Peru/Brazil
• The Benitez and Downer Families, Puerto Rico
• The Shaalan Family, Egypt
• The Patel and Desai Families, Kenya
• The Powell Family, Jamaica
• The Khawaja Family, Pakistan
• The Klassen, Le, Crawford and Schofield Families, Vietnam/Thailand

For a collection of photos from the Whitehurst International Festival, visit our online gallery. The Bolles Lower School Ponte Vedra Beach Campus will host its International Festival on February 24.