¡Vamos, Pavos!, 七面鳥、頑張れ, Los geht’s, Truthähne!

Did you know that our St. Mary’s families can say “Go Turkeys!” in over 25 languages (including Spanish, Japanese, and German, as shown above)? From Portuguese to Urdu to French to Farsi, many of our families celebrate World Language Week nearly every day, speaking a language other than English in their home.

This week, in honor of World Language Week and as part of our commitment to St. Mary’s core value of belonging, our students have been immersed in activities that have highlighted global cultures and languages. The festivities began last Friday with a special South Campus Chapel, where Middle School students reflected on their recent Canada trip and everyone discussed exciting upcoming global travel opportunities with the school.

“World Language Week allows our students to share the excitement of language learning outside of the classroom setting,” said Middle and Upper School French Teacher Leanne Hinkle. “Many Middle School students practiced their French language on the recent trip to Québec City, and several students who do not take French classes were encouraged to try their hand at speaking French, too! Learning language provides, more than anything, a sense of inclusion; that's what we hope everyone feels during World Language Week.”

Throughout this week, students across campus have engaged in a variety of language-focused events and discussions. On the South Campus, Middle Schoolers tested their linguistic knowledge with a Kahoot! Quiz, adding a fun and competitive element to lunchtime. The excitement continued as the Upper School Global Club hosted a lively bingo game, bringing students together for a globally-themed challenge. Meanwhile, the library featured World Language Week displays, encouraging students to explore literature and resources from around the world.

“It was a joy to plan World Language Week! We have such an advantage by having so many cultures and languages that are spoken by our families,” said Upper School Spanish Teacher Sarah Kerst. “Our hope is to celebrate more and more of our cultures every year. It is so important for us to highlight our identities through language and culture.”

On the North Campus, a world map display showcased the rich language and cultural diversity within the SMS community, offering a visual reminder of the many languages spoken by students and their families. In Early Childhood classrooms, students spent time discussing that many families, including some of their classmates, speak multiple languages at home, fostering an early awareness of linguistic diversity among peers.

A special highlight of the week was the Upper School Spanish students' visit to the North Campus, where they introduced new languages to our young Turkeys through engaging lessons. 

World Language Week inspired SMS students to appreciate the beauty of different languages and cultures while simultaneously broadening their global perspective right from campus. Perhaps most importantly, it offered an opportunity to foster belonging and understanding within our very own community.