International Festival - Thank You!

On February 25, Shorecrest hosted its annual International Festival. Arranged by predominately parent volunteers, booths with food, decor, clothing, flags, stickers and more represented the diverse cultures of the School's student body. The Festival buzzed with excitement as children from age 3 through grade 12 explored a  showcase of cultures through vibrant performances, traditional attire and delicious food. The Gaffney Green transformed into a global village where students learned dances, heard Scottish bagpipes, learned how to use chopsticks, and shared appetizers with curious classmates. Flags waved high as kids eagerly learned phrases in different languages, embracing the beauty of diversity and unity in a joyful celebration of heritage.

Participating countries included: Albania, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czech Republic, El Salvador, Greece, Guatemala, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Laos, Norway, Pakistan, Palestine, Peru, Poland, Puerto Rico, Russia, Scotland, Senegal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Türkiye, Ukraine, United Kingdom, USA, Venezuela, Vietnam.

The 2025 International Festival was enthusiastically and meticulously planned by volunteer parent Tani Masvidal. Thank you Tani! She acknowledged the help she had in putting such a large event together:

"A huge thank you to Marcus Holmes and all of his maintenance staff (Ryan Landreth, Jeff Viera, Joel Aponte, William Long and Jason Gray) for their early morning setup and continuous support throughout the day, including helping our volunteers with their golf carts. I also want to acknowledge Roderick A. Fludd and Susi Bean for their unwavering support. The International Connections Committee - Sebnem Koc, Savina Mintcheva, and Gisa Bok - for their guidance every step of the way. A special thanks to Belen Johnson, I couldn’t have done it all without her help! Olivia Segalman, Director of Events, did an incredible job coordinating the layout, making everything run smoothly. 

"Drew McKinney managed the entertainment and music, doing an incredible job. Scotland brought a bagpipe player, Gemma Briggs, whose performance was truly amazing, showcasing a beautiful range of tunes. Additionally, Erica Dhawan (India) and Raffi Darrow (Israel) engaged with the students by teaching them traditional dances from their respective countries, creating a fun and interactive experience for everyone.

"I’d also like to recognize Catie Prawer and Shakin Lele for being my right-hand team the day of the Festival—I deeply appreciate all they did to help.

"Last but not least, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all the parent and family volunteers representing each country. This festival wouldn’t be possible without their hard work and dedication; and it truly is one of the best events of the year because of them!"

Thanks also to our volunteer photographers for the following photos:

Flickr album: International Festival 2025 | Height: auto | Theme: Default | Skin: Default Skin