The Indian River ENL Professional Learning Community

Indian River honors cultural diversity with “Celebration from Around the World”

For more than a decade, The Celebration from Around the World has been a proud Indian River Central School District tradition. Hosted at Calcium Primary School, the annual event unites English as a New Language (ENL) families from across the district for an evening of food, friendship and cultural exchange.

“At Indian River, we are fortunate to serve Fort Drum families who bring cultural diversity and experiences from around the world,” said Kevin Kelly, Philadelphia Primary Principal and ENL Director. “We are deeply grateful to the parents and families who honor their native languages while embracing English. Their example reminds us how to live, learn, and grow together in a community that reflects people of different backgrounds.”

This year’s event welcomed families from Burma, Panama, Indonesia, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Argentina, Ecuador, Brazil and more. They were encouraged to bring a dish from their culture and to wear traditional clothing representing their heritage.

The meal was a collaborative effort made possible through ENL grant funding, which helped the district purchase signature dishes from several local ethnic restaurants, including B Hats, Pan De Vidan Catering, L&L Hawaiian BBQ, Thai Cuisine and City Dawgz (who generously donated their food at no cost).

Teachers, administrators, and volunteers also contributed homemade dishes, creating a truly community-wide celebration that fed over 100 people. As a heartfelt gesture of appreciation, ENL teachers donated and put together gift baskets as door prizes.

The event was organized and hosted by the Indian River ENL Department, with the support of teachers, teaching assistants, translators, administrators and community partners who volunteered their time to make the evening a success.

"One World"

The Indian River ENL Professional Learning Community

~Mission Statement~

Indian River Central School District recognizes the advantage of knowing more than one language in today’s world and strongly supports bilingual homes. In addition to supporting the continued development of each student’s native language, the English as a New Language.

 Department members will: 

• Facilitate the acquisition of English Language proficiency

• Provide 21st century resources to meet our students’ academic needs

• Communicate regularly with our families to enhance both the home and school learning environment

• Facilitate the integrations of ENL families into our larger community

For more information, contact:

Kevin Kelly - ENL Director, IRCSD

Carol Warner - ENL Secretary, IRCSD

315-642-3432