Cultural Awareness Week at CCHS has nearly wrapped up, leaving a variety of once hungry students, watchful teachers, and pressed club leaders full, satisfied, and perhaps awestruck at their profits. This week is meant to emphasize the diversity present in the Cathedral Catholic community and to enable club leaders to earn money for their clubs in a celebration involving fellow students.
Starting off with African-Middle Eastern Tuesday, the week followed with clubs associated with Asian- Pacific Wednesday, European Thursday and Latin American Friday.
Director of Student Activities and ASB Moderator Ms. Christine Lagrimas, systematically typing at her desk between responses to this reporter, seemed ecstatic about the celebration.
She said, “It has been a tradition at CCHS to celebrate the diverse community that we are made up of the week of Martin Luther King Junior Holiday. We want to facilitate the vision of commissioners of clubs and bring community and spirit of Cathedral Catholic together.”
As for the 2013 celebration, CCHS decided to give club leaders the option to participate instead of making participating a requirement. Some clubs that were directly representative of a culture, however, were most likely required.
“We have at least fifty clubs available, and have not required every club to participate this year. We wanted main-cultured clubs to be involved in order to emphasize the week,” Ms. Lagrimas said.
These main-cultured clubs included the Portuguese and Italian Club, which were considered important adjuncts to the week in its entirety.
The Hip Hop Dance Club was available to students on Asian-Pacific Wednesday, and attracted a variety of students to its already bustling booth.
“Senior Retreat moved the Hip Hop Dance Club to Wednesday. It is a popular club. We sent out a menu before the celebration, and there were still some long lines,” said Ms. Lagrimas.
As for student involvement, Cultural Awareness Week seemed to make its mark. Senior Isidro Pagdanganan entertained students with his interpretive Hip Hop routine, attracting a large crowd of students to gather around the base of the Grassy Knoll.
“It’s a pleasure to dance in front of the student body! They always show their love and support when people dance, and I’m grateful for that,” Isidro said.
Isidro danced on Asian-Pacific Wednesday, and described the overall experience as entertaining.
Other performances included an Irish dancing routine on European Thursday.
Younger Sophomore Garret Lucas enjoyed the cultural activity around him.
“My favorite day will probably be Latin American Friday. I also enjoyed African-Middle Eastern Monday,” he said.