Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, October 28, 1994 TAG: 9411020039
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: MELISSA DeVAUGHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
The event has become a tradition at this school which boasts the highest international student population in the county.
"We have approximately 80 students from all over the world," said principal Rob Duckworth. The school has 416 pupils in all.
A huge map of the world at the front entrance of the school points out the 40-plus homelands of its pupils. Children from Egypt, Korea, Kuwait, Japan, China and Nigeria can be found at Gilbert Linkous. Others from Turkey, Brazil, Norway, Czech Republic, India and South Africa are there as well. And that's just the beginning.
"This is a celebration of people and their cultures," Duckworth said. "We are so proud to have the diversity here."
Thursday's International Day began with classroom visits from Virginia Tech students, professors, parents and other professionals who described life in their countries. They shared food, music and language of their cultures and talked about games, traditions and lifestyles, too.
Later it was time for a feast of Italian spaghetti followed by the kids' fashion show of international outfits.
Eight-year-old Samelia Okpodu and her mother were the first to walk on stage.
"My mom wore a Nigerian wrap with a button-down top," Samelia said. "That's what people wear to the market. I wore an outfit that little kids wear to the market - it's sort of the same as my mother's." Samelia's father also came to the festivities and taught the children Nigerian games.
"I learned about the designs of the costumes and the many songs the people sing," said 10-year-old Sameh Abdelmaksoud, who moved to Blacksburg from Egypt in February. "I like it here because the schools, they are different and they have the nice people."
When the new Kipps Elementary School opened this year, Gilbert Linkous lost some of its international population from Foxridge and Hethwood, but most remained nearby.
"Many of [parents] come here without transportation so they live close to Tech," Duckworth said. "I knew we were going to lose some [to Kipps Elementary], but not all and I'm glad we didn't."
Duckworth joined in the International Day festivities by wearing a Yemen outfit worn in formal religious ceremonies.
Following the fashion show, the Ujima Dance Theatre from Virginia Tech performed African dance and various ballet movements for the children.
"They were so engaged in the performance," said Ellen Piilonen, a parent who helped organize International Day. "It was a beautiful thing to watch. One of the nicest things about Gilbert Linkous is that it is such a diverse school. That's what makes it so good - it's an education in itself."
by CNB