Leadership students at Encinal High School organized an ambitious, campus-wide “Unity Day” last week during which students learned about the geography and culture of continents around the world.

The students designated each building on the campus as a continent (e.g., Oceania, North America, South America, 

and Asia) and then gave presentations on the geography and history of the continent, complete with hands-on  activities and food sampling, during each period. Students had passports that they got stamped as they exited each session.

"Our Leadership class had a successful Unity Day last year, but we really wanted to step it up and create something bigger for this year," says Isabella Rose Cabuang, an EHS senior and one of the organizers of the event. "The breakout sessions had been a part of Unity Day years ago, and we decided to revisit them in in order to give everyone an awesome experience of learning - traveling to the six continents of the world."

The day concluded with a Unity Assembly that featured performances honoring students' cultural backgrounds.

“Unity Day turned out amazing!,” says Caitlin Tran, a senior who chaired the Encinal’s Unity Week this year. “I think most students enjoyed the recreational and educational activities and the idea of campus regions. The assembly was also very emotional and fun, I appreciate all of the performers this year as they were very diverse and prideful of their cultures.”

Most exciting for the leader of this ambitious event was the “Bump-Up Ceremony,” in which students wear the colors of the grade they will be in the next year to signify “bumping up.” (Seniors walk out of the gym in a line led by teachers to signify the fact they are moving on to college and career. “I witnessed it two times prior in my high school career and always looked forward to it!,” Caitlin says.

"We saw lots of participation, learning, and best of all, we saw students having fun," Isabella adds. "I will remember this event as one of my forever favorites in my leadership career, and I hope our Encinal Community will remember it fondly as well."