Through a partnership with Boston-based Cambridge Network, Immaculata High School currently has 16 Chinese native students enrolled as full-time students. With the support of an on-site support instructional professional who is conversant in Mandarin Chinese and a certified ESL teacher, these students participate in the traditional Immaculata curriculum. Now in its third year, this Cambridge connection brings an added dimension of diversity to the Immaculata campus.
Katy Gao, the on-site Cambridge representative, formed the International Cultures Club for the students to interact outside of the classroom. Her goal for the first project was to give her students the experience of embracing the Immaculata pillar of Service. She volunteered to teach the students to bake some casseroles, which would be donated to Samaritan Homeless Interim Program (SHIP) in Somerville. “There was not a dry eye in the house, as nine of our students chopped through a slew of onions, as they prepared casseroles, which are unknown to the Chinese cuisine. The cooking pioneers brandished can-openers, whipped up cheese sauce (which is not in the Chinese diet), quartered water chestnuts and onions, and added corn, beef, and mushrooms, until they had cooked enough to fill 4 aluminum trays. It was a great day.”
Rachel Cao, a sophomore, says, “It was very interesting, because we were working with foods that we’ve never tasted before. We had fun cooking and got a chance to help others, while becoming friends among ourselves.”
Next up for the club is an in-school cultural activity centered on music, food, and dance in France. The students are designing a cultural trivia contest and plan to have fun emphasizing global diversity through their teenaged eyes. All Spartans will be invited to attend.