This year for Black History Month, Hammond Hill Elementary School embraced all cultures in a Diversity Day program.

The event included the folks close to home, like Paul Gazda, who shared information from the Czech Republic, even singing two songs accompanied by his accordion. Liz Beth Smiley, library assistant at Hammond Hill, talked about her native Panama. Children were amazed at how she could see monkeys jumping from tree to tree in the rainforests there. Uyen Griffis presented an elaborate slide show on Vietnam - traditional dress, wedding clothing, foods, the climate and shopping.

Shocking tidbits for the students included a six-day school week, the fact that the children cleaned the school buildings and that school is only free for students from 6 to 11 years old.

Area 2 Assistant Superintendent Rosie Berry gave a brief synopsis of her heritage of "teachers and preachers." After some story-telling, Berry even led lessons on an old pat-a-cake game, Ms. Mary Mack, and a hand-slapping game called Ham Bone.

Hammond Hill students ended the program by singing "We Are the World."