Trinity Hall’s student body, along with faculty and staff, came together on October 24 to celebrate their rich diversity during the school’s annual Cultural Day. Held for the first time in the newly constructed Commons, the event was filled with color, laughter, and the spirit of students sharing their backgrounds through food, music, and dance.
Throughout the open and airy Commons, students hosted tables highlighting their home countries and cultures, complete with informational displays, cultural artifacts, and traditional foods for everyone to sample. The smells, sounds, and sights transformed the space into a global celebration of heritage and connection.
“Food says a lot about a culture and often tells the stories and traditions of families,” said student leader Jessi Saenz-Jativa ‘27. Jessi, along with student leader Guadalupe Cardoso Amador ‘26, spent months organizing the event. Since July, both student leaders have been working diligently with faculty advisor Rosie Madriz, with the support of Dean of Student Life Cindy Sobieski to plan the memorable day.
Highlights of the day included performances by members of the Trinity Hall community. The band kicked off the presentations with lively music led by staff member Mr. Kabash. Evie Magee ‘26 showcased her impressive Irish step dancing skills while wearing a traditional outfit and dancing to “Tell Me Ma.” Julia Pannullo ‘27 wowed the audience with her rendition of “Sara Perche Ti Amo,” sung completely in Italian as a nod to her heritage. Kylie Evans ‘27 gave a beautiful performance with her gorgeous presentation of the song “Danny Boy.” The Trinity Choir kept the audience entertained with their song “Wau Bulan,” a song inspired by a Malaysian kite. Kate Schweikert ‘26 tapped her cares away to the Irish song “Humors of Whiskey,” and students studying French led the audience through crowd-favorite “Les Champs Elysees,” with Angie Feuer ‘26 taking the lead on guitar. Kitty Santos ‘26 impressed everyone with her gorgeous singing voice in “Te Amo y Mas,” and the Trinity Hall Dance Team brought the day to a close as they led everyone through a choreographed version of “Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride.”
This year’s Cultural Day introduced a new interactive element – a student passport. Each participant received a passport to get stamped at each table. In order to earn a stamp, students had to ask a question about that culture. Completed passports were entered into a raffle at the end of the day, encouraging students to take part in learning about the diverse backgrounds of their peers.
Mrs. Madriz reflected on the day’s deeper meaning: “We don’t get to see all the different cultures. The goal of Cultural Day is for all of us to show all of our different backgrounds so that we can see that we are more similar than different. We get to know each other and find joy in getting to know other cultures.”
Guadalupe echoed that sentiment, adding, “It’s really nice to see everyone bonding while finding similarities and making connections.”
Mrs. Madriz summed up the atmosphere best: "It's a fun day filled with laughter and an amazing opportunity to get to know each other in a different way.”
Cultural Day 2025 was a reminder of what makes Trinity Hall truly special: a community where every culture is celebrated and every story matters. Thank you to Guadalupe, Jessi, Mrs. Madriz, Mrs. Sobieski, and all of our students, faculty, and staff members for helping make this memorable day a success.