Cultural Events for High School: What We Celebrated This Semester
Cultural events at St. Agnes encourage a unified school culture, an inclusive environment, and leadership skills. Discover our cultural events for high school that offer hands-on experiences and festive celebrations.
Written by Tess Pacetti ‘26
The St. Agnes Academy high school experience is unique and special – from academics to sports to extracurriculars and beyond. The sense of community and environment fostered within our beloved walls welcomes students from all over the Greater Houston area and strives to create a diverse and inclusive sisterhood for all students.
Providing numerous cultural events for high school students can promote cultural awareness while encouraging the appreciation of the diversity of our student body. The respect and empathy learned from these opportunities are critical to maintaining an inclusive and welcoming environment for all attending students in the school year.
Learn more about what – and how – we celebrated our amazing stories during the spring semester.
Importance of Cultural Events at an All-Girls Catholic Academy
Fostering belonging is crucial for our students’ development as Academy women. Cultural events promoted in high school encourage inclusivity, friendship, and a more united St. Agnes sisterhood. These cultural events, planned by administration, faculty, and students, focus on initiatives made in the St. Agnes community.
These initiatives aim to welcome and celebrate the diverse group of unique individual voices among our students, encouraging active communication within the community. St. Agnes offers many cultural events – ranging from food festivals to movie screenings – that encourage an environment of respect and compassion.
Why We Celebrate Culture at St. Agnes
We believe that organized cultural events can foster meaningful community connections, celebrate diversity, and cultivate deeper appreciation for shared traditions. Through our celebrations, we help:
- Create a sense of unity and a stronger school spirit throughout the school body.
- Provide students with opportunities to showcase their leadership and communication skills.
- Increase social interactions between students and encourage building friendship bonds.
- Support the local community through networking and interacting with nonprofit organizations outside of St. Agnes.
- Improve the school culture by promoting involvement and contribution of all student body members.
Top Cultural Events Organized at St. Agnes Academy Shaping Our Community
So, how did we celebrate this semester? These Top 9 Cultural Events at St. Agnes are the most influential to the student body and the school community. By promoting inclusivity and a sense of welcoming, these events greatly improve the school experience for many St. Agnes students.
Appreciated and adored by many attending St. Agnes, these events have a significant impact on the students and faculty. From entire festivals to movie nights, these events continue to promote the St. Agnes mission of integrity and commitment to cultural awareness.
1. Annual International Food Festival Celebration
A beloved and time-honored tradition, the International Food Festival (IFF) gives students the opportunity to share the cuisine and traditions of their culture with the entire student body.
Every year, students provide hundreds of dishes to the entire school and offer educational opportunities. The students go above and beyond in their organization, planning, and management of the event, which is run by the Diversity Club, as they strive to best exemplify the values of inclusivity and compassion.
This event gives students the opportunity to feel heard and acknowledged by the student body as they further venture in their school experience. Diversity Club encourages student involvement in the celebration with hands-on experiences and dressing in cultural attire.
With the help of educational opportunities, the festival seeks to honor the diverse voices and perspectives present in our student body with a fun-filled and joyful event.
2. Lunar New Year Celebration
This semester, St. Agnes celebrated Lunar New Year with dragon dancing performances, games, festivities, and cultural cuisine. The event reflected St. Agnes’s dedication to cultural appreciation and inclusivity. The exciting assembly was a school-wide event managed and organized by a cultural club organization and promoted by the students themselves!
3. Cultural Club Leadership and Communication Opportunities
St. Agnes boasts a multitude of diverse and inclusive club opportunities to spread cultural awareness and encourage cultural pride. These clubs focus on encouraging the voices of the St. Agnes youth with exciting events, assemblies, and bonding experiences for their members.
These clubs also offer critical leadership roles to their members that can be applied outside of the St. Agnes education as real-world skills.
In addition to honing their leadership skills, students also improve communication skills as they practice outreach initiatives and collaborations with other cultural clubs. These clubs provide amazing opportunities for both the individual members and the community of St. Agnes as a whole.
Some examples of these culturally focused club organizations are:
- Diversity Club
- Voices of Black Youth Club
- Asian Culture Club
- OASIS: Organization of Asian Students in SAA Club
- South Asian Society
- Latin American Youth Association
- European Culture Club
4. Art Exhibition - Performance, Graphic Media, and More!
The annual art exhibition at St. Agnes provides students with the opportunity to present their artistic and creative expression to the entire student body in the art department.
Students showcase their cultural tradition and pride through the hands-on experience of an art exhibition setting. Supported by the teachers and faculty, this beloved tradition is attended by many students and their families. It’s a wonderful opportunity to honor and celebrate the creative voices in our community.
5. Community Service Opportunities Focused on Cultural Impact
Part of St. Agnes’s graduating requirements include 100 hours of service for underserved communities or organizations.
This requirement encourages students to support and interact with a diverse population in Houston and understand the impact of volunteering efforts in the local community through community service projects. These programs range from serving young children to providing relief and disaster support.
6. Black History Month Assembly and Hispanic Heritage Month Presentations
In February, St. Agnes makes a concerted effort to uplift and welcome all members of our community, sponsoring assembly meetings to celebrate the diverse voices present on campus. Ranging from dance performances and arts and crafts, these events inspire and honor the stories and perspectives of our students here at St. Agnes.
During Hispanic Heritage Month, the cultural clubs and St. Agnes administration strive to bring in influential keynote speakers and inspiring orators for students. Students are encouraged to share experiences, and we provide students with the opportunity to showcase educational presentations and research projects to the student body.
7. Cinco de Mayo Celebration
Outside of club involvement, St. Agnes provides many opportunities to engage students in cultural traditions, including honoring important holidays and celebrations.
The most recent Cinco de Mayo celebration was an exciting and wholesome event, supplied with various cultural cuisine items and traditional decorations. The rowdy mariachi band ensured an exciting and fun-filled party for the students at the end of the semester.
8. South Asian Societies Festival of Colors
This semester, the South Asian Society celebrated their first-ever Holi celebration, or Festival of Colors. From mehndi painting and live music to the friendly competition in the powdered colors of the festival, the event spread cultural awareness and understanding, while encouraging their fellow students’ cultural expression during the semester.
9. Communication at Club Leadership for Cultural Associations
All culturally focused club organizations that plan the events pride themselves on efficient and concise communication, both with members in the St. Agnes community and outside organizations. The communication and leadership skills gained from membership in these clubs are incredibly useful in real-life application opportunities.
These clubs – and most clubs at St. Agnes – are open and accepting of collaboration with other clubs and are eager to provide helpful opportunities to their students and members.
To contact any of the faculty managing these clubs, go to our faculty and staff page on our website. Our teachers are always happy to assist and answer any questions about these opportunities provided.
Impact of Cultural Events for High School Students at St. Agnes
The cultural events organized and run at St. Agnes allow students to feel welcomed and acknowledged among the chaos of the high school experience.
These events are joy and laughter-filled bonding moments that create a strong sense of unity and school culture on campus. From art exhibitions to community service projects, the multitude of ways to celebrate the diverse voices and cultures of our school students.
Our faculty and staff strive to create a welcome and inclusive environment for our students through active encouragement and communication. Their constant support is a crucial factor in creating a unified and connected sisterhood community at St. Agnes.
Encouraging cultural awareness and expression in an academic setting fosters more educated, respectful, and joyful students. Our students are better prepared and better connected to the diverse voices and perspectives present in our modern world.
We pride ourselves on effectively preparing and informing our students through cultural events for high school students and creating assemblies throughout the semester. Learn more about the latest events and happenings at St. Agnes!
