Northgate was alive and spirited as students and staff celebrated multicultural week from Feb. 26 to March 1 with spirit days such as “comfy airport fits”, “travel around the world”, “crimson and gold” for school spirit, “tie dye shirts for peace and love”, a dress-up day in Disney attire and jersey day, welcoming representation of sports from around the world.
Disney Day also brought an annual blanket-making activity after school, an event held in memory of student Trevor Tonsing who died in in 2009 of a heart problem after collapsing at Northgate. The freshman, who loved Disney and was in the process of earning his Eagle Scout award with blanket-making as his project. The Northgate honored him as have many other communities, making blankets each year in his memory which are donated to hospitals,
Finally, after a week of lunchtime celebrations and activities, Fri. March 1 was a day for students to rep their heritage by wearing cultural clothes and your flag colors to school, the same day as the rally. At the rally numerous talent performances were featured from band performances to cultural dances.
The rally started off with an amazing band performance by Kevin Jung, Woosup Kim, Gavin Chang, and Johnny Lee. Following them was another band performance by lead singer Eva Kroz alongside Dylan Maloney and Liliana Canfield featuring the classic song Zombie by The Cranberries! Next up, Northgate’s very own Barbie, Stephanie Anderson, sang to “Dance the Night Away.”
Following these performances was a Bollywood dance to the songs “Gallan Goodiyan” and “Dola Re” by Mira Shankar, Devayani Batra, Sahil Patel, Zayne Samuel, Shruti Shyam, Isabelle Nepacena, Emma Francisco, and Harry Beyer. Following was a dance by the k-pop club who did great as per usual. Something in the Orange, by Zach Bryan, was performed by Lucky Franco and the audience was in awe!
Afterwards, dance production performed another Bollywood dance to Nagada Sang Dhol, choreographed by Anusha Diyyala and it showed great cultural appreciation. Then the crowd went wild for Akash Abedin’s fast tetris playing, which was seriously impressive!
Maria Joudi, Owen Ferrari, Ben Lafredo, and Wren Roberts did an amazing cover of the song Killing in the Name by Rage Against the Machine. Some more culture was mixed in by Jesse Eddy, Lola Medina, Penelope Griffin, Gracia Guerrero, Gia Valdivia, Audrey Kirkhart, Isis Bryant, Brianna Condor, and Carla Medina, through a beautiful Peruvian dance.
Sophia Rodriguez performed a beautiful Hispanic song, bringing amazing stage presence. The closing act was Polynesian dances which included Tahitian, Tongan, Hawaiian, and Samoan Dances and a traditional Hakka. This act was truly mesmerizing performed by Feao and Kalolaine Saluni, Ahi and Karen Ma’ake, Darlene and Lavi Katoa, Ileanna and William Tuavao, Raymond and Luke Alatini, Joseph and Kehe Latu, and Sumo Uesi.
The rally finally came to an end when Northgate said goodbye to Lynn Cassidy, Northgate’s longtime Attendance Secretary, which was a tearjerker for many.
