News
De La Salle Students Learn about Diversity with ‘Mix It Up’
By Myles Glover
Peer Leader at De La Salle North
Catholic High School, Class of 2013
S
ince America is a very diverse nation,
the average person would think that
our school system would be even
more diverse. For most schools, especially
private schools, that is not the case. Howev-
er, at De La Salle North Catholic High
School, we pride ourselves on the diversity
of our school. We embrace all nationalities,
celebrating Hispanic
Heritage Month, Black
History Month, and
Asian and Pacific
Islander Month. Just a
few weeks ago, we had
our Third Annual Mix
It Up Week. By defini-
tion, Mix It Up Week
helps students foster
respect, understanding,
and inclusivity in our
school by learning how
to celebrate our differ-
ences and discover
what unites us.
During Mix It Up
Week, we had many
activities planned. For
two days in a row, we had an extra hour-
long period added to our schedule. During
that time, the school was “mixed up” by
gender, school year, and racial and ethnic
background and put into different class-
rooms. There, the groups participated in
activities that were specifically designed for
encouraging discussion about differences
and making students see their classmates in
a new, positive way.
During one activity called “Where the
Wind Blows,” participants played a game
similar to musical chairs. When someone
mentioned a characteristic (such as “speaks
a different language at home” or “works an
after-school job”) everyone who had that
characteristic needed to find a new spot in a
circle. This game helped to show common-
alities and shared experiences. Another
activity was called “Silent Conversation.”
Groups were shown
thought-provoking
images and, instead
of speaking out loud,
people wrote back
and forth about what
they thought was
going on in the
photo. The pictures
were about issues
affecting young peo-
ple today, such as
body image or bully-
ing. Also throughout
the week, during
lunch, we had class-
es
that
taught
different
things
about diversity. For
example, our school history teacher, Mr.
Peter Myers, taught students how to tie a
bow tie in order to teach ways to be unique.
To make Mix It Up Week even more awe-
some, we played Michael Jackson’s famous
song “Black and White” as our school bell
and passing period bell.
To make Mix It Up
Week even more
awesome, we played
Michael Jackson’s
famous song ‘Black
and White’ as our
school bell and
passing period bell
Myles Glover, center front, and other De La salle students in a Mix It Up Week
activity around personal identity.
In addition, during one of the Mix It Up
days, we had a visit from two special
guests, students from the Catlin Gabel
School Diversity Committee. They came
during the week to observe, so that, hope-
fully, they can do something similar at their
school. As De La Salle North does so well,
we welcomed them with open arms and
made their experience special, suggesting
tips and even offering to be a part of their
Mix It Up Week.
Mix It Up Week helped students, faculty
and staff address misconceptions about dif-
ferent groups and understand the realities
and dreams of different people. Since we
are a small community, it had the effect of
bringing the school together and helping us
all to realize that we can be friends and be
together as one big family.
Fire Food
continued from page 9
ing, grilling, boiling
baking, all of the
above. I mix up the
vegetables, so I’m
not eating broccoli
every day. And let’s
face it; anxiety is
probably just as bad
for you.
I’m really pas-
sionate about food,
music and lifestyle.
And life is to be
enjoyed. So I will
always go by what
my
grandmother
said, “All things in
moderation at all
times.”
TSN: Do your
children like to
cook?
RM: I have three
girls, aged 5, 4 and
1. One of them right
now has a really
keen interest in
cooking.
The
youngest one right
now is always up on
Page 10 The Portland Skanner
the counter, watch-
ing everything I’m
doing. So she’s real-
ly focused on it. I
showed them won-
tons the other day,
the know how to do
that now. They
know how to crack
eggs and make an
omelet. Or if I’m
making pancakes
and I leave out an
ingredient, they will
remind me, “You
November 28, 2012
forgot the sugar.” So
I know they are
absorbing the stuff
I’m showing them.
If they are more
interested in color-
ing
while
I’m
cooking I let them
color, but if they
want to learn how to
do something they
are definitely there.
TSN:
So you
already shot your
Portland show?
RM: Yes, I came to
Portland. I’d already
been to Seattle, and
the region, but I’ve
always heard that
Portland was a really
interesting
city.
When I arrived I
really loved Portland
and quickly decided
that it is one of my
favorite cities in
America. We went
to Ned Ludd, and
that was great. I got
to eat his food.
Roger Mooking with barbecue made out of an ocean
buoy