Last Saturday, February 28, the Lower School held a bustling, community-building celebration as warm as the sunny day, PolyCultura 2026. Organized by Director of Family Engagement & Community Life; Dean of Students Kimberly Davis Rivizzigno P’35 and co-chaired by Jess Benjamin P’39, ’40 and Christine Han P’36, ’40, the two-hour afternoon event centered on belonging; one of the pillars of Diversity, Inclusion, Equity, and Belonging (DEIB). Families and students opened “Our Storybook of the World: Every Story Belongs” and stepped into storytelling activities that showcased cultures, creativity, and the power of every voice. 

Light-filled rooms from the library to the dance studio were filled with color, crafts, and conversation thoughtfully curated by our HUGs families. HUGs—Historically Underrepresented Groups—is a family-led initiative fostering unity, understanding, community, and activism at Poly. HUGs LGBTQ+ welcomed performer Eden DarkStar back to Poly for storytime with our youngest students. She read Mixed: A Colorful Story by Arree Chung, a children’s picture book about prejudice, inclusion, and celebrating differences, using primary colors. HUGs AAPI led “Hand Fans from Around the World” where students designed fans that reflected their heritages and joined in the rich cultural artistry of fan-making. HUGs Black & Latinx‘s Community Weaving Wall used textured, colorful fabrics to create a visual representation of how individual contributions to the Poly Prep community weave together to create something unique and beautiful. Participants in HUGs Culturally and Observant Muslims (COM) Community Quilt of Names learned to write their names in Arabic and decorate their cloth for an impressive final quilt. HUGs for Jewish Families reminded us that our personal stories shape our paths and help define who we are with “Tell Your Story Beads,” turning stories into wearable bracelet keepsakes.

Other highlights included an interactive Post-It Wall: “I Am…” where students wrote affirming self-identified messages; henna and fairy-hair stations sparked creativity; spirited performances by the Middle School Step Team, Upper School Step Team, E-Pi Steppers, and the Upper School Dance Team; savory snacks in the form of delicious hot empanadas from a food truck parked out front; and a chance for families to “Poly-ify” their wardrobe at the school pop-up shop in the Hubbert Room. 

Together, these moments, hands-on making, expressive performance, and warm conversation, turned the afternoon into a living portrait of belonging where every voice and culture was seen and celebrated.