Pocantico Hills CSD

The 2025 One Poco Night celebration was so jam-packed with activities, performances, games and food, it truly outdid itself.

“It’s a great way to spend a cold night in January,” Music Teacher Sheila DiPaola told the crowd who had gathered in the auditorium to watch cultural performances by students.

And she was right. There was a ton to do, and even more to eat in what has become one of the largest community events at the school.

The evening began with several student performances. First on stage were a group of friends who performed two mediterranean fusion dances, one to Sting’s “Desert Rose,” and the other to John Lennon’s “Imagine,” sung in Arabic.

Students Layla and Noah performed the “bachata,” a popular dance from the Dominican Republic.

Claire wowed the audience with her performance of “The Sun Shines Over Jinggang Mountain,” a tune she played on the guzheng, a Chinese instrument that goes back more than 2,000 years.

The cafeteria was transformed into a museum, game room and learning center, all developed by the school’s diversity committee. Guests had an opportunity to view several artifacts from around the world. They could also engage in some fun games relating to different cultures and languages. There were books to read, written in a language other than English and guests could also try their hand at learning some basics in Croatian and Italian.

Then there was the gym, which was transformed into a multi-cultural diner. Families celebrated their cultural heritage by sharing food and treats from all around the globe.

Parent Ashley Margolis had a spread on her table of pastries, representing France.

“She loves France,” Ms. Margolis said of her daughter, second grader Emery, who inspired her to share. “And its where my family is from.”

Ms. Margolis said she and her family visited France two years ago, and Emery was intrigued with all things culinary, even taking a class to learn to make some of the specialties.

“We made crêpes,” Emery said.

Pre-Kindergarten teacher Elizabeth Lapore was there with her family, sharing Irish Soda Bread.

“It’s always a good day to be Irish,” her mother noted.

“One Poco Night is the highlight of the year, because more than any other event, it brings all of our cultures together,” Principal Adam Brown said. “It lets us break bread and appreciate each other.”

This year he said it was not only Pocantico families who helped make the event special by sharing their cultural food, but teachers and staff who shared food and helped organized the games, crafts and hands-on experiences that were also part of the evening.