Portsmouth City Schools’ English Language Learner (ELL) program, led by teacher Taitlyn Dutey, creates an inclusive environment by celebrating a variety of cultural holidays throughout the year. The program acknowledges both American holidays and those significant to students from diverse backgrounds, helping them feel connected to their new community while honoring their own traditions.
“We talk and learn about all the holidays from American culture and the students’ own cultures,” Dutey said. “We celebrate Día de los Muertos, Christmas and Holi, which is an Indian holiday, among others.”
Each holiday celebration is tailored to educate and engage students with meaningful activities. For Día de los Muertos, for example, students make traditional masks, read stories, watch films and share traditional foods. Christmas is marked with a large district-wide party that includes gifts for each student, food and festive activities like ornament decorating. The celebration of Holi is incorporated into the school’s annual culture fest, where students learn about this colorful Indian festival.
One of Dutey’s favorite memories was last year’s Christmas party, which had a significant impact on the students. “We accepted donations to get each student an individual present, and they had an entire day to celebrate,” she recalled. “They decorated cookies, made ornaments and enjoyed time together. The smiles and excitement on their faces were priceless.”
Organizing celebrations for a diverse group of students comes with its challenges. The largest population in the program is Hispanic, but students come from a variety of countries with unique traditions. “It’s hard to celebrate every single one,” said Dutey. “To overcome this, we make sure to at least talk about all the holidays that are important to them.”
Dutey believes that balancing the celebration of traditional American holidays with those of her ELL students is key to building a supportive environment. “We celebrate them all,” she emphasized. The program ensures that no student feels left out or disconnected from their heritage by giving equal importance to both American traditions and those from their home countries.
These celebrations foster community, cultural understanding and inclusivity among ELL students, helping them bridge the gap between their old and new worlds. By combining holiday festivities with educational activities, Portsmouth City Schools’ ELL program is doing more than just teaching English—it’s creating a space where students feel valued and understood.
