Middle School students in grade 6 had a day of service, community, connection, and learning centered around the food they eat and the family heritage that shaped them. 

 

The heritage cookbook project is an annual interdisciplinary unit led by Middle School world history teacher Rian Otto and English teacher Owen Beitner, which explores family history and cultural traditions centered around food. The project began as an innovation summer grant at St. Margaret’s, driven by a desire to foster connections and celebrate diversity in the St. Margaret’s community. Mr. Beitner and Ms. Otto envisioned a cross-disciplinary unit that would place community-building at its core.

Mr. Beitner expresses the importance of cultivating meaningful connections, “Mrs. Otto and I know that to teach a mind, one must first touch a heart. This cross-division experience provides students the opportunity to learn about one another in a meaningful way that ends with sharing cherished family meals.”

Students in Ms. Otto’s class drew a map of their country of origin and created heritage presentation slides. Students presented their story in both writing and history classes.

World history and writing blocks were combined to provide students the opportunity to hear from their peers. In addition, students were provided with public speaking opportunities in a more formal manner. The goal was to bring St. Margaret’s community together as students begin the first year of Middle School and to provide an elevated speaking experience for students.

In Mr. Beitner’s writing class, students interviewed family members about their cultural heritage and explored stories behind family recipes with cultural significance. They also spoke with grandparents, as well as aunts and uncles, to learn more about their cultural backgrounds and personal experiences.

 

As part of the Heritage lesson, the students wrote thank you letters, led by Middle School English teacher Rebecca Tufo, while computer science teacher Nathan Valdez taught an art activity. 

Finally, the students gathered around a vibrant multicultural potluck held in the Middle School courtyard. Families came together to share more than just food as they brought personal stories and cherished traditions to the table. Parents and friends contributed home-cooked dishes that represented a rich tapestry of global cultures, including offerings from Australia, South Korea, the Philippines, Germany, Greece, Hawaii, Iran, Guatemala, India, China, the United Kingdom, France, Japan, Italy, and Mexico.

The event filled the courtyard with excitement as students, professional community, and families sampled a wide array of dishes from savory empanadas and sticky musubi to fragrant potstickers, smoky barbecue, and flavorful noodle dishes. Many of the recipes had been passed down through generations, while others were simply beloved staples in family kitchens.

"It was wonderful to see so many parents and grandparents here on campus to share their family recipe with our hungry and grateful grade 6 students and teachers,” Mrs. Otto said. “Our Tartan community is truly strengthened by this cherished experience of learning, food, and fellowship.”

The heritage feast event and the shared meal offered students a deeper understanding of both community responsibility and cultural pride, a fitting tribute to St. Margaret’s values around empathy, generosity, and global citizenship.

“My hope is that students see themselves in one another. Empathy, community, and literally breaking bread with their classmates are such invaluable lessons,” said Mr. Beitner. “Building community through this project offers students an insight into a world possibly unlike their own, while seeing value in it.”