Mayfield Junior School Brings the World to Campus at Annual Family Heritage Fair

At the end of January, Mayfield Junior School’s campus was bustling during its annual Family Heritage Fair, a vibrant celebration of connection and community. The beloved event concludes Mosaic Month, a schoolwide focus on honoring the many cultures that enrich the Mayfield community.

Students explored the world with “passports” in hand, journeying across campus to experience traditions from around the globe. Families shared meaningful customs through hands-on activities, storytelling, music, cuisine, and more. From creative expression to cultural history, the Fair offered students an engaging opportunity to learn from one another and celebrate the rich diversity of cultures represented on campus.

This year’s event featured an array of engaging experiences, including bachata and salsa dance lessons, an immersive exhibit highlighting lost treasured Black communities across America, hosted by Mayfield’s multi-ethnic student leadership group, Inclusive by Design, and a popular International Candy & Snack Shoppe.

(L to R) Maral Kirkpatrick and Selin Mirzakhanian enjoy the festivities at the 2026 MJS Family Heritage Fair.

A special highlight was a drum presentation by Chief Quetzalcoatl of the Eagle Toltec Qusaonez Nation and Carolina Vasquez, a Navajo Indigenous. They shared four drums, two of which were more than 100 years old, crafted by children on reservations using buffalo and deer hunted by their elders. Passed down through generations to tribal leaders, these sacred instruments continue to preserve and share the history, culture, and beliefs of their heritage.

(L to R) Joanne Heffernan (right) and students proudly display their Family Heritage Fair “passports.

Food, its own universal language, remained a highlight of the Fair. Members of the Mayfield community enjoyed flavors from around the world. From Iran, they sampled chickpea cookies and gheimeh, a traditional stew. Taiwan was represented by pork sausage, pineapple cake, and passion fruit and watermelon boba. Bulgarian offerings included kiselo mlyako yogurt and vafla wafers, while the United Kingdom featured classic shortbread and crisps.

Front: Ashley Feng shares one of her favorite juices with a student.

The global tasting continued with Vietnamese beef pho, Korean kimbap and chocolate pies, and Japanese fruit-flavored mochi. German selections included bratwurst, apple spritzer, caramels, and Haribo gummies. Armenian cheese boreg, a savory pastry filled with soft cheese, and nazook, a sweet, buttery rolled pastry often flavored with sugar, cinnamon, and nuts, were served alongside Greek koulourakia, buttery shortbread cookies. From China came pork, cabbage, and corn dumplings, along with prune juice and a bean-based dessert. The Jewish American table offered challah bread served with butter and honey, while Italy was represented by cheese and beef ravioli.

(L to R) Zenay Howard, Elizabeth Swartz, Mari Agundez, Diana Gonzalez, and Alma Gomez gather during the celebration.

“This year’s Heritage Fair highlighted the strength of our parent partnership and community,” said Dean of Student Life Armando Avelar. “With the most cultural booths represented in our school’s history, families created welcoming spaces where students of all ages could share their cultures and form meaningful connections across the school.”

Heritage months at Mayfield are thoughtfully designed to celebrate the many cultures that shape the Holy Child community. Rooted in inclusion and respect, these celebrations invite students to deepen their understanding of cultural history, traditions, and the shared dignity of God’s people around the world.

Front Row (L to R): Mayfield students pose with faculty following a lively Mariachi performance. Back Row (L to R): Darin Doerning and Mari Agundez.

The day began with Mariachi musicians on Mayfield’s Spirit Field, sharing festive tunes with the entire campus community.

The Fair was chaired by parents Caren Cheng P ’27, ’31, ’33 and Ada Liu P ’27, ’31, whose leadership helped bring the event to life.

Back row: Elizabeth Swartz and a student invite school community members to learn more about Mexico.

Chief Quetzalcoatl (right) shares the art of drumming with students.

(L to R) Elizabeth Angiuli, Antonella Nistorescu, Nellie Duran, and Perry Vidalakis at the 2026 Family Heritage Fair.

About Mayfield Junior School

Founded in 1931 by the Society of the Holy Child Jesus, Mayfield Junior School is a leading Catholic, independent, coeducational school serving students from Kindergarten through Grade 8. Rooted in the Holy Child philosophy, Mayfield is dedicated to educating the whole child—nurturing intellectual curiosity, spiritual growth, creativity, and physical development. Located next to historic Old Pasadena, Mayfield offers a dynamic and supportive learning environment that equips students with the skills and values to thrive in high school and beyond. Discover more at www.mayfieldjs.org.