White Oaks Elementary Takes Virtual Trip to Costa Rica on Friday, May 27, 2005.

SAN CARLOS, Calif. -- Media Invited to 29th Annual Cultural Arts Day, a Colorful Event to Build Awareness and Appreciation for Other Cultures and Customs; Great Photo Ops

The students and faculty of White Oaks cordially invite media and politicians to attend the highly popular annual

White Oaks Elementary Cultural Arts Day this week, Friday May 27, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:40 p.m. Fun and learning converge once again as White Oaks devotes a day of total immersion into another culture - this year, Costa Rica - to help students learn about and appreciate other cultures. Photo opportunities will abound.

The White Oaks school is located at 1901 White Oak Way, San Carlos, California. Please call 650-200-5891 for more details, an update on event times, a map of the campus, a guided tour, or an interview principal, Betty Casey and/or the event coordinators.

This is expected to be among the most colorful, exciting Cultural Arts Day programs yet, with an emphasis on learning about and protecting the Costa Rican rainforest, one of the most unique features of the region. There will even be a mock rainforest, complete with mist and live rainforest animals. Here's a list of just a few of Wednesday's activities:

--Mist-filled rainforest tent, with a wide variety of rainforest animals

--Students and faculty will be sporting festive clothing the colors of the Costa Rican flag: red, white and blue.

--The East Bay Vivarium will perform two Reptile Assemblies at 9:25-10:25, and 10:55 - 11:55 a.m.

--Costa Rican dancers will perform a traditional Costa Rican folk dance at 2:15 p.m., followed by a student dance

--A museum will host dozens of authentic Costa Rican artifacts and items

--Spanish lessons will abound in classrooms throughout the day - including a Spanish bingo game

--Costan Rican food will be served throughout the day, including pinto gallo (beans and rice), the national dish; exotic fruit; and cajeta, a typical Costa Rican dessert.

In addition, as part of preparations for this year's Cultural Arts Day, the students of White Oaks have been raising money to save one or more acres of Costa Rican rainforest by selling Costa Rican coffee at White Oaks events (provided at a discount by the Vigal Coffee Company, and sold in bags that the students themselves decorated). At 2:30 on Friday, following the folk dances, the students and volunteers will present the resulting check to Ecosystem Survival - a San Jose-based organization dedicated to protecting threatened rainforest and wild ocean habitat through the Adopt an Acre and Adopt a Reed programs.

"These annual events provide a direct connection with other cultures, helping students to understand questions such as, 'how are we different? How are we the same'?" according to one White Oaks teacher. "Cultural Arts Day is the best day of the school year!," according to a White Oaks fourth grader. Betty Casey, principal at White Oaks, explains it this way: "We feel there's no better way to help children embrace and respect other cultures and customs than by 'living' them. Such immersion surely has more impact than reading about them in a book. And the most amazing fact of all: this annual event has been run for the past 29 years completely by parent volunteers, from cooking and serving food, lining up entertainers and educators, and this year, even rounding up animals for the rainforest tent. What a tribute to our parents!"

We hope to see you there!

Editor's note: for a map, detailed schedule of events, guided tour, interview with White Oaks principal Betty Casey, directions, photo ops, food samples or any other information, contact: Lori Evans at 650 200 5891; email: lori@evanspublicrelations.com.