by Brett Andersen
Thisweek Newspapers
Hooray for Diffendoofer Day! The last book by Dr. Suess inspired the name for Cedar Park Elementary's welcome back from winter break.
Diffendoofer Day was Jan. 3, and school resumed at Cedar Park with a flurry of events and a multi-cultural theme of "All Shapes, All Colors, All Special.î
The day's theme celebrated the various ethnic backgrounds represented at the school, the second most diverse student population in the 31-school district, and how each contributes to Cedar Park's learning environment.
The day featured speakers and demonstrations from various countries including the Ukrainian tradition of decorating eggs, Irish folktales, presenters from Puerto Rico and Chinese food for lunch supplied by Panda Express. A few foreign exchange students, one from Argentina and one from Thailand, from the local high schools also addressed students.
A "paradeî of students dressed up in native clothing represented many nationalities and nations including Norway, Hmong, India, and Kenya.
Minneapolis-based trio, the Maroons, headlined the day with an hour of Caribbean Island music including calypso and reggae.
The Maroons offered the student body a historical perspective of how the instruments, music and population of the Caribbean Islands developed. The band's name is a tribute to African slaves who were marooned when slave ships ran aground on the islands.
The school has celebrated Diffendoofer Day since 2001, according to physical education teacher Karen Lorinser.
In 2000, the school celebrated "Millennium Mondayî to welcome students back from winter break. Lorinser said in 2001, the first day back was a Tuesday and "nothing fitî for naming the day.
"I stole (the name, Diffendoofer) from Dr. Suess,î she said.
"Hooray for Diffendoofer Dayî was the last book worked on by legendary children's writer Dr. Suess. He died in 1991, leaving behind an unfinished story and a few sketches. The book was completed by children's poet Jack Prelutsky and children's book illustrator Lane Smith and published in 1999.
Last year's Diffendoofer Day celebrated an environmental theme.

Brett Andersen is at av.thisweek@ecm-inc.com.

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