Formerly known as Grandparent's Day, Heritage Day is a celebration of student's individuality and cultural heritage as well as the Thanksgiving holiday.

For the day, students research their genealogy through interviews with family members and celebrate by inviting friends and family to join their classroom in a presentation of songs, skits, ethnic foods and projects detailing what they are thankful for.

On its website, Saratoga Elementary states that Heritage Day is a celebration that "provides an opportunity to bring meaningful, real-life history lessons into our classrooms and to acquaint us with the diverse backgrounds of the people in our school community."

Parent volunteer Laura Tillett, who helped organize the day's activities, said Grandparent's Day began in the late 1970s as a move to "tie the community with the classroom." However, many children did not have grandparents or could not have them attend, so the name was changed to Heritage Day to "keep celebrating individuality and culture without leaving anyone out," Tillett said.

Festivities were held individually in each classroom, with the younger grades celebrating first. The class projects ranged with grade level.

The younger grades, particularly kindergarten through second, prepared poems, skits and songs while students in older grades prepared in-depth reports about their heritage.

"The kids love it and so do the teachers," Tillett said. "It makes the parents proud and is just a great time."

Photograph by George Sakkestad Kindergarten classmates Neha Anand and Emily Hutchins sample an array of delectable ethnic foods prepared by parents to represent their country of origin.

Second grade teacher Susan Black said she had been working with her students for a month to get them ready.

On the walls students had posted "thankful turkeys" which were colored turkey-shaped books that detailed what each child was thankful for that year. Intricately dressed clothespin dolls made by the students were also displayed on a wall, attached to a world map designating where the children were from and the dates their families moved to America.

Separate poems were prepared for the girls and boys to recite, as well as a song that all students sang together. Each of the students had written and designed a "I Dream of a World" poster where they wrote what they wished for the world. Many students wished for non-violence and help for the homeless.

One of Black's students, Elizabeth McAfee, wished for no pollution and provided tips for how she would help stop pollution. McAfee, who was eagerly expecting close family and cousins, said she had fun getting ready for Heritage Day.

Most students seemed to be equally enthusiastic about the day as they rehearsed and asked multiple questions about their presentation.

While the second grade rehearsed, the kindergarten classes had begun their celebration.

In one packed kindergarten classroom, students presented songs and outfits representative of their home countries. Another classroom donned stylish paper costumes of traditional Native American and pilgrim outfits. After a round of group singing, students had the opportunity to tell the room where they were from. Countries represented included Iran, Vietnam, Czechoslovakia, Italy, Mexico, China, and Germany.

After their presentations, video cameras were tucked away as students and guests sampled finger foods from selected countries and viewed the colorful class projects.