The hallways at Western Academy of Beijing Elementary School were full of color and excitement on Wednesday, October 15, as students celebrated International Day.

Students, teachers and staff dressed in their home country's traditional dress, national team sports jerseys, national-colored clothing, wigs and flags fashioned into capes.

The day began with Elementary students, parents and staff gathering together in the gym to honor the vast diversity at the school. The entire gym erupted in song as teacher Paul Shiel led them in the WAB original song "Citizens of the World." The song promotes a message of connecting with and understanding the people and the world around us.

Students then had the opportunity to share traditional cuisines with their classmates and friends during a special International Day lunch, with the help of their family members.

One can imagine just how diverse this lunch event was, as there are 56 nationalities represented among WAB's student body.

In an international school setting and in the larger context of a closely connected global community, WAB hosts events like these to encourage students to become global citizens.

Deputy Director Donna Connolly has been leading a group working to define the school's International Mindedness.

We have "been working together since the beginning of last school year to create an engaging and contextually appropriate definition of interculturalism at WAB," as well as to put it into action inside and outside the school and express WAB's commitment to remaining internationally minded through as many values as possible, she said.

"As global citizens, the WAB community fosters respect and understanding in order to build international mindedness." This has become the basic principle of International Mindedness at WAB, representing the way we inspire our students and entire community to embrace their international lifestyles and become contributing citizens of the world.