For over 25 years, Chandler High students have utilized our Unity Assembly to spotlight the unique student body of Chandler High by promoting the expression of different cultures on campus. Staff and students alike will tell you that the Unity Assembly is the most entertaining and important Chandler High tradition. For incoming Wolves who might not have heard of the event, it’s a celebration of diversity and culture on campus featuring exceptional and unique student performances. The Unity Assembly “is a way to highlight all the different diverse cultures and individuals that we have on our campus” said CHS Student Council advisor and long-time Unity Assembly organizer Mr. Gray.
According to Niche, Chandler High School is in the Top 3 Most Diverse Public High Schools in Arizona. Student Council hopes to highlight that diversity with the Unity Assembly. Performer Maya Gomez says the assembly “is an opportunity to show my culture and see different people show off their cultures.” At Chandler High we value the Unity Assembly as a theater for the unique heritages of our students. Two-time performer Andrea Lee-Cruz believes that the expression of culture and celebration of diversity on campus “is what makes Chandler High special.” She says that exposing yourself to diverse perspectives makes you a more empathetic person, and that CHS “prides ourselves on being such a diverse school.”
Representation is crucial for all of us at Chandler High. It’s a way to make us feel included on campus and give ourselves a sense of community and belonging. Performer Maria Boyd says that “Unknowingly, a lot of kids could be sheltered from other cultures […] and I think it’s good to show kids that there’s other people in the world who do things differently or believe different things, so that when we are out of high school we are more accepting and can interact with people more.” The representation makes our campus even more unified, and gives students a sense of community. According to a study by the Organization For Economic Cooperation and Development, students who feel represented and get involved in their schools “develop a sense of belonging […] They do not believe their school experience has much bearing on their future, and they do not feel accepted by their classmates or teachers. Gradually these students withdraw from school life, and become disaffected from school.” The Unity Assembly allows students to be included, represented, and engaged with their peers and community, increasing their feeling of belonging at the school.
Over the years, some memorable performances and talents have walked across the stage of the Chandler Center for the Arts. Artistic diversity is represented through acts such as APAC Theater, CHS Men’s Choir, the traditional Baile Folklorico, the CHS Pom Team and Modazz, while cultural diversity is also highlighted by acts like a Hip Hop Afro dance, an electric guitar performance, and a Tutting dance. All of this year’s fantastic groups showcased a variety of talents and perspectives.
Our Unity Assembly performers wanted to represent their cultures as well as the cultures of our school. Andrea Lee-Cruz decided to fuse the 1990 street dance style of Tutting, a form of dance that highlights hand and arm movements,and a Korean Pop song. The fusion of these two distinct cultures is representative of the unique intersectionality of Chandler High students. She told us, “there’s a lot of other genres and languages that people haven’t been exposed to, and I wanted to represent that in my dance.” Maya Gomez and Layla Guerrero performed a traditional Baile Folklorico to La Bamba, a song from the Veracruz region. The dance was a spotlight on the students’ cultures, and an opportunity to showcase Folklorico culture. “It means that some of us Hispanics who come from Veracruz can see more of their culture, see where these beautiful dances come from, and learn more about the history behind them,” Gomez said.
Past performances have made their mark on Chandler High. The Desi Fusion Group, which performed dance acts to Desi music, was a favorite of many students. CHS has also been home to many other cultural groups, like Thai dancers, a ukulele group, and Tahitian dancers. But perhaps the most tragically missed act of the 2021 Unity Assembly was the Scottish bagpipe group Arizona Emerald Society, of which beloved CHS Swim and Dive coach and teacher Mr. Croswhite was a part of. Sadly, Mr. Croswhite passed away in 2020 due to COVID-19, but his legacy on Unity Assembly will not be forgotten. CHS staff and students all vividly remember the iconic performance as an anchor of the assembly. In tribute to Coach Croswhite, the Chandler Men’s Choir performed a touching ode in a Scottish song, Loch Lomond, as an homage to his Scottish heritage.
Past performances have made their mark on Chandler High. The Desi Fusion Group, which performed dance acts to Desi music, was a favorite of many students. CHS has also been home to many other cultural groups, like Thai dancers, a ukulele group, and Tahitian dancers. But perhaps the most tragically missed act of the 2021 Unity Assembly was the Scottish bagpipe group Arizona Emerald Society, of which beloved CHS Swim and Dive coach and teacher Mr. Croswhite was a part of. Sadly, Mr. Croswhite passed away in 2020 due to COVID-19, but his legacy on Unity Assembly will not be forgotten. CHS staff and students all vividly remember the iconic performance as an anchor of the assembly. In tribute to Coach Croswhite, the Chandler Men’s Choir performed a touching ode in a Scottish song, Loch Lomond, as an homage to his Scottish heritage.
A true Chandler High tradition, our Unity Assembly continues to unite staff and students through a diverse and unique gathering of the most talented acts. Students feel represented through the rich celebration of differences, and feel more connected to their peers. Despite the noticeable scars left by the ongoing pandemic, this showcase of our student body has still shone brightly in the darkness.
