Students from all over the world give thanks for Sullivan High School in Rogers Park

The Sullivan High School celebration is the first American Thanksgiving for Shahin Keliby, a Muslim from Burma. — The Sullivan High School celebration is the first American Thanksgiving for Shahin Keliby, a Muslim from Burma, who is grateful to the American govenrment for allowing her in “three years and two months” ago. |

Before tucking into dinner at Sullivan High School’s Thanksgiving celebration last week, Sarah Quintenz, leader of the Rogers Park school’s International Academy, asked the 180 participants — students, teachers, alumni, guests from the community — to stand, hold hands, and give thanks.

She started us off in English.

“For food, for raiment, for life, for opportunity, for friendship and fellowship, we thank thee O Lord,” said Quintenz. “Bless the cook and bless the dishwasher.”

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That drew a chuckle from the kids, whom she then asked to give thanks, each in their own native language.

“Iman ihey umah dishey ... ” Chance Uwera, 16 began at our table. Next was Josiane Irafasha, 19, both speaking in Kinyarwanda, one of four official languages of Rwanda.

“Thanks, for having a life,” translated Uwera. “God bless everyone who’s here and in the whole world.”

A world well-represented among the 650 students attending Sullivan, long a magnet for immigrants.

“Sullivan’s probably one of the most diverse schools in the city of Chicago,” said principal Chad Thomas. “We have kids from all over the world — over 40 languages spoken here.”

Chance Uwera, 16, left, and Josiane Irafasha, 19, attend a Thanksgiving dinner at Sullivan High School. Both were born in Rwanda. — Chance Uwera, 16, left, and Josiane Irafasha, 19, attend a Thanksgiving dinner at Sullivan High School, one of the most diverse schools in the city. Both were born in Rwanda.

In 2017, partly in reaction to growing anti-immigrant rhetoric in the United States, Sullivan decided to hold a school Thanksgiving. Among those celebrating their first Thanksgiving dinner last week was Shahin Keliby, who thanked her parents and “the American government.”

“They allowed us in and we are here,” said the senior, 18, a Muslim from Burma. “Three years and two months.”

The event, organized by the Friends of Sullivan, reflects the diverse face of our country’s future.

“We really believe that this is what America one day will look like,” said Thomas. “We really believe that we’re all family. We’re trying to do everything we can to bring that family together, and opportunities like this are an example of that, where we can bring American traditions and culture into the lives of our children. Many of their cultures have similar events.”

Rwandan Thanksgiving, for instance, is Umuganura — literally “Thanks Giving Day” — though it takes place in August, when families enjoy national dishes like sorghum and millet.

At Sullivan, buffet tables held both American holiday standards — platters of turkey, piles of Parker House rolls — plus less traditional Thanksgiving fare: Somalian goat stew, Congolese cabbage, chicken tacos.

Students fill their plates during the Thanksgiving celebration last week at Sullivan High School. — In the 1990s, Sullivan High School’s student population reflected an influx of immigrants from Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Now many students hail from Africa, the Middle East, Mexico and South America.

Fitting all these cultures together can be a challenge at Sullivan, where more than 90 percent of students are economically disadvantaged. Many have families scattered around the globe, and are learning to speak English.

“It can be ... tricky at times, when you have so many different languages,” Thomas said. “But we have four core values that we really believe in: family, integrity, service and tenacity. We teach all the kids, whether they speak Arabic or Spanish or English, those core values because we want them to live and embody those core values. We use them for everything.”

The Trump assault against immigration cut the flow of students to Sullivan — from 120 new immigrant students three years ago, to 30 this year. But the toxic national political atmosphere does not dampen students’ faith in their new home.

“America is so amazing,” said Irafasha, a senior who came here three years ago from Rwanda. “Really different than my country. There are a lot of things to do here. In my country, there are no jobs.”

Syed Hassan will mark his second year in the United States this Christmas Eve.

“My mom, my sister and me, we are three here,” said the senior. “I had never been even to other states in India.”

Lack of security in Southern India prompted Syed Hassan, 18, to emigrate to this country. He arrived two years ago this Christmas Eve.

What was his first impression of Chicago?

“First thing I saw was snow, and I was happy to see it,” said Hassan, 18. “After a few days I was tired of snow.”

He lived in Skokie briefly, but felt more comfortable resettling in Rogers Park.

“I feel attached here, a life that I love,” said Hassan, who hopes to go into computer science, calling his move to the neighborhood “the happiest moment of my life.”

And Sullivan High School?

“Sullivan is my ... I don’t have words for it,” he said, tearing up. “Obviously, I’m going to cry on my graduation day. I’m crying right now. I just feel attached. Every teacher: Miss Q, she was so great to me. Miss Sarah. Mr. Zepeda. Every single member of Sullivan. I know everyone at Sullivan.”