Middle school students at Memorial Pathway Academy got a taste of Texas culture last month, without leaving campus. On Friday, Sept. 26, the opening day of the State Fair of Texas, the school hosted a “State Fair Day,” giving newcomer students, many of whom speak limited English and have never experienced the fair, a hands-on introduction to one of the state’s most iconic events.

Monica Black, the school librarian, organized the event.

“When I started here last year, I asked the kids if they had ever been to the State Fair,” she said. “Many didn’t know what it was. I realized this is such a huge part of Texas culture, and I wanted to give them a chance to experience it, even in a small way.”

Students spent two hours of their Friday morning rotating through booths and playing games modeled after the State Fair, like rubber duck trivia, cornhole, and ring toss. The games were designed to be both fun and educational, helping students learn about Texas culture, practice communication skills, and understand concepts like earning and spending tickets. Educational vendors also encouraged students to engage and learn, with opportunities to trade tickets for prizes. 

The teachers had decorated the two gyms to make the experience festive, and students created artwork featuring Big Tex and other fair elements to display during the event.

Student Nutrition Services joined in the fun, preparing State Fair-inspired menu items. Students sampled mac and cheese bites, corn dogs, beef-and-cheese taco crisp ups, elote corn cups, and a refreshing Paradise Punch Splash during the event, and enjoyed full-sized versions during lunch.

Sixth grader Kim Tran was excited about everything she had learned and created for State Fair Day. “It’s big, and tall,” she said with a wide smile, referring to her artwork of Big Tex, the iconic symbol of the fair. She eagerly explored the games and activities set up in the decorated gyms, exclaiming, “It’s fun!” Kim is already looking forward to visiting the State Fair in Dallas to see it in real life.

“Celebrating culture isn’t just important, it’s essential,” Black said. “The State Fair of Texas, often called the most Texan place on Earth, served as the perfect backdrop to explore what it means to belong, to share, and to celebrate. But culture isn’t a single story, it’s a fusion, a melting pot of traditions, languages, and lived experiences. That is who we are at Memorial Pathway Academy. My hope was for students to embrace the fair in all its spirited Texan glory while also holding tight to their own roots. Because in a true melting pot, we don’t lose our flavor, we enrich the whole.”

Black emphasized that the event couldn’t have happened without the support of campus administrators and teachers.

“It was all hands on deck,” she said, reflecting on the collaboration that helped make the day possible. Community partners like Dallas College multilingual services, the Golden Education Foundation, and the Ball of Noon Exchange Club also provided funding and support.

This inaugural State Fair Day was designed just for middle school students this year. The hope is to expand the event to the entire campus next year and beyond, giving even more students the chance to experience the fun, food, and culture of Texas while celebrating their own roots.