"Diversity is the one true thing we all have in common. Celebrate it every day."

This anonymous quote describes what Pleasant Valley School District's "Night of Unity" is all about ... celebrating the diversity in the district.Tuesday's event marked it's 13th year at the Pleasant Valley High School gym and was very well attended. This year's theme was "Painting a Positive World."There were several live performances. The PVMS chorus sang the "National Anthem," and PVE's First Grade Singers sang a couple of songs. Several dance schools performed: Cartesion Dance Academy; West End Academy of Dance; Pocono Highland Dancers; McElligott School of Irish Dance; Eleve Dance Theater; PV Hip Hop Dance Team; and Wolf Clan Dancers. Mad Science of the Lehigh Valley gave a demonstration and there was a presentation of "What is ESOL?""How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." Anne Frank, German-Jewish diarist.To that end, about 50 displays filled the gym. Many were local organizations such as the Western Pocono Lions and Lioness clubs, PVHS Leo Club, West End Rotary Club and American Legion Post 927. Local businesses such as Mrs. Bush's Personal Care Homes and Kinsely's Family Market and several organizations from the school district such as PV All Sports Club, PV Chem Free committee, PVMS PTO and more, all had displays to help people know who and what they are. There were several organizations that were on hand to help educate the public of their presence in Monroe County like Pocono Services for Families and Children, Family Promise, United Way, Women's Resources, RSVP, Relay For Life, Girls on the Run, Penn State Extension and more.One display was from the district's English Speakers of Other Languages department. Joyce Bereznak, PVI and Polk Elementary school's ESOL teacher thinks the Night of Unity event is "Important for the community to become one, to embrace the different cultures we all come from."ESOL students from the different district schools made bifold posters of the various countries that are represented in the district. Each one had pictures of foods, products and landmarks that is found in that country.Isabel Chapman, 9, is a fourth grader at PVI and an ESOL student. Her grandmother came from Puerto Rico. It was her first time at the Night of Unity and she really enjoyed the experience."I really like the food I got to sample," she said. She also enjoyed spending time at the event with her family."I met lots of people and got to do a project for it. I'm learning about different countries and people from all around the world," said Chapman."We become not a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic; different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams." Jimmy Carter, US President.Patrick Rimple, a PVHS senior, was helping visitors learn more about bubbles at the PVHS Science Club display. He thinks Night of Unity is a great event."It raises community awareness. All these different organizations show how much work they do for their community. And our school displays show younger kids what they can look forward to in high school," he said.