A charter school in east Dearborn that focuses on diversity and Arabic language instruction reached out to the community on Tuesday in an open house event aimed at bringing parents, teachers, students and friends closer together.

The event wasn't a typical school open house, said Dearborn Academy principal Caterina Berry.

In addition to touring the school and meeting with teachers, a feast and a reception were held in an effort to foster a close-nit, family-like environment.

Located in an Armenian community center in between a group of churches and the Islamic Center of America at Ford and Altar Roads, the school attracts families from Detroit and Dearborn looking for for an alternative environment for their kids.

Berry said that even though not all the students are Arab, parents value the 45 minutes a day of Arabic instruction, a program funded by a federal grant through the Foreign Language Assistance Program.

She said the school also provides differential instruction — tailoring to the needs of each student when they are advanced or behind in any subject.

The autonomy that the K-8 school has allows for alternative ways of allocating money, Berry said, creating opportunities to acquire high-tech computer facilities and highly qualified teachers, most of whom hold master's degrees.

But she said that what parents and students respond to most is a distinct environment that brings together people of a wide array of backgrounds.

"Parents like the diversity," she said. "And we're kind of like a family."

Amani Rahhal, a Detroit resident who has 5 children attending the school said she can't expose her kids to enough Arabic at home, and that it makes her happy to know her native language is part of their curriculum at school.

"They teach them our language. It's a good school," she said.

Nada Hashem, Assistant Project Director for the Arabic program, said Tuesday's open house, which was well attended by Arab, black and South Asian American families was an example of the school's capacity to unite people.

"Education is what connects all of us," she said.