With the nearly 30 cultures our students and staff identify with or derive from at our kura, we decided we needed a day of celebration.

Last Thursday, with the help of students’ whanau and caregivers, we held workshops throughout the school, the children experiencing a mix of countries and discovering similarities and differences between our cultures.  We mixed up the classes, enabling senior and junior students to get to know and support each other.

Right from the beginning of the day, when some students arrived in their wonderful traditional clothing, there was a buzz of anticipation in the air. 

In the session, children got to taste food they had never tried before, learn dances, write in a different language, paint and create, learn greetings, play instruments and much, much more.

Towards the end of the school day we joined together in an assembly to show the variety of mahi that had been undertaken.  Flags were waved and the learning continued!

Later, there was much interest and excitement when looking through the fantastic flags Miss Hay had created for us.  These will stay in our office area for now, for everyone to browse and enjoy.

A massive thank you to all who helped to make this such a successful day, especially the planning team of Mrs Silk-Martelli, Whaea Ceri, Mrs Joe and Whaea Shayne.  We are looking forward to doing this all again very soon!

 

Check out our Facebook page for more photos from the day.