International
Week was celebrated in the school last week as a time of celebrating and
appreciating cultural diversity within our school community.
During
the week. students were entertained with cultural music by school musicians and
Mr Jack Kirifi from our local community came and spoke to Year 10 class on his
perspective of being Samoan and coaching rugby. Students from Germany, Japan
and China also visited junior classes as guest speakers for question and answer
times about their home country sharing their knowledge and talking about not
only the differences but also the similarities.
Several
events were held in the library. Mrs Hermanns had interested students making
iconic buildings models, there was a quiz on car logos from around the world
and Guess the Comics’ origins. One event which also proved to be very popular
was the sushi making demonstration by Ken and Sonya, Sushi Ninja owners. Boys
could also have a go at making sushi themselves and there was a chance to
answer questions to win a slice of sushi. I’m sure we’ll aim to have this again
next year.
The
hostel dining room also got into the theme with a variety of food from
different days having Italian, Greek, Mexican, USA and Hungarian meals and
International students read a prayer in own language each week. Another popular
event for all juniors was sport from different countries being taught by the
senior students and students made the most of the fine weather during the week.
Students
from Dongguan Middle School in China were a highlight at assembly on Friday
presenting their school dance and thanking their Year 10 buddies who did an
outstanding job of looking after them at school during their stay of one month.
The boys also visited a junior class and taught them their Chinese song.
Friday
was the climax to a great week. Students wore mufti with a cultural theme and
the boys could buy Japanese, Indian, Chinese and pizzas food at lunchtime while
listening to Spanish music being played in the quad by school band under
guidance of Mr Tobias Wright and accompanied by Mrs Christina Hermanns.
The
intention of International week was strengthening
cultural and ethnic diversity. Once
again, the school can continue to feel enriched by the experience recognising the
core values of our Catholic Lasallian school which include and reflect
the values of cultural diversity.
