Students celebrate their own different cultures
IT WAS the just the beginning for Bunscoil Loreto primary school when the school community signed the pledge to become a School of Sactuary and young people are now striving to gain further recognition.
Last year, they pledged to learn what it means to be seeking sanctuary, and about the lives of refugees, migrants and marginalised groups in Ireland.
On Wednesday last, Bunscoil Loreto held a multicultural day in the school where parents, pupils, staff, Gorey Town of Sanctuary committee members and those living in the direct provision centre in Courtown were transported around the world and were treated to a truly memorable experience.
The theme for the day was ‘We Belong’ and the cultures and traditions from many countries around the world were displayed.
Students and staff alike enjoyed showing off foods and traditions from the various countries and the young people took great pride in teaching their peers about their own countries of origin.
On the day, the ‘Walton’s Music for Schools’ group who have been selected as finalists for the upcoming concert in the National Concert Hall, performed their entry based on the theme of ‘Where words fail, music speaks’, telling the story of an asylum seeker through the medium of music.
Going forward, students promise to take action to support sanctuary seekers in the daily life and also to share this new knowledge and understanding with the school’s wider community and the Schools of Sanctuary network.