School culture day illustrated diversity in student community
Following research by the students that revealed 50 different cultures in the school, this only provided further impetus for the organising Steering Group of students in their planning for Culture Day at Dundalk Grammar School. The diversity of culture in schools in Dundalk has brought a richness of perspective and ideas in to the education system, and the idea of having a Culture Day in the school was to tap in to this rich tapestry of culture.
Often students are sitting in the same class beside a student from a different ethnic background, or whose family tree goes back to another country, without having a full knowledge of that country or culture. Culture Day provided the opportunity for students to do whatever they wished to positively highlight their culture. Through a better understanding of each other’s culture, the hope was to bring the cultures closer together. To highlight the diversity, but to bring together through shared un- derstanding. The overriding feeling of the Day was that it exceeded all expectations in achieving this goal.
A visitor to the school on the Day could not but have been struck by the colour on display, be it the cultural dress of many of the students, the abundance of stalls giving visual display to many countries, and the colour of the decorations and posters put up to highlight the Day. What resulted was a relaxed and informal atmosphere about the school as students soaked up the pleasant atmosphere of the Event. Live music played over lunch time. A Soccathon ran through the afternoon. Teachers organized various activities with their classes to embody the message of the day. Some wonderful world map posters had been prepared by students, depicting the origins of the many students at the school. With so much going on, there was a noticeable buzz about school that day.
Perhaps it is fair to say that the high- light of the Day, and the Event which stood out, was the Cultural Presentation Event staged by the students in the afternoon. The range of performances put on gave full exposure to the talents, and the diversity of culture, of the student population. Poetry, Singing, Dancing, Strings Music, Piano, Video. The richness of cultural diversity was all there.
The Day had started with a special Assembly put on by the students, and ended with the Presentation Event. In between, so much had gone on. This was the first such Day held in the School. The organizers were delighted that it had exceeded the hopes of their highest expectations.
Celebration of Culture Day will now become an Annual Event at Dundalk Grammar School. The Steering Group can be proud of their role in organising the very first one. Their theme was “Acknowledge Diversity, Work towards Unity”.