Multicultural appreciation embraced at Gander school

Gander Academy certainly knows how to embrace all cultures.

More than 500 students atten¬d the K-3 school, and students, staff and members of the Gander community recently came together to celebrate Multicultural Day.

Gander Academy has a diverse population with students coming from various parts of the world and from different backgrounds. The recent gathering was a way to celebrate those differences, to learn about each other, and to share the idea that there is strength in a diverse cultural group.

The event was designed to foster respect and equality for all.

Elaine Pike, library resource teacher at Gander Academy, was the main organizer for the event. “I am confident the underlying message of our multicultural day will transpire into our daily interactions with each other. We didn’t want it to be like a ‘travel’ day where we left Gander with our passports and travelled to different parts of the world to learn about different cultures with an us-you mindset and a one-off event. (We wanted) to realize we all have our own cultures and backgrounds that make us who we are and they are all worthy of celebration and sharing.”

For Grade two and three, the special event featured presenters from the community who represented a variety of different cultures. There were people showcasing cultures from South Africa, Ukraine, Bahrain, Nigeria, India, The Philippines, Sri Lanka, Newfoundland and Labrador, Qalipu First Nation and Mi’kmaq culture.

Presentations were very hands-on. Activities included dancing in the presentation on Nigerian culture, lantern making in the offering from The Philippines, and drumming and sampling of Bannock during the Mi’kmaq presentation.

In kindergarten and Grade one, students brought in items that represented their personal culture and talked about them to the class. Students brought in items such as a rosary and Bible, teddy bears, musical instruments, items from the past like wood carving tools, family scrapbooks as well as cookbooks and storybooks.

CONTRIBUTED Nwamaka Onowotu presents on Nigerian culture to Mrs. Shea’s Grade three class at Gander Academy. The school recently celebrated Multicultural Day.

CONTRIBUTED Two Gander Academy students wear masks during a presentation on South African culture.