A LOWER Earley primary school held a grand celebration of cultural diversity last week.
Around a thousand people, made up of pupils and their families, came to enjoy the sights, sounds, and flavours of multi-cultural heritage at a joyful parade and festival at Hawkedon Primary School.
Hawkedon is the largest primary school in Lower Earley.
It serves 630 pupils, who come from 60 different countries around the world, and speak 35 languages between them.
Headteacher Gareth O’Shea said: “Our community is very diverse here, and we wanted everyone to be able to come into school to celebrate all the different cultures.
“We were hoping that it wouldn’t rain, and it hasn’t, which has been fantastic.
“It’s brilliant to have so many parents here.
“They’ve been really enthusiastic, and there’s such a sense of excitement.
“They’ve put together a number of stalls representing countries from around the world.
“Some have brought in food, while others have brought in objects that represent their culture.
“We usually ask children what their home languages are, but we don’t necessarily learn where their birth place is.
“So it’s been really interesting to find out that they come from such a wide range of places, and wonderful to be able to celebrate that.”
On the celebration day, the children were invited to dress in traditional or typical clothing, or the colours of the country they represented.
They processed together as part of a colourful promenade around the school in recognition of all the represented communities and cultures.
There were two parades, one for reception children, and another in the afternoon for the rest of the school years.
Afterwards years 2 and 3 performed Indian drumming, and years 4 and 5 demonstrated a Chinese dragon dance.
LIz Woodard, school business manager said: “We’ve had events going on all week and the atmosphere is buzzing.
“All the stories that the children have been telling, and the conversations we’ve been having, have been wonderful.
“Everyone is learning and sharing about where they come from.
“One of our teachers said that this has been the best off-curriculum days they have ever had, because of the children’s engagement.
“This hasn’t been teacher led, it has been led by the whole community.”
Staff and parents set up stalls to represent the different countries, displaying traditional clothes, flags, musical instruments, objects of interest, photographs and artwork.
Festival goers were also able to sample cultural delicacies from around the world, including soda bread made by the head teacher, at his stall representing Ireland.
Head of year 4 Amy Cooke said: “Two weeks ago we gave all the children homework.
“We asked everyone to research and share something about their country with the community.
“We had an amazing response, with children singing traditional songs in their own languages, playing musical instruments, sharing food, making posters, and even making things out of lego.
“We’ve all been learning something, not just the children, but the teachers too.”
Families were full of praise for the event.
Parent, Subadhra, said: “It’s a wonderful day.
“It’s all so colourful, and everyone is so enthusiastic.
I’m helping out on the Indian stall, and parents have been coming to taste the different foods we have brought.
“It’s good to see everyone out, and the weather supporting us as well.”
Another parent, Omaima, said: “We’ve felt so welcomed.
“It’s really interesting to learn about all the other cultures.
“At our Sudanese stall people have been enjoying the baklava and falafel.”
Other parents, Pradeep and Meenakshi, said: “This is a great event.
“Britain has always welcomed migrants into the community, and this celebration brings everyone together.
“In India there is a saying, which means all cultures, all people, are one family.
This is a ‘one family’ event.
“It’s such a big community, but it looks like a family.”
For information about the school, visit: www.hawkedon.wokingham.sch.uk
