Cultural Celebration Week 2025
This week we enjoyed our annual Cultural Celebration week, from 27th to 31st January 2025. The whole School had the opportunity to participate in celebrations of the cultural diversity that exists within our school.
The previous week Mrs Collins had given a poignant assembly ahead of Holocaust Memorial Day where we remembered the victims of the Holocaust and more recent Genocides in
Rwanda and Bosnia with a focus on a better future. On Monday 27th, our Cultural Week was introduced by our Diversity & Inclusion Reps in both the Junior and Senior Schools, who encouraged us to celebrate our differences but try to find common ground amongst ourselves.
Our Chinese Reps then kicked off the week in style with a Chinese New Year assembly – with 2025 the Year of the wise Wood Snake. As well as a wonderful Chinese dance to music played by Sophie on the Guzheng, our Chinese students told the story of Nuwa, half woman, half snake and the Chinese mother goddess, who created humanity. The Chinese theme continued at breaktime with a Tibetan dance session.
On Monday afternoon Year 10 students read books about different cultures to girls in Reception. The girls were completely enthralled and our Year 10s loved the experience too.
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On Tuesday 28th January we invited girls to wear clothing that represents their own cultural heritage or an outfit they feel expresses who they are. This could be an outfit, an item of clothing or wearing clothing in the colours/materials from their culture or country’s flag. The Junior School also wore outfits representing their cultural heritage and enjoyed dance workshops.
The Cultural Fair, organised by the EDI and Charities representatives, was also held Tuesday lunchtime in the Main Hall. Students across the Senior School were encouraged to bring contributions from their different cultures, including food. As students gathered in their cultural outfits and shared food from different nations, it was fantastic to see the diversity of our community in one place.
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As part of the Sixth Form Classics conference held on Wednesday, all students were able to attend a talk on Greek and Roman culture given by keynote speaker Professor Caroline Vout from the University of Cambridge, entitled ‘What does god look like? Seeing religion in Greece and Rome’. Talks were also given by Mrs Goodall, Mrs Tollit, Mr Higham from Sydenham High, Mr Thicknesse and Ms Stinson.
On Thursday we were delighted to welcome our speaker, Hon. Dr Stuart Lawrence. Younger brother of Stephen Lawrence, Dr Lawrence is a teacher, orator and author. He talked about why it is important to celebrate and respect differences, show empathy and the power of their voice. Dr Lawrence also delivered an assembly to our Year 4-6 girls in Junior School before taking time to talk to our Senior Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Reps and Junior Diversity Councillors.
Finally, Year 7-12 students took part in House-based activities on Friday morning, when they shared experiences of their respective cultures on the theme of Discovering Difference, Finding Common Ground.
A special mention to our wonderful catering team for the amazing variety of foods from around the world which we got to try out at lunch all week!
Thank you to our Diversity and Inclusion Reps for a great week!
Year 12 Senior School Reps – Eve, Ishani and Angela
Junior School Reps – Aadyha, Eden, Emma Louise, Theodora and Savannah
