May 9th – 13th was Global Cultures Week at NHEHS – a celebration of different cultures in our community in school and more broadly. A wide range of events and activities took place which gave students the opportunity to celebrate the cultural diversity that exists within our school as well as the opportunity to deepen social awareness and understanding of the cultural richness of the world beyond our immediate community. 

 The week got off to a flying start with an amazing assembly on diversity and inclusivity from Marsha and Chyloe Powell, founders of the charity BelEve.  which aims to empower girls to realise their dreams, redefining what it means to be a female leader, and looking at positive role models. We were left  inspired by their assembly, including their final words, “When nobody gets left behind, everyone moves forward.” The two sisters also gave an assembly over at Junior School as well as leading workshops on empowering women and breaking down stereotypical barriers for Years 4,5 and 6.

Students also had the opportunity to listen to speakers from Unicef and Lizzie Muir, from Anti Slavery, who came in to talk to us at assembly about the prevalence of modern slavery, the seven different forms of slavery and what we can all do to help eliminate  it.  

Our Inter-faith, Charity and Social affairs reps, and Diversity and Humanitarian leads also ran events and formtime activities, while there was a charity dress up day on May 10th, where students were encouraged to come into school in an outfit, symbolic coloured clothing or the colours of the flag from their culture in exchange for a donation to raise money for ‘Toilet Twinning’, a charity which enables families living in poverty to have lifesaving loos.  Our House Captains also led a Social Affairs Quiz on Friday.

Throughout the week we enjoyed foods and salads from all around the world from Mexico to India, to Italy and Greece at lunchtime, while the atrium was transformed with hundreds of colourful flags/bunting showing the huge number of countries or cultures that are represented by students at NHEHS.  The Year 12 Diversity Reps also launched a Scavenger Hunt during the week, releasing fresh new clues clues every day and house points for all correct submissions. 

At Junior School, a group of dancers came in to teach various year groups different types of dance, ranging from Irish to Brazilian to the Haka, which proved very popular. Meanwhile, junior school pupils collected different materials from home to make a piece of artwork that represented them. 

The week proved very popular as a vibrant and important time for us to enjoy our cultural diversity.