Last week, from the 18th to the 22nd of August, we celebrated our annual Culture Week! The week was packed with Atawhai and lunchtime activities that gave students the chance to experience and learn more about the different cultures in our school. On Monday, the library was buzzing with Culture Craft stations where students tried weaving, making Ojo de Dios, origami sushi, and Polish wycinanki. Thank you to everyone who came along and got creative! On Tuesday, our Pasifika representative, Agatha Godinet, hosted a mindful colouring session featuring Tongan symbols, giving students a chance to relax while also celebrating Tongan Language Week.
Throughout the week, students were invited to pin their place of origin on a world map, giving us a powerful visual of the diversity within our Carmel community. On Wednesday, the 20th of August, we held our annual Cultural Evening, which was a huge success! This year, a new initiative was introduced before the Culture Concert – Cultural Food Stalls. Students, staff, and families enjoyed a range of delicious dishes, including Korean tteokbokki, warak enab, Māori fry bread, and French crêpes. The night continued with the Culture Concert, where the vibrancy of our school’s diversity was truly showcased. Performances included Serbian folklore dance, Chinese guzheng, Korean Samulnori, Indian Bollywood dance, traditional Tongan dance, and many more. A big thank you to our amazing audience for supporting our students and joining us in celebrating culture at Carmel!
On Friday, we wrapped up the week with Cultural Dress Day, where students came to school in traditional attire, proudly sharing and celebrating their own culture or that of others. At lunchtime, we introduced an exciting new initiative – Cultural Games! Students competed for house points (and lollies!) in activities like Ddakji, Chopstick Races, and Rakau. The atmosphere was full of energy and friendly competition, and congratulations go to Pompallier House for taking home the overall win with the most participation!
Culture Week 2025 was a success, allowing students to celebrate diversity, share their unique cultural traditions through food, performance, and activities, and strengthen a sense of unity and belonging within the school community.
– Heads of Arts and Culture, Helena Lee and Abigail Street
A Journey into Chinese Calligraphy
As part of our vibrant Cultural Week celebrations, the Year 7 and Year 8 Chinese classes were immersed in the beauty and tradition of Chinese calligraphy. Our dedicated Chinese teachers collaborated to bring this ancient art form to life in the classroom, with a special thank you to Sylvia Zhang, our wonderful Mandarin Language Assistant, for her invaluable support and enthusiasm.
Using traditional Chinese brushes, ink, and rice paper, students consolidated their understanding of Chinese character strokes, integrating the learning of how to write Chinese numerals with a deeper exploration of Chinese culture. Many students eagerly picked up the brush to experiment with different artistic styles of Chinese characters, expressing their creativity through each stroke.
The classrooms were filled with curiosity, creativity, and laughter. Students shared how the experience made them feel relaxed and focused, while others were captivated by the elegance of brushwork. These lessons not only enhanced cultural understanding but also encouraged artistic expression, mindfulness, and patience.
We are proud of our students’ enthusiasm and openness to learning about different cultures. This calligraphy experience was a meaningful highlight of Cultural Week, and we look forward to more opportunities to celebrate the richness of global traditions in our school.
