This past week Scoil Cholmcille, Letterkenny have been ‘Celebrating Culture’ across the school community.
With an enrolment of almost 650 students of over 50 nationalities the school is a hive of diversity and multiculturalism.
Throughout the week every class engaged in a workshop ranging from African drumming, art classes with a Pakistani art teacher and an environmental artist, African fusion dance classes, circus skills, story sacks with Donegal Travellers Project and Bilingual storytelling to name but a few.
This week of cultural celebration was funded by Cruinnu na nÓg and Donegal County Council.
The week of celebration culminated in a Cultural Showcase on Friday 14th June were parents showcased food from many nationalities including Poland, Ukraine, Asia, Middle East, Ireland and Africa.
Students were able to explore and sample the international cuisines whilst dressed in their national dress.
A variety concert was then performed where 5th Class student Christopher Kral performed the poem Growing in Harmony. African dancers, mothers of infant students, performed Jerusalema and brought the audience alive with their energetic performance. A junior Indian fusion group performed traditional dances that are performed at harvest time and at weddings.
A group of senior boys performed some traditional Irish ballads including a performance of Phil the Fluter’s Ball accompanied by Mr Mc Gowan, Ms Grant & Mr Heneghan. A group of young Ukranian children aged from 7-9 years entertained the audience with traditional Ukranian dance in their beautiful costumes and head dresses.
Irish traditional dance was then performed by our teacher Miss Mc Glynn and her fellow dancers from the Quigley School of Dance. A Ukranian folk choir called the Ukranian Nightingales traveled from Gweedore to join the showcase and performed rousing and emotive performances of traditional Ukrainian songs.
The showcase was concluded by our Senior Indian/Sri Lankan Fusion Dancers who enchanted all with their mesmerising dance moves.
Back row is Martina Keys, Daithi Ramsey, Karen Sheey senior executive librarian, Cruinniu na nÓg, Noelle Mulrain, Orlaith Kavanagh.
Front row is Leanne McLaughlin of Creative Schools, Pauric Cannon, Emma McGrath, Andrew McNulty, Arts & Cultural Diversity officer from DCC.
Throughout the day Zumba instructor Maíre McGinley was performing multicultural dances in the school yard for all students and the energy was palpable.
After lunch the school gathered outside as a dance flash mob and together the students and staff performed in harmony where joy and celebration was evident across all faces, young and old.
The events that unfolded over the week and the cultural showcase were documented by talented muralist Ruth Graham who has created two impressive murals which will be on display in the school lobby.
The whole week has been a great success. Students have enjoyed presenting their cultures to their classmates and they have enjoyed learning about the cultures of others. The array of colours arriving to school on Friday, of students in their national dress, was matched only by the pride in their eyes.
As the poem Growing is Harmony concluded with; Let us cheer for our happiness, let’s share our commonness and enjoy our togetherness. We grow and grow in the borderless harmony.
