Everyone welcome at multicultural St Lawrence’s

Children at St Lawrence’s Catholic Primary in Byker celebrated diversity and inclusivity through a special event held as part of Refugee Week.

Pupils from Nursery to Year 6 arrived for Cultural Day wearing clothes related to their culture, while staff also came suitably dressed for the occasion.

Head of School Charlotte Robson organised the event, which also included a range of themed activities across all age groups.

“Pupils and staff were encouraged to come into school in clothes which reflected their culture,” she said.

“This could be traditional dress, national football strips, or simply wearing the colours of their national flag. We wanted to make the day as inclusive as possible, without expecting parents to buy special clothes for the day.”

She continued: “Pupils were given the chance to share their culture in their own class. Pupils also took part in small workshops throughout the day. These were led by staff and parents to share aspects of different cultures.

“We had a big group of parents come in to talk about Nigeria, and then two parents for Eritrea and Sri Lanka.

“It is a day when pupils are encouraged to celebrate their unique cultures. We are a school where families come from all over the world, and it is what makes St Lawrence’s so special.”

Activities included colouring in traditional African patterns, learning how to say ‘hello’ and ‘have a nice day’ in Tigrinya, and exploring the origins of the Sri Lankan flag.

It was the second time Cultural Day had taken place at St Lawrence’s, which is currently in the process of becoming a School of Sanctuary.

Mrs Robson added: “This event is incredibly important for our children. It gives pupils the opportunity to celebrate their heritage and culture. It is also a great learning opportunity for our other pupils.

“It is important for us to celebrate our multicultural school within the community too. We are working towards the School of Sanctuary Award, and this will help us as part of our application process.”