On the 29th of November, 2024, the school’s very own South Asian Student Association (SASA) hosted a vibrant Culture Day filled with a variety of activities. The event took place in the commons during lunch, bringing together students and staff to celebrate the rich and diverse culture of our South Asian students.
The commons boomed with music, and many stalls and activities were planted with much help from SASA volunteers. The stalls included food, watercolour activities and tri-folds, all of which served the purpose of informing students about the rich culture of South Asia.
Anushka Malik, grade 11, who worked at the mehndi (henna) stall, was asked why she decided to wear her cultural clothing. “To represent our culture because there’s not much time after grade 12 to do so”, she said after mentioning the importance of each student’s identity. Reflecting on how SASA handled the event, she remarked, “They did really well; there were more performances last year, but it was still very good this year.” Malik really emphasized the importance of Culture Day, saying, “It’s crucial to represent our cultural differences and be proud of them. There’s no suppression from the school community.” But she also expressed a desire for more people to dress up for the event as she observed a decline in students dressed in their cultural clothing from the year before.
As the lunch break neared the end, a surprise dance emerged. Onlookers were delightfully entertained by two students in traditional clothing dancing to South Asian music. The dance concluded with applause from the audience and the rest of the event resumed.
Manahil Fatima and Damanpreet Kaur, both in grade 12, told us that they support others who dressed up to represent their culture as they believed it was important for school identity. Discussing the time and effort that went into organizing, Fatima mentioned, “It took us two months, working with other clubs after school” and that it was worth it since they both believe in the significance of Culture Day. As a final thought, they added, “We wish to do more next year.”
The event was a tremendous success to some while others said it was somehow bleaker than usual. Nevertheless, this event by the SASA brought together the school community of various religions and ethnicities to highlight cultural pride. SASA and the helping staff are hopeful that in future events, even more people will dress up and participate, to further support and foster cultural diversity at this school.
THE NORTH STAR 