International Week

Identity and Belonging | Be secure in who I am in Christ and my place in the biblical meta-narrative.

International Week has always served as a crucial part of KingsWay School’s calendar. It provides opportunities and platforms for the student body to not only celebrate our cultural diversity but to express our own tuakiri (identity) and foster a sense of belonging amongst the school community.

The Senior Campus thoroughly enjoyed the lunchtime International Food Market event that kick-started International Week. The Bolam Quad was swarmed with students and staff as different cultures were celebrated and plenty of food was enjoyed!

The last day of International Week stood out amongst the rest as students came to school dressed in their cultural clothing and mufti to foster a sense of pride and identity in their own heritage. This is a day where the different barriers, biases, and stereotypes between and about cultures are broken – paving the way for a stronger environment of respect for one another and each other’s cultures.

At the Primary School, there was an international parade where the children dressed in clothing connected with their culture, walked in procession around the primary school. It was such a delight to see the array of dress and the excitement bubbling and all the beautiful, bright colours lighting up both campuses.

At the Senior Campus during morning tea, students gathered in the Events Centre for the International Fashion Show. We saw our teachers and fellow students strut down the runway, showing off their cultural dress and moves. During lunch at the Senior Campus, students gathered in the Event Centre where the International Show took place. The many different cultures represented on stage were wonderful for our school community to be a part of.

This week showed what belonging truly is. As a community, God makes us all distinctive and different in his perfect image. We all have different cultures, traditions, and ethnicities and International Week showcased how incredible this is.

Let me leave you with these two Bible verses.

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, and I know that full well."  Psalm 139:14
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”  1 Peter 2:9

Ngā mihi nui and Ma te Atua e manaaki,

Elizabeth-Jin Pearce
International Ambassador, Year 13 student