We have a fantastic International Committee every year at Riccarton High School. This year’s leaders are Sasha Komiyama-O’Keefe and Ozzy Yamit and they are helped by their fellow committee members and a number of extras, who have an interest in all things international.

The Committee runs various events around the school to promote and celebrate our cultural and ethnic diversity. Last Friday our annual International Food day was held to a great reception. 

Students pulled together to produce international goodies like bubble tea (my personal favourite), inari sushi, panna cotta, tteokbokki and the perennially exotic, battered chips, among other things.

The committee also helps to integrate our new international students and they do an amazing job. 

Today we have a new year 12 French student starting with us. He only arrived yesterday and he’s been sitting in my office testing all morning – poor thing – but thankfully, a willing and energetic group of committee members have just picked him up and are entertaining him this interval. 

It’s great to have this kind of student support and it certainly makes a great first impression for our new students!