Home News Opinion Videos Blogs Features Family Notices Classifieds Photos Events Clubs Advertising Contact
Sport Focus on the Land Entertainment
Editorials Columns Letters
News Market Place
Twenty-five flags . . . one school
Tuesday, August 28, 2012 • Mark Peters
IN CELEBRATION of international languages week, Gisborne Boys’ High School students bearing flags from their country of origin paraded into assembly yesterday.

French-born mathematics teacher Sophie Burns says students and staff look forward to a week of events to celebrate the internationality of schools. Events to promote multi-culturalism and acceptance of all cultures will include an “adopt- a-country” mufti day, an international quiz and international food stalls.

The week began with flag presentation of the school’s 25 different nationalities and a performance by Tongan students.

“We all walked on-stage and said our greetings in our own language,” says Mrs Burns.

“Each greeting got a cheer. It was very cool. Some teachers hadn’t heard their kids speaking their own language before.”

Nine of the school’s 64 teachers come from different countries. Three of them are in the maths department.

Mrs Burns also teaches French but says it is not just a matter of teaching a foreign language. It is about teaching people to think in different ways.

“New Zealand is a melting pot of different nationalities. If everyone understood where people were coming from, it would make a better society.

“For many, New Zealand is seen as a place of new beginnings and has a good quality of life. New Zealand is generally accepting of people from other countries.”
BRIGHT NEW WORLD: Gisborne Boys’ High students and staff from Belgium, China, Australia, England, Fiji, France, Niue, USA, India, Holland, Cook Islands, Thailand, Canada, Hong Kong, Tonga, Pakistan, Macao, Namibia, Samoa, South Africa, Vanuatu, Ireland, Tokelau, Uruguay and Zimbabwe celebrate international language week with a parade of national flags. Picture by Dave Thomas
Comments
No comments - be the first to comment
Poll

Do you agree with a bid to pull bridge jumpers away from unsafe road bridges in the city by building “bombing platforms” for youngsters in safe places along the Turanganui River?

Please read: Call for ‘bombing platforms’
Yes
No
Don't Know
Send in your
News
Letters
Columns
Events
Clubs
Classifieds
Poll suggestions
Explore The Gisborne Herald
News Editorial Features Events
Sport Letters to the Editor Family Notices Clubs
Focus on the Land Columns Classifieds Advertising
News Features Polls Photos Contact
64 Gladstone Road, PO Box 1143, Gisborne, New Zealand | Ph: +64 6 869 0600 | Fax: +64 6 869 0643 (editorial) | Fax: +64 6 869 0644 (advertising) | News Hotline: 0800 NEWSLINE (639 754) | info@gisborneherald.co.nz Copyright © The Gisborne Herald