Pic 1 & 2: teachers and parents getting the school ready for the festivities.
Cultural Night was held on Saturday July 19th. Students and their families were invited to school to appreciate and enjoy the different cultures that we have in Singapore. Planning started months ahead, and as the date drew near, things began to fall into place. We started to decorate the school 2 days before, and on the day itself, the school was awash with the colours of the ethnic races of Singapore. I have never seen the school look so beautiful!
The event started at 4pm, when the guest-of-honour, Brother Collin, arrived. The school dancers performed little segments of Indian, Malay and Chinese dance to welcome him as he walked up the red carpet with our Principal and Vice-Principals. I was very impressed by the young dancers...they were so graceful and such a joy to watch!
Everyone gathered at the courtyard for the opening speeches, and then the flurry of activities started in different parts of the school.
In the courtyard, we had the Chinese orchestra from Yew Tee CC, followed by the Filipino Tinikling (bamboo dance) by our very own Filipino parents. It was excellent! Our principal, Miss Lim, and vice-principal, Md Ng, were very sporting and tried the dance. I watched in anxiety, fearing for the safety of their ankles. Thank goodness no ankle was caught between the thick bamboo poles. They are very brave, I must say!
Video: Short clip of Ms Lim doing the Tinkling Dance
Because of light rain, the courtyard activities were moved to the hall. There was a line dance by teachers, parent volunteers and students, led by Mrs Luanna Goh, who looked smashing in a cowgirl's outfit, complete with boots and a cowboy hat. Then there was a wushu display by our students.
Elsewhere in the school, many other things were happening. Children were playing traditional games like 5 stones, chatek and carrom in the Lasallian corner. At the outdoor stage area, there were choral singing, Indian and Filipino folktales, and Mandarin rhymes.
In the atrium outside the general office, you could try your hand at sari-tying, ketupat weaving, Chinese painting and Chinese knot-tying.. There were also 5 Japanese in yukatas and kimonos teaching origami. You could choose to make a ball, a crane or a samurai helmet from the little squares of paper. (Many thanks to Hayashi-san and his friends who came just to share their passion for this hobby.) Those who don't feel like working so hard can sit still and have a henna painting done on their hands. There was even a Meridian acupressure class given by one of our parents!
In the canteen, there was a smorgasbord of flavours-- roti jala, laksa, kebab, shepherd's pie, sushi, dim sum, satay....even the kacang-puteh man was there, selling nuts in paper cones! How nostalgic!
All too soon, these activities had to end as the concert in the hall was about to start. At 6.30pm, people were still wanting to do some more origami or play some more games, but we had to apologise and chase them into the hall. By 7pm, most people were in the hall and our very entertaining MC, Greg (another parent volunteer), kept the children occupied with little quizzes and prizes. The concert started with a video of some DLS students saying what culture means to them. (We have very eloquent speakers amongst us!) The school dancers performed beautiful ethnic dances. They moved with such fluidity and their costumes were a visual treat. We also heard the school choir sing 2 songs. It was wonderful to see the children performing so ernestly. The night ended with us giving out light sticks to everyone and waving them in the darkened hall while singing 'Home', one of the National Day songs. It was a very apt ending to our cultural carnival. I was almost bursting with pride and patriotism as I waved my light stick and sang along. God bless Singapore and De La Salle!
By Jillian Liow
.jpg)
