Latest update December 11th, 2024 1:33 AM
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St Margaret’s Primary hosts successful Heritage Day activities
Three of the children from the ‘Indian’ group engage in a dance for the benefit of the audience
The staccato beat of African drumming greeted the ear from as far as two blocks away from St Margaret’s Primary School as teachers and students of the Grade Four Level of that institution celebrated Heritage Day activities.
The teachers divided the students into six groups with each group depicting the cultural activities representative of their respective ethnicities. Apart from sporting the traditional wear common to their diverse culture, the students also prepared the meals, performed skits and showcased the cultural activities associated with the respective ethnic groups. The groups were Africans, East Indians, Portuguese, Chinese, Amerindians and Europeans.
Later, following the cultural presentations, the groups were judged in several areas including dress, researched evidence of the different cultures and way of life of their respective groups, among other areas.
In the end, the group depicting the East Indians was adjudged winners while the Chinese finished in second place. The Africans and the Europeans finished third and fourth respectively while the Amerindians and the Portuguese occupied the next two positions, in that order.
Coordinator of activities, Ms. Andrea Isaacs, said that the session was held in commemoration of Guyana’s 40th Republic Anniversary. She said that the school’s population comprises students from all six of the ethnic groups and administrators decided to conduct the exercise to enhance the children’s knowledge of the various cultures while inculcating an appreciation for these very cultures. She said that once the students become acquainted with the intricacies associated with the different cultures, they would learn to appreciate these differences and exercise more tolerance with each other.
The students also performed in a cultural presentation in the school yard, depicting their culture through dance, skits or other relevant activities. The children were also required to conduct research on the way of life of the respective ethnic groups and submit a report. This report also formed a part of the basis for the judging.
Indeed, the enthusiasm displayed by the students was heartening and augurs well for the development of the country. Most of the tots felt that the exercise was worthwhile. They said that they had learnt a lot and were now prepared to exercise more consideration for their colleagues.
The activity is the brainchild of Headmistress of the school, Ms Borgette Williams, and was only resuscitated last year after a prolonged absence from the curriculum. Ms. Isaacs believes that the programme impacted positively on the children. She said that teachers of the school would endeavour to make the yearly programme a reality.
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