Bishops’ celebrate first culture day

May 24, 2014 News

The Bishops’ High School yesterday celebrated in grand flair, its first ever culture day under the theme “Celebrating our Culture and Heritage through Creativity.”

The Bishops high School Students dressed in ethnic wear of their choice with Miss Harris in the center.

The culture day which is the brainchild of Head Teacher Winifred Ellis was implemented to showcase the multifaceted Guyanese culture and the unison in which those respective cultures are embraced.
The occasion saw the students and teachers coordinating cultural activities such as dancing, drumming and other cultural displays much to the enjoyment of those gathered to participate in the venture, which was held at the school.
According to Ellis “this is the first venture of this kind at the Bishops’ High School and I feel so elated and overwhelmed with emotion because of the creative efforts and talents displayed by my children.”
Head of the Department for Science Shellyan Harris, told this newspaper that the vision of the culture day “was to promote any activity or cultural event by the student body and the staff that would foster the spirit of appreciation, love and tolerance, first among ourselves and then to the communities at large.”
According to Harris, in celebrating their cultural heritage everyone, including the students was encouraged to wear ethnic garb even as she outlined, that there was no restrictions in terms of representation.
“They could represent whomever they identified with, so you would see some Indian children in African wear and vice versa and that is what we envisaged… what we the collective Guyanese represent and that we would love each other in turn” said Harris.
There were a number of cultural items and clothing on display as well as banners highlighting the history of Guyana and its cultural background. Also a wide assortment of cultural cuisine on display.
The cultural event saw the students participating in dancing, African and Tassa drumming, folklore and reminiscing on the history of the Guyanese people.

The Head Mistress flanked by some of her teachers all decked out in assorted garbs.

Harris thanked the Minister of Culture Youth and Sports Dr. Frank Anthony who she said helped extensively in the promotion of the cultural programme.
Whilst the programme catered primarily to the Bishops’ High School students, other schools in proximity were invited to participate.
“This is just the tip of the iceberg, after this we will put more effort and initiative into the venture because we feel that in a multi ethnic school of this nature, children ought to embrace, tolerate and enjoy each other’s culture, so that’s the whole motive and I am most grateful everything went as planned” the Head teacher posited.