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May spotlight on Asian heritage
Thursday May 8 2008
Staff Report

DIVERSITY ON PARADE... Pupils of Cherrytree Public School celebrating Education Week with the theme: We Welcome the World. The children's rendition of the popular Bollywood number Om Shanti Om (above), arranged by their teacher Saroj Puri, stole the show. The celebrations also included a Dragon dance from China, a Gidda/ Bollywood /Bhangra from India, Reflections of the Caribbean, and an Egyptian Play. Greenbriar Senior Public School also celebrated the diversity of Education Week with flags of different countries being put on the peace symbol by students. A poster of the Canadian flag on which there were different religious symbols was also displayed. The event, which was organized and produced by Baljeet Ratra, together with the education committee and the students, also included Japanese, Irish, Hawaiian, Punjabi and Bollywood dances, and slideshows displaying various cultures, such as an African folklore and Chinese culture.

Photo supplied

 
Peel District School Board students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 are celebrating Asian Heritage Month at two Spotlight on Asian Heritage events at the HJA Brown Education Centre in Mississauga.

May has been designated Asian Heritage Month in Canada to acknowledge the long and rich history of Asian Canadians and their contributions to our country.

Through multimedia presentations and interactive group activities presented by The 411 Initiative for Change, students will learn about the diverse and vibrant Asian cultures that are driving forces in contemporary Canada. Kindergarten to Grade 6 students attended the presentation on April 28, while students in Grades 7 to 12 will attend on May 28.

The Spotlight on Asian Heritage event runs from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m at the HJA Brown Education Centre (5650 Hurontario Street, Mississauga).

Says Jim Grieve, director of education: "Peel schools are committed to recognizing and celebrating the contributions of various communities throughout the year, and Spotlight on Asian Heritage is one of the many events that helps integrate heritage into everyday school life."

Asian Heritage events will explore issues of racism, integration and belonging from historical and contemporary perspectives. Participants include musician Masia One, actress Anita Majumdar, photographer Che Kothari and poet and singer Rosina Kazi.