JOHOR BARU: A kaleidoscope of colour, music and culture greeted visitors at the Austin Heights Private and International School (AHIS) as part of an event to mark International Day and Family Day.
Students, parents and their relatives were present to take part in the variety of activities celebrating that multicultural mix.
AHIS has students from 28 different nationalities.
The school's hall was decorated and stalls depicting various countries with its themes were set up by students from these nations.
The 1,000 schoolchildren were involved in helping to organise the event and took pride in the work they had done.
At the officiating ceremony of the event, AHIS chief executive officer Datin Low Peck Tim said the event provided an opportunity for families and friends to spend quality time mingling and getting to know one another in a relaxed atmosphere.
She said the day also allowed the students to showcase the wonderful cultural diversity of the school's community.
"It's important that we not only celebrate the rich mix of nationalities that we have at the school but also encourage the children to learn more about other cultures," Low said.
She said the school has been celebrating International Day for almost a decade and that it gets bigger each year.
She also said the annual event encouraged students to develop as a global community and celebrate each other's nationalities, cultures, customs and languages.
The students, Low said, could learn more about other cultures and traditions besides understanding the world and their role in it.
"It also reinforces many personal goals taught throughout the private school's curriculum, such as cooperation, resilience, communication and internationalism."
She said proceeds from the sales of coupons from the event would be channelled to selected charity organisations earmarked by the school.
"This is in line with our school's culture of inculcating among our students a sense of responsibility for the community, the less fortunate and the underprivileged."
The event began with a parade of students and parents dressed in their national costumes while waving their national flags and the Parent-Action Group Committee members carrying their respective nation's flags into the main hall.
Today's programme included exhibitions of culture and custom, construction of models depicting national landmarks, food preparation demonstrations, a display of native art and craft, a cultural dress parade, a fashion show, performances of traditional songs, a pencak silat demonstration, musical instruments and dances.
Another sight to behold was the entire school community was attired in their traditional costume representing twenty-eight nations.
Present were Acting Consul General of the Indonesian Consulate Andreza Sethia Dasuki, Singapore Consulate Consul Galen Lee Yi Guo, the school's chairman Datuk Ir Steve Chong, principal Lui Lai Nam as well as parents, teachers and staff.
AHIS received a five-star rating by the Education Ministry for its performance in the quality standards of Private Education (Schools) or Standard Kualiti Institusi Pendidikan Swasta (SKIPS) in 2015 and 2019.