The heavy downpour on Tuesday did not dampen the spirits of over 300 students and 23 staff at Apii Avarua Primary School, who are celebrating Literacy Week with uniqueness and fun while acknowledging and celebrating the linguistic and cultural diversity among the students.

The weeklong celebration, guided by the theme “Promoting multilingual education: literacy for mutual understanding and peace”, aims to foster global citizenships among students and encourage them to appreciate their unique cultures to promote mutual understanding and peace.

School principal Engia Baxter emphasised that the diversity of cultures among the students is an advantage to them.

Apii Avarua Year II students in their book characters’ costumes on Tuesday, celebrating Literacy Week. TALAIA MIKA/24090315

Baxter said this opportunity to share with each other about the different cultures is a learning experience for the children as well as the teachers.

“It’s just adding excitement to the week and also for the students to enjoy being here at school so that’s why we organised all these dress-ups,” Baxter explained.

Apii Avarua teacher, Kris Farmer with his two daughters, Isla and Heidi in their costumes in celebration of literacy week. TALAIA MIKA/24090321

“So, leading up to Friday is when they come in their different island dresses in different cultures while also promoting the cultures around the Pacific and hopefully some of them will be able to share some multilinguals from other Pacific island countries.”

During the literacy week, all students and teachers are to dress up in different costumes.

On Tuesday, they dressed up as different characters from various books and recited their roles in the stories.

The cultural exchange on Friday will feature a celebration of the different cultures represented in the school.

Students are expected to dress in their traditional cultural attire, share food and teach each other about customs and traditions from their culture, all while emphasising the importance of peace and understanding.