In the 2024-2025 School Year, our Youth Consultation Team focused on a number of topics that matter to youth including celebrating the diversity within our Sun West School Division. 

Last year, and this year, our team members engaged in conversations about the past, present, and future of our school division and recognized that our demographics are changing. We want to be involved in helping to create a welcoming culture and environment in which we can celebrate the cultural diversity. This involves opening our minds are hearts to all of those around us and involves education and understanding to which will help us all become more compassionate and connected human beings. By embracing our cultural similarities and differences, and appreciating our unique backgrounds, we are not just learning - we are building stronger and more harmonious schools communities. 

To further our commitment to recognizing and celebrating culture in Sun West, one of our YC Team members created a Youth Consultation Team Logo representing the importance of unity and inclusion within Sun West. 

 

 

 

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We also created our first-ever Sun West Multicultural Week. ​This initiative was intended as a opportunity for schools to recognize, celebrate, and diverse cultures that make up Sun West. The aim of the week was to increase understanding, promote inclusivity, and foster friendships among students from various cultural backgrounds. 

Our schools were invited to participate in ways that best suit their students and community, whether through classroom discussions, school-wide events, or individual projects. Some ways in which schools celebrated included:

Multicultural School Cookbook: 
One of our Sun West Student Representative Council initiatives involved inviting families to share a favourite cultural recipe with the intention of creating a multicultural school cookbook! From what was shared, the SRC members felt this was an exciting and meaningful initiative to bring the school community together while celebrating the rich diversity found within their school community. 

Potlucks:
It was shared with us that potlucks were an easy way to celebrate multiculturalism within our schools. Through food, we are able to connect with each other's traditions, stories, and heritage in a personal, respectful, and enjoyable way. Gathering and sharing food is a way of celebrating in many cultures. Food creates connection and is a great way to honour multiculturalism and strengthen relationships within our schools. 

 

My Culture Bulletin Board:
A staff member from one of our schools shared their "My Culture" bulletin board display idea. Students were invited to share and celebrate their cultural traditions with the purpose of creating a school bulletin board displayed during Multicultural Week celebrations. 
 

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