IN PICTURES: Laois schoolkids fight racism with tasty world cuisine treats

A Laois school has tackled racism with a week long series of events, including a tasty World Cuisine Day with food from all over the globe served up by students and parents.

Portlaoise Educate Together National School organised an organised an Against Racism week for their students, staff and parents, with the theme of Being Together-a shared journey towards Anti-Racism.  Full story below photos of their Cuisine Day.

The week kicked off with brilliantly active and fun Hip-Hop dance classes from dance teacher, Jay Asolo. Jay worked with the infant and senior classes making sure everyone was involved and having fun. The students thoroughly enjoyed their dancing.

All the students were busy taking part in lessons about being anti-racist and including everyone in the school.

A whole-school art and poster competition was launched with some great prizes to be won.

On the last day, the students council, parents association and the Ethos Committee all worked together to organise a Cuisine Day focussed on the many amazing countries in the school. All the students and staff sampled foods from Pakistan to Scotland to Bangladesh to Romania!

To bring the week to a close, there was a panel discussion held in our Hall with Briana Fitzsimons discussing how they can stop racism in our school community.

The school invited guest speakers: Cllr Uruemu Adejinmi from Longford Municipal District, Longford County Council, Liang Feng, a parent in the school, Board Member and local businesswoman and Bolaji Adeyanju, Founder of Laois Africa Support Group. . 

There was a wonderfully emotional and robust discussion in which each speaker spoke about their story of how they arrived in Ireland and some ideas on how we can continue to be a school where everyone is welcome and truly included regardless of belief system, culture, ethnicity or race.  

The Ethos team along with a parent, Pam Grogan have produced a Recipe Book which can be purchased in the school including all the recipes from the Cuisine Day. 

Thank you to everyone who supported this week-long event, especially the Parents Association, Student Council and Ethos Team who brought it to life. 

The school received some funding from the Department of Children, Equality, Integration, Disability and Youth and extend huge gratitude to the Department for this opportunity.