Students at St. Matthew’s School in St. John’s have put together a special concert showcasing the cultural diversity in their school community.
Cultures in Concert is a school-wide ArtSmarts project in which students worked with producer Kyle McDavid to create original pieces of music that focus on diversity at the school.
Students proudly debuted the concert yesterday to a gymnasium full of parents and guardians. Additional performances are happening today.
EAL Teacher Laura Martin.
English as an additional language teacher Laura Martin calls the show “absolutely beautiful.”
She says it tells the story of a boy who has just moved to Newfoundland with his family and is having his first day at St. Matthew’s. Martin says the student realizes how welcoming everyone is and is “overwhelmed by the rich diversity and welcoming environment.”
Teacher/Librarian Laun Shoemaker.
Teacher and librarian Laun Shoemaker, who is credited as being a driving force behind the initiative, describes what it was like to see the show come together.
“My mind was really busy with just how well the kids pulled this all in and started to process it. You see it in little bits and pieces and you’re like ‘I don’t know if this will come together’ and then they always surprise you, they always put an amazing smile on your face and do such a wonderful show.”
