Celebrating Global Traditions: Our Winter Door Decorating Challenge

This winter, our secondary school corridors were transformed into a vibrant showcase of global celebrations, thanks to the creativity and enthusiasm of our students. As part of our commitment to fostering an inclusive and diverse school environment, we revamped the traditional Winter Door Decorating Challenge. This year, students had the opportunity to explore and celebrate winter traditions from around the world while embracing the values of cultural appreciation and sustainability.

Organised by the Student Council (StuCo) in collaboration with the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Student Ambassador Group, the challenge encouraged each year group to decorate their homeroom doors based on a winter celebration assigned to them. Students could also feature an additional celebration to earn extra points, broadening their understanding of global traditions.

A Celebration of Cultures

Each year group was assigned a different winter festival, spanning multiple cultures, religions, and regions:

• Year 7: St. Nicholas Day (celebrated in various Christian traditions across Europe and North America)
  
  
• Year 8: Hoi An Lantern Festival (Vietnam) 

• Year 9: Hanukkah (Jewish tradition)
  
  
• Year 10: Las Posadas (Mexico and Latin America)
  
  

• Year 11: Bodhi Day (Buddhist tradition)

• Year 12: Winter Solstice traditions from different cultures

• Year 13: Kwanzaa (celebrating African heritage and community)

Additional Celebration: Christmas (explored through different cultural perspectives and significant in our local context)

For many students, the challenge was deeply personal they learned about the origins, customs, and significance of each festival—whether it was the lighting of menorahs for Hanukkah, the processions of Las Posadas, or the rich symbolism behind the Winter Solstice in cultures worldwide.

Creativity and Sustainability at the Forefront

Sustainability was a key focus of the challenge. Students were encouraged to use recycled and scrap materials, with limited access to printed paper. The judging criteria, set by StuCo and the DEI Student Ambassador Group, included accuracy in representing the celebration, festive spirit, and sustainability.

The level of effort was remarkable—doors were adorned with lanterns, symbolic foods, cultural artefacts, and beautifully crafted decorations, all reflecting the traditions they represented.

Recognising Our Community’s Efforts

The homerooms that demonstrated outstanding effort and creativity were recognised with Homeroom Hustle points, and the best DEI-themed door received a special prize (8CM). However, the greatest reward was seeing students engage deeply with diverse cultures, share personal connections, and develop a broader appreciation for the many ways winter is celebrated worldwide.

Join Us in Celebrating Diversity

This initiative is a testament to our school's ongoing efforts to celebrate all members of our community and foster a culture of inclusion and respect.

Thank you to all the students and staff who participated. We also encourage our parent community to help with the planning and celebration of upcoming events such as Holi and Iftar. Please contact us at dei@isl.ch if you are interested in contributing.