International School Seychelles holds hat parade |12 July 2022
After two years of restrictions on gathering due to Covid-19, International School Seychelles has finally been able to organise its well-known annual Hat Parade this year.
Organised by the phase leader for Early Years, Yolandé Smit, the parade took place last week on the school’s vast basketball court in the presence of teachers, parents and other students.
Aged between 3 and 5 years from Reception 1 and 2, the young pupils participating in the parade showcased their colorful hats and matching outfits to their excited audience.
They performed in groups accompanied by a few of their teachers, representing six different countries from all the continents including Brazil, Seychelles, New Zealand, South Africa, India and Columbia. Traditional songs of these countries were played, setting an exciting ambience as the little ones marched and danced.
“The whole idea was that the parents supplied the costumes but the activity for us was to make the hats in the classrooms,” Mrs Smit explained.
She said the students and teachers researched about the different types of hats that are traditionally worn in the countries they were representing. It took them about two and a half months to make preparations for the parade and organise the activity.
She remarked that the parade was an activity to get the children to celebrate the various different cultures present at the school.
“The students absolutely loved it, they were very excited!” she exclaimed, noting that they hope to be able to celebrate it again next year.
The acting head teacher of Primary, Daphne Jasmin, mentioned that as an international school, it is very important to celebrate, as much as possible, the different cultures they have present among the students.
“We have other activities that we do, but today’s activity was specifically for the younger children from the Reception classes. The students had their little dances and songs that they went home with and practiced, and their parents helped them to polish up and improve.”
She also noted that the support of the parents during these activities are very helpful and appreciated by the teachers, who also put in great effort to help the students perform.
The accompanying photos show some highlights of the event.
Sylia Ah-Time
Photos by Salome Abel
