Celebrating #80Nationalities [and counting]!

Whilst every day at the BSN is a celebration of our multicultural community, for pupils, staff and parents alike there is something quite special about International Week. A much-loved opportunity for the entire school community to share, learn and even taste our way around the world!

This year’s celebrations, held during the third week in March, ran across all campuses and culminated in the much anticipated, sell-out Family Association's International Festival on Saturday evening.

International Day itself was held on Friday (22 March), when students proudly wore clothing representing their home countries and brought in special food to share with their classmates. Parents took part as well, enjoying the International Day parades at Senior School Leidschenveen (SSL), Junior School Leidschenveen (JSL) and Junior School Diamanthorst (JSD) and taking part in the International Lunch at Junior School Vlaskamp (JSV). Throughout the week, parents at all schools were invited to come in and share aspects of their culture and with 80 nationalities represented at the BSN that made for a varied and colourful week! Senior School Voorschoten (SSV) held their International Day two days earlier to coincide with the ending of their week-long Equality Week. As with the other campuses, it was a non-uniform day with students dressing in either cultural clothes, or colours of their country.  

The Saturday evening Family Association's International Festival was open to the entire BSN community, with tickets selling out in a matter of days! The MCs for the evening [three senior students] was funny and witty. Dressed as a pilot and stewards, guests were invited aboard BSN Airways! Visiting a total of six countries and treated to lively music and dance performances laid on by the Hispanic, Polish, Indian, French, Chinese and Turkish communities, people were in for anything but a bumpy ride!  The International Food Hall was filled with colour, with empty plates, full tummies and big smiles proving that our diverse community is packed full of talented chefs!

International Week is truly a week that the BSN can take pride in. A huge thank you to the entire community, to the teachers, the staff, the pupils, the parents, the committees and to the Family Association. Your countless hours, energy and dedication made sure, as always, that our BSN International Week was a resounding success! Here’s to 2020!