Bradford School principal Emma Knopp said the pupils had been learning all term about different cultures, including their own, as part of their sense of belonging.
‘‘We’ve talked about what’s happening in the world, and how it’s important to have an understanding of other cultures, as well as to show kindness to yourself and others.’’
For their final day of term 1, on Thursday, teachers and pupils held a cultural expo, where students and parents brought in a dish to share with everyone from their culture.
Thirty families contributed.
There was shortbread, cheese scones, a Victoria sponge and some jam and cream scones from England, Māori fried bread from New Zealand, senbei and saqima from China, sweet treats from Fiji, pani popo from Samoa, a German red cabbage side dish called rotkohl, Filipino adobo, and an Irish apple pie.
There were also dishes from Scotland, France, the Netherlands, Austria, Malaysia and Australia, as well as plenty of classic New Zealand party snacks.
Year 5 pupil Hayden Todd, 10, bought Polish pierogi — a type of dumpling filled with mashed potato and cheese.
Hayden said he had learnt a lot of his mother’s Polish culture since the beginning of the term.
‘‘I learnt a Polish man invented the Walkie-Talkie radio: that was cool.’’
He was also told by a classmate who had learnt Hayden was of Polish descent that there is a famous footballer named Robert Lewandowski.
Hayden said there was not much Polish food cooked in his home, but he would be very keen to try a placki ziemniaczane — a traditional Polish potato pancake.
For his dish, he said he had been surprised to find the pierogi in the New World supermarket; he was happy that he was able to find some Polish food was so accessible in New Zealand.
In terms of other dishes, he really enjoyed the Dutch doughnuts one of his classmates had brought in.
‘‘Everything with the word doughnut in it is yummy ... I wonder why that is,’’ Hayden said.
