A school cultural festival that celebrates diversity, tradition, and the joy of learning together.
Every year, we show up at the Indonesian Colere Event, the school’s annual celebration of culture and heritage. It’s part festival, part food bazaar, part musical show, and somehow always ends up feeling like a warm hug from the whole country.
This is our fifth year attending, and yet… for me the goosebumps never go away. From noon until evening, the schoolyard turned into a sea of color: batik, ulos, songket, and every possible shade of kebaya under the sun. Even parents are required to wear traditional clothing too.
The event began with something truly special this year: Addie MS, yes, the famous conductor himself, leading the student orchestra. They played Ampar-Ampar Pisang from Kalimantan and Yamko Rambe Yamko from Papua. The arrangement was beautiful, performed with such confidence and joy.
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| Addie MS on stage |
After that came the Grand Fashion Parade. Each house (basically their version of Hogwarts groups) represented a different region of Indonesia. The students designed everything themselves, from costumes to the stories behind them. Some turned traditional motifs into modern fashion statements, others recreated ancient myths on the runway. It was creative, funny, and surprisingly emotional.
Then came the stage performances: dances, dramas, and storytelling by each house. Every act had its own soul. My youngest daughter was part of a dance performance. Originally, she got the role of a teacher in a Minang drama, but since she doesn’t speak Minang… let’s just say she gracefully switched careers to become a dancer 😄
When we asked how long they had to prepare, she said, “Two to three weeks. Two weeks while still studying, and three full days just for rehearsals.” And it showed. The energy, the teamwork, the sheer joy, it all radiated from the stage.
Now, I won’t name the school (the photos already have its name covered), but let’s just say it’s not your typical high school.
It’s a multicultural campus that runs with university-level standards, home to students from 34 Indonesian provinces and even around 70 international students from China. About 30% live in the dorms, forming a close-knit community that learns, grows, and dreams together. With over 135 teachers guiding around 1,900 students, and more than 3,600 graduates already studying or working abroad. The place feels like a launchpad for global citizens, not just a school.
What I love most is how it teaches balance, between tradition and progress, discipline and creativity, intellect and empathy.
No wonder even after five years, this event still moves me. It’s not just about the performances; it’s about seeing how culture can be passed down in ways that feel alive and relevant. How these kids can wear a full Papuan headpiece while speaking fluent English, or play a traditional song with a digital keyboard, and somehow, it all just fits.
A friend of mine, Mbak Eva, once saw my Instagram story about this school and ended up enrolling her son here. Now he's thriving and happier than ever. His sister also enrolled to this school too. Mbak Eva said, it was once of the best decisions ever.
By the time the last dance ended, the stage was full of performers. Parents were clapping and students were hugging each other like it was the end of a concert tour. And there I realized that education can look like this: full of joy, pride, and purpose.
When a school becomes a home for hearts from every corner of the country, and even beyond, that’s not just education. That’s nation-building.