The annual celebration brought together parents, students, and staff for a day of performances, games, and community spirit on the school grounds.
On Saturday, the 19th September 2025, ACG School Jakarta kicked off its new academic year with the annual “ACG Family BBQ 2025”, an event designed to bring parents, students, teachers, and staff together in a vibrant celebration of community. The school grounds in South Jakarta were transformed into a bustling event space where food, fun, and friendship blended seamlessly throughout the day.
This year’s ACG Family BBQ was carefully curated to ensure there was something for everyone to enjoy. The school divided the event into three main zones. The performance area, located inside the main building with a stage, served as the heart of the event. Here, students, teachers, and even parents showcased their talents with impressive musical band performances, energetic martial arts demonstrations, and pleasant Indian dance by parents that kept the audience captivated. The atmosphere was festive, with cheers and applause echoing as each performance unfolded.
The second area, the bazaar, featured rows of stalls set up by vendors and event sponsors. Parents and visitors could browse and purchase a wide selection of items, from comfort food such as burgers, sandwiches, and popcorn, to lifestyle goods including rugs, accessories, and even decorative glassware. The stalls created a lively marketplace where families mingled, sampled treats, and supported local businesses.
The final area was dedicated to play and entertainment for younger children. Laughter and excitement filled the air as kids queued up for games such as target shooting, can tossing, the punching machine, and the giant balloon castle, which became one of the highlights of the day. These playful activities ensured that children remained engaged while their parents explored the bazaar or enjoyed the stage performances.
Indonesia Expat also talked to the Head of School to discover more about the inspiration and the message behind the ACG Family BBQ.
“The inspiration is just to give an opportunity for our different communities to mix and mingle. We’re a community of 35 to 36 different nationalities. So there are a lot of different times we want to be able to get our community together,” said the Head of School.
ACG School Jakarta is home to a diverse student body, representing families from dozens of cultural backgrounds. For the Head of School, the ACG Family BBQ is more than just an enjoyable day out; it is a chance to build meaningful connections. He emphasised that he wanted the event to serve as a platform where families, students, and staff could interact in a relaxed and joyful setting.
When asked about the importance of hosting such gatherings, he explained, “I think it’s important for the parents and the students to be able to get to know the staff so that they’re not always then just looking and going. So, it’s really important for them to get to kind of know each other.”
Indeed, throughout the day, teachers and staff mingled with parents, sharing conversations that went beyond academic matters. The event highlighted the school’s dedication to fostering not only academic excellence but also a strong sense of belonging.
“ACG is a very warm and welcoming place. And I hope our parents and students feel that,” concluded the Head of School.
Nikita, a parent whose daughter has been enrolled at ACG School Jakarta for almost three years, expressed her appreciation for this year’s event.
“This is my third time attending ACG’s Family BBQ. It’s been amazing; we enjoyed it a lot, and the event went well this time. Also, I think this year we had more vendors compared to last year, and it is more spacious. We felt very lively. Thank you so much,” she said.
For many families, the ACG Family BBQ has become a beloved tradition at the start of each school year, signalling not just a return to academic routines but also an affirmation of ACG School Jakarta’s values: inclusivity, diversity, and community.
After 4.30 PM, and the event was over, families left with smiles, new friendships, and a deeper sense of connection to the school. The event once again demonstrated that education at ACG extends beyond the classroom, encompassing shared experiences that strengthen the bonds of its multicultural community.