Harmony Week is a celebration that recognises our diversity and brings together Australians from all different backgrounds. It’s about inclusiveness, respect, and a sense of belonging for everyone. Wollemi College Primary celebrated this throughout Week 8, culminating in a Harmony Day class picnic and an afternoon of cultural activities on Friday the 22nd of March.
Throughout the week, students participated in activities that recognised the many different cultural backgrounds that make up our school. Year 5 students worked hand in hand with a buddy in Year 2 to explore a story from the First Australians and created a small nature artwork to go with it. Year 3 came together on Thursday to celebrate an Italian Pasta Day hosted by Mr Spagna and parent volunteers. Other classes worked on identifying and creating flags from the various countries that make up the school. Some classes discovered that our cultural backgrounds comprise over 40 different countries from around the world.
This culminated in our Harmony Day celebration on Friday where Wollemi Primary shared a class picnic where students got a taste of food and snacks from various countries. We savoured a selection of Pastizz from Malta, Manoosh from Lebanon, Ube cake from the Philippines, Momo from Nepal, Kaju Katli from India, Bofloto from Nigeria, Panikeke from Samoa, Roast Potatoes from Ireland, and many, many more.
After lunch, students participated in a range of cultural art and sports activities in mixed groups. This included a Harmony Day Mosaic art, “Foot Badminton” or Da Cau from Vietnam, Jacks from the United Kingdom, Tinikling from the Philippines, the Bhangra Dance from India and Catch The Dragon’s Tail from China.
Harmony is derived from the Greek harmos and the Latin harmonia: harmos meaning “joint”, harmonia meaning “agreement”. We heard many boys saying “I wish Harmony Day was every day” and this is what we want to achieve at Wollemi - a school that joins together in harmony every day.
Mr Nathan Quan
