Top: Dylan Mace wraps himself in his country’s flag.
CHILDREN at Hampton Park Primary School celebrated what made them different last week.
The school’s planned Multicultural Week was given a boost when it received a grant from the Victorian Multicultural Commission to help stage an event as part of the statewide Cultural Diversity Week.
Using the theme ‘Different but the Same at Hampton Park’, the school celebrated its own Cultural Diversity Week with a week full of multicultural festivities.
Teacher Jenny Norman said while the Hampton Park community spoke many languages, practised myriad cultures and observed different faiths, this diversity actually strengthened and united the community.
She said the school opened the week’s festivities with a visiting Polynesian performer who inspired and reflected the school values while promoting tolerance and understanding.
On Monday, a junior and senior multicultural assembly included dancing and singing, while children dressed in national costumes and the school displayed flags from countries represented at the school.
Ms Norman said everyone enjoyed the experience of tasting the various cultural cooking delights coming from many classrooms during the week.
“By holding a multicultural event, it acknowledges and embraces the diversity of cultural backgrounds within the classroom and wider community,” she said.
Ms Norman said throughout the week, students and their families were encouraged to share experiences unique to their own culture while promoting a message of acceptance, harmony and respect for all cultures in the community.
