By BRIDGET COOK
CULTURAL respect was prominent in schools across Casey on Thursday as part of national Harmony Day celebrations.
A number of schools held Harmony Day events on either Thursday, or the Friday – which coincides with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
The theme for this year’s Harmony Day ‘Many Stories – One Australia’ was to celebrate and recognise that while many come from different countries around the world, we are now all a part of one country.
Each year, Cranbourne West Primary School picks one country to focus on during Harmony Day and this year they chose India.
Students were invited to wear an outfit that represented their cultural background, take part in a parade, enjoy Indian food together, watch a performance from Ignite Bollywood and take part in a number of Indian related games, crafts and literacy and numeracy activities.
Students from Rangebank Primary School also visited the school to perform a Bollywood dance they had learnt.
Both St Peter’s College campuses held Harmony Day celebrations, with students invited to wear their cultural dress for a fashion parade, a concert at lunchtime accompanied by food from around the world.
As part of the celebrations, the World Game’s staff versus student’s soccer match was held at recess.
The teacher’s team won by a goal to take out the 2013 Harmony Day Trophy.
Lynbrook Primary School celebrated Harmony Day on Thursday with a sea of colourful costumes, folk tales from around the world and an array of cultural performances throughout the day.
Students took a journey around the world with performances from India, Sri Lanka, Poland, Ireland, New Zealand, Mauritius and even included a true-blue Waltzing Matilda.
Cranbourne Secondary College also celebrated the event with cultural performances, Zumba for all students a lunchtime, a cultural display in the library and sports activities for students to take part in.
