Bendigo Senior Secondary College is celebrating Cultural Diversity Week from Tuesday 15 March to Friday 18 March when the college will observe Harmony Day.
“This is a great opportunity for everyone to come together and celebrate the diverse nationalities, languages and cultures that make up the college community,” Principal Dale Pearce said.
“Cultural Diversity Week is held annually to coincide with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (Harmony Day) which in 2016 is on March 21st. The theme for Harmony Day 2016 is our diversity is our strength.”
In keeping with this theme BSSC’s week of celebrations includes:
- Tuesday – Strathfieldsaye Primary School Grade Four students will join some visiting students from our sister school in China for a day of cultural immersion. Students will spend an hour in Karen/Afghan culture, Chinese culture and Indigenous culture where they will experience different culturally appropriate activities.
- Wednesday – At lunchtime in the Language Centre students will share the culture of the different languages taught at BSSC and celebrate the cultures of our exchange students.
- Thursday – At lunchtime in the Ulumbarra Plaza the Karen/Afghan culture will be celebrated with food, displays of artefacts, name writing in Karen and Afghan and wearing of national dress.
- The week culminates on Friday when all staff and students celebrate Harmony Day. At lunchtime in the Ulumbarra Plaza students will enjoy lunch and fun activities which celebrate our college’s cultural diversity encouraging inclusiveness and respect reinforcing the 2016 message for Harmony Day that ‘our diversity is our strength’.
“This international day for the elimination of racial discrimination is an opportunity to renew our commitment to building a world of justice and equality where xenophobia and bigotry do not exist,” said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
“We must learn the lessons of history and acknowledge the profound damage caused by racial discrimination.”
