Deputy Principal's Report

Dear Parents and Carers

Harmony Week

Harmony Week is an annual celebration that promotes cultural diversity, inclusiveness, and mutual respect among people of all backgrounds. The overarching message of Harmony Week is to promote social cohesion and unity, fostering a sense of belonging and acceptance for all Australians regardless of their background or cultural identity.

The Year 6 Wellbeing Leaders have been busy already this week facilitating Harmony Week activities. They visited the Prep, Year 1 and Year 2 classrooms where they read the book "I'm Australian Too" to the younger students and led a discussion about our cultural backgrounds. They also organised a handprint poster which is now displayed in the corridor. 

We have our whole school Harmony Week celebration tomorrow. Please come dressed in colours or clothing representing your own cultural background.  We look forward to receiving your family posters as well, which will be displayed around the school. 

Here's what Harmony Day means to our Year 5H students: 

"Harmony Day means to be able to express your culture and background. It celebrates our differences."

Nobody should make anyone feel sad or bad about where they are from." by Maddie C

To me, Harmony Day is a day to celebrate your differences and cultures and even where you are from. On Harmony day we should be friends to everyone and feel safe and happy about who we are." by Evie

I think Harmony Day is celebrated so that we can recognise each other's background and culture that makes us unique. 

A keyword in Evie's quote is 'safe'...everybody has the right to feel safe at St Finbar's . We strive to uphold Child Safe Standard 1 at St FInbar's:  Organisations establish a culturally safe environment in which the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal children and young people are respected and valued.  Whilst this Standard stipulates Aboriginal children, we strive to establish a culturally safe background for all students. 

Resilience Project seminar

As promised here is the recording link for those of you who couldn't make it to the live session, or for those who would like to watch the presentation again. Please note that this link will expire on the 31st March.

Parent Book Resources

Each week I hope to share a book with you that may be of interest.  We have copies of these books here at school that you are welcome to borrow for two weeks at a time. The first book is Raising Resilience by Christopher Willard.  Raising Resilience is a practical guide for parents and educators of children from preschool through adolescence, detailing ten universal principles for happy families and thriving children. Please email Michelle if you are interested in borrowing this book. 

Steele Anderson and Michelle Hill