Our first Whole School Assembly for 2026 was held on Friday 20 February as part of Welcome Week.

As part of honoring our Welcoming Advocate Thread, we celebrated our own 'MECS Harmony Day' picking up on the themes of cultural diversity, inclusion and respect for all people who call Australia home. We have quite a number of students and families in our community from different cultural backgrounds and in our assembly, we wished to recognize and celebrate the diversity of our MECS community, a smaller snapshot of the makeup of broader Australian society. Although Harmony Week is usually celebrated in March, we have brought Harmony Day forward into Welcome Week linking with our Welcoming Advocate Thread - A Welcoming Advocate is someone who.......".....loves their neighbour by being genuinely kind and inclusive.....embraces diversity, celebrates different backgrounds and perspectives....has respect for everyone, reflecting God's love and unity".

Our Assembly included the following elements:

An acknowledgement of country by Mrs Thomas and students Mia & Cooper who spoke about their own Indigenous heritage
Our wonderful Staff Student Medley featuring the MP/SP Choir - special thanks to Music Faculty Leader Tristan Forrest and Senior Primary Teacher Kate Taylor
Yr 12 Student Leaders Zac, Ambrie & Meg who talked about their own cross cultural interactions and reflections of being a Welcoming Advocate at MECS
An encouragement from Mr Daniel Bradbury around us as a community adopting a Welcoming Mind, a Welcoming Heart & Welcoming Hands as we interact cross culturally
A short video of the Primary School Welcoming Advocates
Our Chin students who shared a bi-lingual song and a cultural dance as part of celebrating Chin National Day
A message and presentation from special guest Mr Aaron Violi Federal MP for Casey
The Casey Shield Award presented to MECS Graduate (2025) Irin Khuk Zawn - congratulations Irin!
The Kwong Lee Dow Award presented by Emma Allison to Year 11 student Olivia - congratulations Olivia!
Welcoming Advocate Student Awards for Primary and Secondary presented by Mr Malcolm Pirie & Mrs Emma Allison
The Lolly Jar Winner presented by Mrs Anna Turner - congratulations to winner Jamie SPY with the closest guess of 392 lollies (393 were in the jar)
A bi-lingual prayer in English and Chin Hakha language

We want to thank all students across the school who developed a piece of art for our Collaborative Welcome Wall Art (featuring words and pictures of Welcome).

We also wish to thank Mrs Alyce Van der Jagt and Secondary Art students who made our Welcoming Advocate Wall Art and the peace doves. Thanks also to Mrs Sarah Venz and MECS Primary Students who made the Welcome Banner for the front office.

Our assembly was a joyous way to begin the year - welcoming new students and families and celebrating who we are as a community!

As part of the Harmony Day celebrations, students shared in their Sushi Lunch Orders at lunch time. Special Thanks to Mrs Robyn Turner for coordinating the packing and distribution of over 700 sushi school wide plus drinks! Students also enjoyed a Zooper Dooper throughout the day and interacted with our Chin students at lunch time who had music playing, cultural dress and face painting activities out in the yard.

We love Welcome Week! With a full calendar of events, it's a great way to start the year in community together.

Clare Bradbury

Cultural Liaison Coordinator

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