Celebrating Culture and Wellbeing: Insights from Our Open Morning

At our recent Open Morning, families were invited into classrooms to share in a special showcase of student learning, centered on how cultural traditions and rituals can promote wellbeing. The morning was filled with student reflections, as children explored how their family’s cultural practices help them feel connected, calm and supported and how these traditions align with the key pillars of The Resilience Project: Gratitude, Empathy, Mindfulness, Emotional Literacy and Connections.

CIS Captains reflections

Education Week at Glen Waverley Primary School was a truly enriching experience. It started with an immersive cultural experience as we heard a stunning musical piece from Ethan 6F that has been passed through generations for 300 years now. What a treat! This really set the tone for an engaging morning of learning as the whole school showcased various aspects of our whole school approach to wellbeing and how this connects with our personal journeys and cultural experiences. As Global Citizens, every child created a learning piece which represented their cultural background and wellbeing rituals practiced within their families. We loved seeing family members move through classrooms and connect with their own child and other children as they delved into various cultural practices and how they have adapted over time. It really provided a genuine opportunity to connect with new families over a shared experience. 

Some of our parent highlights were captured as,

“It was great to see the efforts taken by the children to explore their own culture.”

“The students were all confident and comfortable presenting.”

“The morning was very organised and informative for everyone.”

Our families learnt the following,

“Different cultures have wellbeing practices that are grounded in similar beliefs.”

“Our school is truly very multicultural, and the wellbeing practices are taught at a very young age, so the children know how to respect each other.”

“There are an endless number of ways one can express their culture, wellbeing and understanding. This was evident in the presentations.”

“Many different cultures, that we weren’t aware of before, exist within the school.”

As you can see from our community feedback and feedforward, our focus on sharing our wellbeing and cultural practices has resonated with community members and helped build a common understanding. We would like to express our gratitude towards all members of our community that took the time out of their day to help celebrate the diverse cultures and wellbeing practices at Glen Waverley Primary School. 

Rishaan, Akeesha, Yash and Adrisha

Council of International School Captains

Classroom conversations

Across five classroom conversations, Leo (2B), Sankrith (2B), Deyana (6F), Sanjay (6F) and Foram (4F) shared meaningful traditions that promote emotional safety and community connection.

Leo shared the significance of Chinese New Year in his family, describing the food, lanterns and family togetherness:

“We hang lanterns to scare away monsters and eat fish and mooncakes. It makes me feel like it’s a fresh start.”

Although still exploring the connections to the Resilience Project, Leo highlighted the mindfulness involved in marking new beginnings and cultural renewal.

A beautiful reflection came from Sankrith, who shared how the harvest festival is celebrated in his family’s culture.

“We clean our homes, thank the farmers and feed and decorate the animals. On the last day, we have a family picnic.”

This tradition, he noted, was full of gratitude, both for the food producers and for the chance to share joyful moments with loved ones. 

Foram explained how a daily family prayer ritual helps her feel calm and safe:

“At night, when we pray together, I feel peaceful. We say what we are thankful for.”

This simple practice links clearly to mindfulness and gratitude, fostering a moment of connection and reflection each day.

Deyana reflected on the tradition of visiting temples and receiving blessings and guidance from monks:

“We give fruit and flowers. The monk helps me when I feel stuck. They give me advice, and it makes me feel better.”

This tradition, she explained, helps her practise gratitude and feel supported in tough times.

Lastly, Sanjay shared the tradition of drawing rice flour designs outside their front door to invite good luck:

“It reminds me to look for good things. If you look for good, you find more of it.”

This perspective beautifully captures the mindsets of gratitude and resilience - choosing to focus on the positives and recognising others’ good deeds.

These rich cultural insights not only deepened our students' understanding of their own identities, but also created space for cross-cultural appreciation and dialogue. We’re proud of how our students are learning to connect cultural heritage with wellbeing strategies and how they’re making meaningful links to The Resilience Project’s focus on GEM + EL: Gratitude, Empathy, Mindfulness, Emotional Literacy and Connections.

Thank you to all the families who joined us and supported our students in celebrating their culture, voice and wellbeing. This learning will continue to ripple through our classrooms and playgrounds,  understanding, empathy and community.