Celebrating Our Cultural Diversity 

The College celebrated Harmony Week and honoured the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on Thursday 26 March with several activities across the College. Harmony Week is a wonderful opportunity for us to learn from one another, show respect, and embrace the many backgrounds that make our College community so vibrant.

World Map

To understand how diverse our College community is, a large map of the world was placed in the Carceri, with students invited to place a pin or pins in the country/countries that represent the cultural heritage of their family. The map was presented at our College Assembly, and it was fantastic to see how many pins were placed in countries across the world. 

Posters, paper chains and pavements 

Posters created by our Consiglio were placed throughout the College to remind us what true harmony, belonging and inclusions looks, sounds and feels like. 

During Home Room, students were be asked to write a message of inclusion, respect and welcome on a strip of paper as their commitment to living our Inclusion Statement that is on Page 11 of the College Planner. These strips were put together by our Consiglio members to create an enormous paper chain - as kindness truly connects.

Students were invited to grab some sidewalk chalk to write 'welcome' or 'belong' in another language on our concrete paths as they entered through the Cremorne Rd gates.

Celebrating our cultures

On Thursday 26 March (International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination) students were encouraged to wear cultural dress to school, to recognise the rich cultural diversity within our school community. 

During assembly, we celebrated and acknowledged the cultures that make up the Mt A community through cultural presentations, prayers delivered in the languages our students come from, and a panel discussion comprising of teachers and students.

Thank you to everyone who shared their culture with us. Your languages, beliefs and traditions enrich our College.

What is the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination?

The history of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is rooted in the Sharpeville Massacre. In 1960, South African police killed 69 peaceful protesters fighting against the apartheid 'Pass laws'.  In response to the Sharpeville Massacre, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly resolved that a week of solidarity with peoples struggling against racism and racial discrimination, would be held annually from 21 March.

Since then, the international community has built a framework for fighting racism, guided by the International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Australia ratified this in 1975, leading to the nation’s first law that actively addresses racial discrimination - the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth). As a College, we uphold this law and reference it within our Mount Alvernia College Inclusion Statement.

So, this week and every week, we take moments of prayerful discernment to recognise our conscious and unconscious bias towards race and make positive steps towards the elimination of racial discrimination. We are reminded of our Franciscan and Catholic story:

What Franciscan Charism Tells Us

St Francis of Assisi embracing the leper:  Radical inclusion

St Francis crossing battle lines to meet the Sultan: Interreligious respect

St Clare of Assisi creating space for female leadership

What Catholic Social Teaching Tells Us

1. Human Dignity: Every person reflects God.

2. Solidarity: We are responsible for one another.

3. Preferential Option for the Marginalised: We stand with those pushed out.

What Scripture Tells Us

The Golden Rule: ‘Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.’ Matthew 7:12

May this week represent a significant shift in our perspective to ensure that everyone at Mount Alvernia College is welcome, belongs and is included in everything we do.