Glen Education Centre Road

Cultural Responsiveness in Our Program

By Bhargavi Peddaraju, Early Childhood Educator

At Glen Education Centre Road Kindergarten, we value and celebrate the diverse cultures of all children and families in our community. We are building a culturally Inclusive Environment and believe that when children see their culture and language reflected in their learning environment, it supports their sense of belonging, identity, and confidence.

Each day, we begin our sessions by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the land, the Boonwurrung people, and paying our respects to their elders past and present. This helps children build respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and a meaningful connection to the land.

Celebrating Diversity Through Learning

This term, we celebrated International Day of Families on 15th May. Families contributed by writing the word “hello” in their home languages on paper bark. This activity gave children the chance to learn new words and appreciate the many languages spoken within our community.

During Reconciliation Week, children learned about  National Sorry Day and the importance of recognising our shared history. We went on a nature walk to the park, where children completed a scavenger hunt, collecting sticks, leaves, and flowers. They then used mud as paint to decorate the materials and create Bunjil the eagle, an important figure in Aboriginal culture. This hands-on activity helped children engage with Indigenous stories and traditions in a meaningful way.

We also celebrated the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival, a traditional cultural event. As part of this celebration, children made sticky rice dumplings, known as zongzi, wrapped in bamboo leaves. This activity gave the children an opportunity to explore Chinese customs through food, and they enjoyed learning about the story and meaning behind the festival. In addition, we had a Chinese ribbon dance, where children expressed themselves through music and movement while discovering a different cultural art form.

A Welcoming and Inclusive Space

Through these activities, we aim to create a welcoming and inclusive space where all cultures are recognised, respected, and celebrated. We believe this helps children develop empathy, curiosity, and a strong sense of identity.

We would like to thank all our families for their ongoing support and involvement. Their contributions help us provide meaningful, culturally rich experiences for every child.