HARMONY WEEK

Last week at St John Vianney’s, our students came together to celebrate Harmony Day through a rich and meaningful exploration of culture, identity and connection.

Our learning began with Aboriginal storytelling, where students listened to traditional stories and reflected on the importance of symbols, connection to Country, and the sharing of stories across generations. Inspired by this, students created their own symbolic stories, expressing who they are and what matters to them.

We then travelled across the globe through our “Flavours of the World” activity. Students explored herbs and spices from different countries and used a world map to guess their origins, sparking curiosity and conversation about global cultures and traditions.

In our creative sessions, students designed and decorated their own Vietnamese conical hats (nón lá) before learning the traditional Vietnamese Hat Dance (múa nón). This graceful dance celebrates Vietnamese culture and highlights the resilience and everyday life of farmers, often performed at festivals such as Tet.

Students were also introduced to Auslan (Australian Sign Language). They learned that Auslan was developed by Deaf communities themselves—not invented by hearing people—and explored how language connects people and culture. Classes practiced signing along to “I Am Australian”  building both understanding and respect for the Deaf community.

To conclude our celebration, students gathered together for a special campfire storytelling session, sharing stories and reflecting on the diversity that makes our community strong.

The week culminated in our vibrant Harmony Day Parade, where students proudly showcased their learning. Together, we sang our theme song “We Are One” and performed “I Am Australian” in Auslan, celebrating the message that we all belong.

Harmony Day at SJV was a joyful reminder that while we may come from many different backgrounds, we are united through respect, understanding and shared stories.