A lesson in peace

Read Riham Al-Zuhairi's musings regarding her experience at the Support Unit in Week 5:

On 11 November 2022, Melak, Albert, Rinita and I, were nominated to read stories to students at the Support Unit. On behalf of all of us, we would like to thank Mrs Ishak and the staff members of the Support Unit, who have supported the decision to let us participate in the Reading with the STARS program and encouraged us to join their assembly on Remembrance Day. 

It was a thoughtful and respectful assembly that honoured the peace we all enjoy and the soldiers who lost their lives during WWI and WWII for us to live safely on this beautiful land today. 

We also want to say thank Mr Griffiths for an informative speech about Remembrance Day, which helped students at the Support Unit understand the significance of the day and why we wear poppies.

I am more than happy to say I enjoyed my time reading to students at the Support Unit reading for them and would like to personally thank Albert for being my reading partner and reading with me. I appreciated his kindness through the way he read for his fellow students. We read Terrance Turtle's New Home, which explored the theme of respectful friendships, and Up Down & All Around, which is a story about the importance of being present.

In the future, if I am given the opportunity to read again, I will definitely take it, knowing it’ll bring a smile to other students’ faces.

I’d also like to thank my sister, Miriam, for being appreciative and supportive while I read to her. 

Thanks to all the teachers, including Mr Floresca and all the staff at the Support Unit who opened this opportunity for myself and the STARS to keep improving our communication skills while engaging with the school community. It was a very special event for me to be able to be a part of.

Riham Al-Zuhairi

Year 9