Week 8 saw the Kolbe Catholic College community acknowledge and celebrate Harmony Week as a time to celebrate Australia’s multiculturalism and embrace our rich ethnic diversity. It is estimated that Australia is home to people with over 300 different cultural backgrounds, including the oldest continuous living cultures in the entire world, shared by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The theme of Harmony Week is ‘Everyone Belongs’, and its aim is to engage people to participate in their community, respect cultural diversity and foster a sense of belonging. This week also coincides with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (March 21st), and it is equally important that as a community we continue to both challenge and stand together against racist behaviours and attitudes. We are so lucky at Kolbe to have such a diverse community of students and staff members, and as such, it is vitally important that we understand, respect and value one another.
Throughout the week, there were lots of opportunities to get involved, including Japanese calligraphy lessons, friendship bracelet sessions, creating wall art for the WLC, PC quizzes, and Japanese cooking. The week culminated with Friday Fun on the Avenue, with a bake sale, badge-making, live music, and picnics to celebrate together as friends. Students were also encouraged to wear orange accessories on this day to raise money for the Multicultural Communities Council of WA and the Australian Red Cross. Orange is the colour chosen to represent Harmony Week as traditionally it signifies social communication and meaningful conversations.
As a College we are so grateful for the contributions of all of our students, families and staff to our vibrant community. HAPPY HARMONY WEEK, EVERYONE!
