In the History classroom at Evans IEC, two friends were re-united. The last time they had seen each other, they were in the sprawling refugee camp of Kakuma in Kenya. Before this exchange program, they had no idea what part of the world their friend had ended up in!
Students at Banksia Road Public School have been involved in many cultural exchange activities over the years. Penny Lee, a teacher at Banksia Road Public is passionate about using multicultural education as a vehicle to encourage students to find their voice. The latest initiative in which students at the school have been involved is the Kids Art Network (KAN).
Teacher-Librarian, Cecilie Yates has been the driving force behind this successful program over the years. Ms Yates says: “The program is broad and diverse and combines environmental education, values education, Discovering Democracy and leadership programs as well as Aboriginal and multicultural education. Students explore various issues through the arts, sport and other areas of interest.”
When Birrong Girls and Engadine High Schools first began their cultural exchange program, teachers used games of soccer, drama activities and other ice breaker activities to initiate trust between the students and provide ways for them to connect. Since then, students have hosted their own school events and have strengthened friendships through the use of email, SMS and mobile phones.
The Year 4 cultural exchange program between Punchbowl and Newport Public Schools is now in its sixteenth year. The program celebrates the diversity of Australia and Australian identities.
When the City of Blacktown formed a sister council relationship with Liverpool Plains Council, both councils were keen to create links between schools in their local government areas. Mitchell High School already had a number of sister school links overseas (with schools in the USA, Germany, Japan, China and Switzerland) and was keen for their students to gain an understanding of life in country NSW. It formed a cultural exchange partnership with Quirindi High School and Blacktown and Liverpool Plains Councils provided funding for the program.
The Berala/Grays Point cultural exchange program involved students in Years 3 and 4. Its focus was on exploring the diversity of Australia and Australian identities and on the common values that we all share. Students from Grays Point travelled by bus to Berala Public School to meet and participate in a day of activities designed to explore and celebrate cultural diversity. Before the visit, students had written to each other and shared information about themselves, their likes and their different school and family experiences. Berala students had also previously visited Grays Point Public School, where together students from the two schools went to the Royal National Park; experienced aspects of Aboriginal culture; and learnt about local animal life.
Students worked together to create posters and advertisements highlighting working together as Australians to “make a difference” in our communities. They presented work which celebrated their achievements. This group has worked together for two years and has made lifelong friendships.
Campsie and Delungra Public Schools conducted a country/city exchange aimed at developing understanding between students from different geographical and cultural backgrounds.
Learning activities included school visits, sports activities, local culture and history, arts and crafts and email exchanges.
The schools initially devised a writing exchange consisting of personal introductions and stories about where they live and what they value about their community. These letters were exchanged over a period of time with increasing levels of personal information being shared.
A visit was then organised with Grays Point students and parents travelling to Auburn. The parents visited the Gallipoli Mosque and the students participated in a range of activities at Auburn Public School learning how to count in a variety of languages, meeting their pen-pals and sharing food.
The program included an exchange of letters between “buddies” followed by reciprocal school visits during which friendship groups engaged in structured activities which explored culture, language and intercultural understanding. The activities integrated work undertaken in Human Society and Its Environment (HSIE) before and after the visits.
This exchange was a Studies of Religion inter-faith project aimed at developing understanding about Christianity and Islam. In this project, senior students from a St Josephs College and Wiley Park Girls High School came together to learn about each others’ religions and cultures.
Blacktown Boys High School and Bundarra Central School conducted a rural / urban exchange aimed at developing students’ understanding of cultural diversity and rural life. Learning activities included in this cultural exchange program included school visits, art and music workshops, local culture and history, arts and crafts and email exchanges.
Major highlights of the day included a presentation led by teachers and students on a joint harmony project involving eight government and non-government primary schools and a panel discussion facilitated by acclaimed children’s author Nadia Wheatley on the cultural experiences of students and teachers. Performances by the Wiley Park Public School choir and students from Beverly Hills Intensive English Centre inspired the audience.
In this program, around 150 Jewish, Muslim, Armenian, and Catholic students from four north shore schools came together at the Galstaun College in Ingleside for an innovative three-part intercultural program titled “Respect, Understanding and Acceptance”. Devised by the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies Education Secretariat, the program brings together students from the Galstaun Armenian College, Masada College (a Jewish school), the Australian Islamic College of Sydney and St Paul’s Catholic College, Manly.