This cultural exchange used the Cooling Conflicts program to address bullying. The two schools used their connected classrooms to communicate and participate in enhanced forum theatre activities which culminated in a school visit.
This partnership links a large, urban, multicultural school (Lindfield East) with a small, remote, predominantly indigenous school (Menindee). It involves a large number of community and government partners who communicate and collaborate with the two schools on research, program development, implementation, and ongoing evaluation of outcomes.
We have established a relationship with the South Korean Consulate and have many interactions through them. The most recent was a visit by 53 Korean Student Teachers who wanted to see how primary science was taught in Australia.
Students from Woronora River Public School initially attended a Multicultural Day at Chullora Public School. This was followed by Years 5 and 6 students from both schools participating in a joint Canberra excursion. Aims of this cultural exchange program included enhancing students’ appreciation of cultural diversity and encouraging friendships between children from different cultural and socio-economic backgrounds.
In this exchange, two schools join forces to develop understanding, tolerance and harmony and to increase parent participation. The aim of this cultural exchange program was to develop cross-cultural awareness, particularly in relation to Arabic-speaking communities, and to increase the participation of Arabic-speaking parents in the activities of both schools.
This program began with students from Bringelly Public School making initial contact with Tempe Public School students via email. The aim of the activity was for students to establish buddy relationships. The entire Bringelly school population of some 100 students travelled by bus to the inner city, not really sure what to expect when they arrived at Tempe.
Sisters, Lena Stefanovska and Dana Kokalevski have combined their passion to promote tolerance and respect through a successful cultural exchange program between students at Cabramatta Public School and Kemblawarra Public School. Lena and Dana, both teachers, set out to build strong links with each other’s school communities. With the support and enthusiasm from the schools’ principals, other teachers and parents this successful exchange continues with increasing rewards for all involved.
The search for an effective Values Education focus for Stage 3 students led teachers from Sylvania Heights and Merrylands Public schools to investigate the benefits of a cultural exchange program. Having found each other on the cultural exchange website, the two Sydney based schools began the process of organising an exchange. This exchange highlighted both the similarities and differences of two very different school populations.
Students at a single teacher school on the NSW North Coast exchange with students at a large urban Sydney school. The cultural exchange program involving Byabarra and Parklea Public Schools has been in operation for several years. The aim of the program is to assist students to explore the many lifestyles that make up contemporary Australia and to come to appreciate Australian cultural diversity.
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).
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.
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.
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.