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.
Ashfield Public School has a long history in cultural exchange. Through many initiatives, it prepares its students and their families for effective participation in Australian society and the world. Ashfield Public School is a multicultural school in Sydney’s inner west. Over 80% of students come from language backgrounds other than English and a significant number of these students are Chinese speakers and new arrivals. For many students at Ashfield Public School and their families, the school is their first contact with Australian society.
In this exchange program, Stage 2 students were offered the opportunity to investigate and explore diverse cultural identities. Initially this involved students writing letters and emails to each other which included descriptions of their physical appearance and personality traits. Over time, this grew to students swapping information on holidays, writing about their families and communicating independently with one another. The program was then extended to include reciprocal school visits and the production of a film made by students from Bondi Beach Public School.
On September 11, 1/ 2R from East Hills Public School finally met their pen pals from McCallums Hill. East Hills children were greeted by a huge “Welcome 1/2R “ sign and were quickly united with their pen pals through a “getting to know you” game. Each child received an individualised passport that listed their pen pal’s name and the community language they would be visiting.