Harmony Week 2023
This year John Forrest Secondary College has come together to celebrate Harmony Week 2023 through a variety of events which celebrate and exhibit our diverse multicultural community.
The whole week was about letting the students know that Harmony Week, and in particular Harmony Day which was celebrated by the College on Tuesday 21 March, is important, that we are a multicultural school, that everyone belongs no matter where they come from in the world. It’s a time of celebrating our diversity.
The College, in conjunction with the City of Bayswater, produced a book entitled Harmony Week “Origin Stories”. This book brings together students own origin stories and celebrates the vibrant multicultural City of Bayswater with migration stories from students. The book shows us the stories of families coming from places all around the world, the difficulties, leaving family behind, and coming to Australia to start a new life and future for their families and how good that has been. Students were given a sneak peek of the book by Mayor Cr. Filomena Piffaretti the week proceeding Harmony Week with Cr Lorna Clarke launching the book at the College Assembly on Tuesday 21 March 2023. To download a digital version of this wonderful book and read the students stories yourself please visit the City of Bayswater’s Website.
Students also heard from Class of 2016’s Tark Wantee who shared his own origin story and what Harmony Week means to him. Tark had escaped civil unrest and travelled through treacherous conditions from Côte d'Ivoire, lived in a refugee camp for a year, finally arriving in Australia (and safety) in 2005. Nearly 20 years on, he reflected on his time in Australia, how lucky he has been and the amazing opportunities that he was able to take advantage of not only in Australia but during his time at the College too. We’d can’t thank Tark enough for sharing his story and experiences with the College.
On Tuesday students and staff were also encouraged to dress up, either in cultural dress or orange. The cultural dress gave students and staff a chance to recognise and celebrate their story and background. Orange is the colour for Harmony Day and allowed people to show their support for the day.
At Lunch students were invited to the oval to compete in Tumbang preso, a Filipino children’s game which involves throwing a slipper at a can or bottle which one player (the taya) attempts to guard.
The ladies at the JFSC Café baked up a storm producing 800 slices of delicious cake to help celebrate the day to hand out to staff and students.
The Year 11 Dance Students were honoured to receive a visit from guest choreographer Rayaswari Kandiah who taught the students the Hichki. Students have worked on the dance through the term and recorded a performance of it for Harmony Week.
It was a great day around the College recognising and celebrating Harmony Day.
