Harmony Week at ISWA

March 6, 2008

Please Join Us for Lunch on Thursday, 20 March!  Australia celebrates Harmony Week each year in the week leading up to March 21st. It is a week that provides us with an opportunity to celebrate our successes as a culturally diverse society, re-commit ourselves to harmony and say “no” to racism. March 21st coincides with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and is a solemn day marking the anniversary of the Sharpeville Massacre which took place on this day in 1960 and resulted in the deaths of 69 South Africans who took part in a peaceful protest against the apartheid regime. This is a solemn day on which no celebrations take place. Harmony Week is celebrated nationally, by all kinds of organizations and community groups and is promoted by the Australian Government Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs. ISWA has students, teachers, and staff from many different cultural backgrounds. These differences make our community stronger. We will be celebrating Harmony Week from 17 - 20 March 2008. During the week there will be activities ranging from working on a mosaic design related to this year’s theme “Connect”, homeroom conundrums, activities conducted by students during lunch, and sporting activities.
Harmony Week will culminate on Thursday, 20 March 2008 with the unveiling of the mosaic, a flag parade by students, teachers, and staff representing the countries at ISWA, and our traditional multicultural lunch. In order to have this lunch we need your cooperation. We are asking each student, teacher, and staff to bring a dish from their country. It is advisable to use disposable plates/trays or label those items that are not disposable.
On 20 March 2008 our special guests will be students from Clontarf Aboriginal College. After the multicultural lunch our students will be playing American football and basketball with these students and there will be a range of outdoor activities taking place.
We want our students and their families to taste the different flavours we have to offer and most of all we want our students to feel their culture and background is included in this activity. Parents and younger siblings are invited to attend our Harmony Day lunch which will take place from 12:00-1:30 in the cafeteria.
The Harmony Day colour is orange. Students, parents, teachers and staff are encouraged to wear traditional clothing on this day or to wear an orange top with blue jeans. If an orange top with blue jeans or traditional clothing is not possible students should wear their uniform and orange ribbons will be provided.
Families with LAST NAMES beginning with the following letters, please bring dishes from these categories:

  • Appetizers/Salads: Q - Z
  • Mains: H - P
  • Desserts: A - G

We are looking forward to you joining us at the Harmony Week lunch. Please RSVP by 10 March 2008 and let me know how many will attend and what dish you will share. You may RSVP via email at mchiesa@iswa.wa.edu.au or fill in the form provided and return it to me. I thank you in advance for your cooperation and look forward to seeing you at our third Harmony Day celebration.
-Muna Chiesa




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