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On the 18th March 2015, all of Year 10 gathered together for their Reflection Day, which would start their new unit of study for Religion called ‘A Call to Unity’. The day was all about acknowledging the differences of others and understanding that we are all children of God and that we are one under his presence. The students were able to participate in a series of discussions and activities that got them to think about harmony and acceptance on a local, national and global scale. They were also challenged to think of ways that they could act in God's name in order to make this world a better place.
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After watching various clips and hearing a discussion about the multicultural and multifaith nature of Australia it was clear that within our own community of St Andrews College we have a rich and vibrant migrant culture. We acknowledged that we are able to celebrate this great diversity with things such as cultural fairs, multicultural and unity days, and in particular Harmony Day, which was celebrated on Saturday the 21st of March.
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Students worked in groups to discuss these celebrations and create a campaign or event that could be used to promote unity and harmony in our local area. Each group came up with a fantastic and creative campaign that they shared with the Year Group ranging from food fairs, musical concerts and social media campaigns. It was clear from these activities that here at St Andrews College we strive to follow the message of Christ and treat each other with respect and love, regardless of our differences. Through the activity students demonstrated that we need to promote cultural respect and tolerance for everyone who calls Australia home.
During the final activity of the day, students were each given a coloured slip of paper to write down a way that they could individually promote unity and harmony in their world. Working together all of Year 10 was able to link each coloured slip together to form one large colourful daisy chain. They had made a beautiful display of ways that they could promote a sense of unity and harmony throughout our country.
One thing the students were asked to take from the Reflection Day and exemplify in their own lives, was to remember that though we all come from different lands and may believe in different things we all call this place our home and we are all God’s children. We are a family regardless of our differences and to remember that...“so powerful is the light of unity, that it can illuminate the whole earth”
Thank you to the teachers who assisted on the day and thank you to all Year 10 students who participated in the day and showed great maturity and tolerance in discussing ideas and working together to create such beautiful messages of unity.