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content

harmony day

our school

in their words...

on the day

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wordsMarguerite Barwell

imagesMarguerite Barwell

editsSamantha Gage

Orara High School students celebrating Harmony Day

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harmony dayOn Tuesday, 30 March, our school community came together to celebrate our diversity in a way that strongly demonstrated the values that represent the Harmony Day theme, “Everybody belongs.”

Harmony Day is an opportunity for us to connect, share and celebrate what makes Orara a place of new beginnings amongst old cultures. It is a day for everyone.

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our school In the multicultural tapestry of Orara High, our students speak 31 different languages.

We have our first nations students, students born here from families who, in the past, came to Australia, and newly arrived students from a migrant or refugee background who have left war and troubles behind, and crossed many oceans to arrive in our peaceful land.

As Mayada, Year 10, put it: “It is important to celebrate because Harmony Day belongs to everyone.”

Orara students celebrating Harmony Day

in their own words...It’s a great day for students to be proud of who they are.

- Afra, Year 9

Harmony Day is important for me because it makes everyone happy.

- Alessa, Year 8

We wish Harmony Day was every day.

- Kheiry, Year 8

The best thing was them smiling in their national costumes.

- Shing Shang, Year 9

A great way for students to honour their culture.

- Chaplain Erica Butler

A great time to acknowledge the multicultural identity of our school.

- Mr Horton

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on the day

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some eucalypt leaves and, under the direction of teachers, performed a smoking ceremony, a traditional welcome and ritual that signifies cleansing.

John picked up his didgeridoo and the first haunting notes awoke the quadrangle.

Sudents slowly came, then soon a crowd gathered. who clapped and cheered.

In the lead up to Harmony Day, classes across the school made origami lotus flowers under the direction of artist teacher, Mr John Thiering.

Mr Thiering’s idea was to create an art installation with the paper flowers.

On Harmony Day, a tree in the middle of the quad was chosen and the flowers were laid across its roots, emanating like rays from the sun.

The quad took on an orange vibe with balloons across balconies and flags from different countries

spanning the walkways.

Some students wore the colour orange symbolising Harmony Day and other students wore traditional dress from their countries and cultures.

Lunchtime came and Indigenous student John Walker sat quietly in the quad with his didgeridoo or yiggi yiggi as John’s mob, the Bundjalung people, call it.

He was painted in ochre, connecting himself to the spirits of the earth.

John had gathered

John with his yiggi yiggi

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Leading the way was Year 10 student Zainab in an Afghani robe of aqua and silver sequins with matching hijab, or veil.

Representing Africa, came Betty (Year 9) in a traditional printed long purple skirt and matching headscarf.

Aisha (Year 10) followed in a lime green skirt and white top, her head-dress, in the vibrant colours of Congo, tied to look like a butterfly.

Next came Eden, from Year 12, in a beautiful Ethiopian habesha kemis (handwoven cotton dress)

When the notes died away, AEO Anthony Donovan welcomed us to Country, with a special mention in the languages of some of our students - in Kurdish Kurmanji spoken by our Iraqi and Syrian students, in Burmese for our group from Myanmar and in Dari, a language of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Afghani music then filled the quadrangle and a parade of national dress began in a ‘catwalk of culture’ where students walked, strutted or spun around - a living, moving image of the mosaic of cultures of Orara High to the commentary of our Iraqi-born School Captain, Manea Mousa.

and a netela scarf.

Kiara (Year 9) represented Japan in a green ceremonial kimono, with an obi belt, that had been gifted to her Japanese teacher, Miss Lishman.

Next came a contingent of Iraqi girls in flowing dresses with vests and gold belts: Mayada and Jelan, then Najeba and Ameera.

The crowd was won over. “Not only did they look beautiful (in their national dress) but the sense of pride was strong and admirable,” said Ms Ogilvie.

Zainab

Aisha

Najeba and Ameera

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green, an important colour for the Yazidi people of Kurdistan, where 30 of our students were born.

Alifa walked with her, resplendent in a purple robe, teamed with a gold belt, traditional of village artisans.

For many students in the crowd the cultural catwalk, organised by Ms Lishman and Ms Naylor, was the favourite part of the day.

As Mrs Rush put it, “It gave everyone present a snapshot of another culture through their clothing.”

Then it was the boys’ turn to be proud in their Kurdish outfits.

Moayad, Kheiry, Muhanad and Naser in long white overshirts and black trousers with traditional red headscarves.

Moayad was in dancing garb, black trousers and a white shirt, with a yellow belt.

Khawla and Laila, sisters from Iraq, took to the catwalk, their long dresses embellished with Iraqi embroidery.

They were followed by Ivana in peacock blue

Naveen in Year 10 added, “It showed that everyone is unique in their own way and culture.”

Each student chose music from their birth country to accompany their walk.

After the enthusiastic applause had died down, the Iraqi students began to dance.

Their dance, always a group activity, is performed at parties and weddings. The Yazidi students became teachers, and Orara High learnt the steps.

Muhanad

OHS students and staff dancing

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A drumming performance given by Mr Gasengayire.

Mr Gasengayire is from Coffs Harbour via Burundi, and an ex-student from a refugee background, was not only the drum master but is now a proud teacher in the Maths department.

EAL/D students performed some old favourites on 20 djembe drums.

Then other students traded places and learnt the rhythms, following the patient hands of Mr Gasengayire.

Mr Gasengayire (second from right) gives a Burundi drumming lesson

The bell went too quickly but Harmony Day was not yet over.

During the afternoon, our EAL/D Student Learning Support Officers, Huda and Antonio from Iraq, brought out the school tandoor oven.

They cooked up dozens of rounds of traditional Kurdish flatbread.

Parents joined students at 3:30 and the party began.

There was baklava made by Year 12 student Kamla,

falafel from Olefa’s mum, biryani from the mum of the five Nayif children and dolmades, (vine leaves stuffed with savoury rice) made by Huda.

All served with hummus, garlic dip and tabbouleh.

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All students in the school were included and given the opportunity to participate: in performances, in the Harmony Day photo competition, and in the lunchtime flower-making sessions in the weeks prior and in the dancing and drumming on Harmony Day. It was a wonderful day that truly demonstrates our unity through our diversity.

Thank you to all the wonderful OHS staff who made this day possible.

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