Gallery | Huge cultural celebration day at St Anne’s College

Deputy principal of community and wellbeing Kate McGrath explained that while the school’s cultural celebration day typically coincided with Harmony Day, the school decided to reschedule the event until after Ramadan this year, ensuring all members of the community could fully participate.

“We have a number of students here who partake in Ramadan as well, so it was really important that they could be involved too,” she said.

“So we changed the day, and we decided that we would celebrate our culture.

“It didn’t matter what day ... it doesn’t have to be Harmony Day, it doesn’t have to be a certain time of the year, we can always celebrate our culture and share our traditions and have some fun.”

The day kicked off with Foundation to Year 6 students gathering for a parade of flags and a morning ceremony, where they were treated to a traditional Indian dance performed by five of their fellow classmates.

And as the afternoon unfolded, students dressed up in traditional attire while engaging in various hands-on activities that celebrated diversity.

St Anne’s secondary student cohort also enjoyed a barbecue lunch, followed by lawn games that featured creative DIY activities.

“It’s so fabulous to have the students and staff learning from one another about the traditions and aspects of one another’s cultures that are special,” Ms McGrath said.

“Our children are not only the future of our Shepparton community, but our world.”