By Pam Kiriakidis
Promoting diversity was in the spotlight at Whittlesea Secondary College, as students from year eight to 10 created a cultural banner for Harmony Day.
Students and art teacher Ms Katelyn Peschel used a drawing and print-making class to mark Harmony Week with a mural, which on display on a large rock wall at the corner of Church and Lime streets.
Harmony Week is a celebration that recognises Australia’s diversity and brings together people from all different backgrounds to promote inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone.
Starting her first community project with the school, Ms Peschel said it was incredible to find students drawing images that symbolised diversity.
“It’s been really great as a graduate teacher to work on a community project and give back to Whittlesea,” she said.
“The concept of Harmony Day is incredibly important to promote, and it has been a wonderful experience to show the students the value of visual arts in the wider community and watch them be so engaged in the project.”
Whittlesea Secondary College lead teacher in community, engagement and partnerships Kristin Jean, who was involved in setting up the activity, said the banner opened doors for students to connect with the wider community, including the City of Whittlesea who supported the display.
“I’ve already had community members contact me and say ‘wow what a great banner that the kids have produced, it looks fantastic’,” she said.
“For anyone that doesn’t know what Harmony Day is, it’s a great discussion point, and they can ask the kids and the kids have the knowledge to discuss it.”
Ms Jean said with her new role, the school was on board to create more community projects to tie in with important messages such as Harmony Day.
“From a community engagement role, it’s a priority for us and for me in my role … to work with organisations like Whittlesea council and with the kids, and the community” she said.
“It’s great for me in this role, to be able to give the teacher raised capacity to do these type of projects, anything that sits outside the classroom.
“It was a great project to build relationships with a new class.”
