Respect and Responsibility
Promoting values in education
The Interschool Harmony Committee
Dimensions: Inter-school Programs, Human Rights, Cultural Awareness, Cultural Exchange
Understanding - Inclusion - Respect
Since 2003, the principals of eight schools in the St George district of Sydney have been leading their schools in a broad-based program of cultural and educational exchange. This partnership is unique because it involves Islamic, Catholic and State schools.
As well as ongoing partnerships between principals, teachers and students, each year there is a special program which brings together a number of students from each school. These students take the benefits of the exchange back into their schools and communities.
In 2004, 50 students wrote, produced and performed a drama project called The Friendship Tower which was presented as a public performance over three nights in the St George Bank auditorium at Kogarah.
In 2005, 16 students explored the local bush. They studied the harmony of the environment, and the harmony between the country and its traditional owners. Their stories and pictures from this journey will be commercially produced as a picture book, Going Bush, which will spread the message of respect for the land and its custodians to other students and schools.
Ongoing projects by the eight schools currently include:
- a student leadership project involving students from each school discussing school values and issues, and sharing strategies
- inter-school teacher professional development
- a Harmony Fun Day
- a combined schools sport activity day.
Principals also engage in professional development and exchange of ideas during our meetings each term.
The Interschool Harmony Committee
Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School, Kingsgrove- Anne Colreavy, Principal
- Tel (02) 9502 3723
- Rissalah College, Lakemba
- Hajr Toefy, Deputy Principal
- Tel (02) 9758 0808
Al Zahra College, Arncliffe- Ahmad Mokachar, Principal
Tel (02) 9599 0161
St Francis Xavier Catholic School, Arncliffe - Joan Sheehy, Principal
- Tel (02) 9567 5389
Arncliffe West Infants School - Karen Shehata, Principal
- Tel (02) 9567 7062
Arncliffe Public School- Stephen Vrachas, Principal
- Tel (02) 9567 5060
Athelstane Public School, Arncliffe- Chris Johnson, Principal
Tel (02) 9567 3550
Bexley Public School - John Daniels, Principal
- Tel (02) 9567 3501