Harmony Week is a celebration that recognises our diversity and brings together Australians from all different backgrounds.
It’s about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone. Fittingly, this year’s theme is Everyone Belongs.
These values reflect the core values of Montessori education and very specifically the values we hold true at Forestville Montessori School.
Within our small school community there are more than 27 cultural backgrounds. 48% of our students speak a second language other than English!
This incredible diversity among our students provides endless opportunities for learning about other cultures, respecting cultural differences and gaining genuine inter-cultural fluency.
Culture in our curriculum
With the Montessori curriculum, students in our preschool and primary school engage in learning that spans the globe and incorporates different customs, cultures, location, landscapes, animals, plants and lifestyles.
Wooden puzzle maps provide preschool children a unique opportunity to explore various geographical regions. Pin maps and flags teach our young students how to locate, identify and recognise symbols colours and flags associated with different countries.
Continent Boxes, Geography Folders and Flash Cards – Montessori materials used to learn Geography – provide visual and tactile exploration of the diverse world beyond children’s immediate surroundings. Through these materials, children can discover artifacts, traditional items and visual images of landmarks, important rivers, mountain ranges, plants or animals from different regions of the world.
Montessori geography materials integrate with other subjects to educate students on diversity and culture. For instance, while studying a continent, children may delve into the history, art, and music of its countries.
This interdisciplinary approach ensures that children see the world in its entirety, not in isolated fragments. This marries into the heart of Montessori education – the interconnectedness of all things – and reflects the key message of Harmony Day – Culture Connects us All.
Learning culture outside the classroom
AT FMS, we extend this rich and open learning of culture and differences outside of the classroom too.
Our whole school community enjoyed an exceptional example of this at our Welcome event last weekend. Staff, students and families flocked together to share time learning traditional Aboriginal Weaving with our friends from Ngumpie Weaving. Families and friends connected in their shared experience of learning, the joy of creativity and discovering the tradition behind this intricate activity.
Families were so interested also to follow our Aboriginal native plant tour around the school, where they learned traditional uses of so many of the native plants right here in our beautiful gardens! From plants used for weaving and making baskets, to helping us produce saliva when thirsty, making soap, to help with fishing and even keeping snakes away! Children and adults were all left in wonder at this unique knowledge of the Australian aboriginal culture – right here in our school!
Culture in our community
In addition to classroom learning and organised events, FMS students are fortunate to learn consistently from one another.
In 2024, Forestville Montessori School recognised 27 different cultural backgrounds within our community, including: American, Australian, Armenian, Brazilian, British, Canadian, Chinese, Columbian, Danish, Fijian, Filipino, German, Greek, Gujarati, Indian, Indonesian, Iranian, Irish, Japanese, Korean, Lebanese, Maori, Slovakian, Serbian, Russian, Taiwanese and Turkish!
Cultural diversity is not limited to our students and families. FMS staff are a multicultural bunch too! At last check, the following countries were represented among our staff: Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Canada, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, the Philippines and Scotland!
The diversity of language and culture in our small school adds to the richness of education we provide. Cultural diversity in our school community provides a foundation for learning and acceptance, empathy and respect. It is key to our delivery of an education for peace.
We invite you to join us on Harmony Day, to get involved and be a part of the incredible diversity that makes FMS such a wonderful place to learn, and one in which truly, Everyone Belongs.
