Highlands students celebrate in harmony

Southern Highland News was at St Thomas Aquinas Bowral where nervous Kindergarten and Year 1 and 2 students led the school in an assembly dedicated to the special occasion.

Through prayer, music and dance the students put on a display that had parents and teachers reaching for their tissues.

Year 2 student Bobby Minato gave a reading and spoke to the News about what he understands about Harmony Day in Australia.

"Harmony Day is a day where we celebrate people from different cultures and the special Harmony Day colour is orange," he said.

To mark the occasion: "We did a special assembly in the morning. We sang a few songs about God's rainbow. We said prayers too."

When pushed to explain further Bobby said how important it was that everyone was treated as "equal".

"Don't think you can't make friends just because you're from different places and cultures," he said.

Bobby said there were students from different cultural backgrounds at his school.

"Some students are Aboriginal and I'm from Australia but some of my family is from Italy and New Zealand," he said.

"I also have a friend that's from Nepal and one of the kids my class is from India."

At the same time the students were invited to get crazy with their socks to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day which coincided with Harmony Day.

Bobby was able to elaborate on how important it was that people of all abilities be celebrated for who they are "no matter what".

"Today we were also celebrating World Down Syndrome Day and for that we celebrate all those people who have Down syndrome," he said.

"Their life can be hard sometimes.

"I actually have a brother with a different disability, not Down syndrome but something else, so it means a lot to me to be able to be his brother and help other people understand how wonderful people with disabilities are and how even though they might not be able to do everything the way most people do.

"They are all special and unique in their own way," Bobby said.