THE atmosphere was especially upbeat at St Flannan’s Catholic Parish School, Zillmere, on June 16.
Staff and students celebrated Refugee Week 2008 with music, games and a liturgy, investigating this year’s theme – ‘A Place to Call Home’.
With more than 20 St Flannan’s students from refugee families, APRE Kelli Phillips said the week – which ran from June 15 to 21 – could not be overlooked.
“We have 37 different nationalities here and a significant number of children from refugee homes so that’s why this day was maybe a little more important to us than others,” she said.
The occasion began with a liturgy run by Year 6 and 7 students.
During the liturgy, a home was built out of cardboard boxes, which each class had painted and decorated.
Year 6 student Adoub Acuil said this was his “favourite part of the day”.
“It’s important for refugee people to get a home because they don’t have houses or much food,” he said.
After prayer the school split into two groups – one enjoying reflective activities together and the other attending an African drum session.
“We wanted our community to recognise and become more aware of the circumstances some people come from,” Ms Phillips said.
“The day was also about helping the children from refugee families to feel they belong and that we really value where they come from.”
St Flannan’s plans to celebrate Refugee Week again in 2009, which will run from June 14 to 21.
Each year Refugee Week in Australia coincides with the United Nations’ World Refugee Day.
