Students learn of cultural diversity

A group of students from Umina Public School celebrated national Harmony Day on March 21.

Beachside Family Centre facilitator Ms Debbie Notara said the students from stage one and three of the school enjoyed the day.

"Students from stage one and three at Umina Public School had fun constructing a map of Australia in the playground to celebrate Harmony Day on March 21," Ms Notara said.

"The map was drawn up by stage three and stage one put orange cardboard hands around the Australian map.

"The hands showed how each child and their family had come from a different and unique background to emphasise that 'Everyone Belongs in Australia'.

"The children at Umina Public School learnt that there were 120 different religions in Australia, that 11.2 per cent of the population at Umina Beach were born overseas, 576 community members of Umina Beach are from a non-English speaking background and that one in five families in Umina are one parent families (ABS Statistics, 2008)."

Press release, 27 Mar 2009 Debbie Notara, Beachside Family Centre