The following was recited as part of our student-led Belonging Day assembly yesterday morning:
"Belonging Day was created to celebrate the rich diversity of heritage is within our community, and to recognise how God's works are a constant in our lives. We are all fearfully and wonderfully made in God's image and the day like this is significant in demonstrating to our wider community how we unite.
Through Belonging Day, we want everyone to feel seen and valued, as this day is a reflection of one of our core values, 'Belong.'
'How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity.' (Psalm 133:1) Let us continue to strive towards connecting with one another and embracing each other, fostering the wondrous works of God at play in our lives. Despite the challenges that our wider community has faced in recent times, we can still unite together as one."
Such an occasion celebrates our multi-heritage community and gives validation to how our students belong. Of course, they belong on so many levels; as students at Heathdale, as members of a faith community, even if they don’t celebrate a faith, and as members of our national community.
Belonging Day demonstrates tolerance, acceptance, inclusion and the very celebration of ‘difference’ that some find challenging. Within our current community context, we are making some definite statements.
- We value the student-led initiative, and also that we value the vision and work of our student leaders,
- We value the heritage of all Australians,
- We value the context of multi-cultural living,
- We value the breadth and diversity of the Kingdom of God,
- We communicate our willingness to defend these ideas.
In this regard, we celebrate heritage, not nationality. It is an important distinction. We are all Australians, and we are made richer by our variety of heritages.
Year 12 Students
This is also the final week of classes for our year 12 students. Today we held an assembly in which we honoured them for the contribution that they have made to our community. The students will begin study preparation next week for the coming examinations. On Monday next we have our first valedictory dinner which will be another occasion to edify and celebrate them.
I would again ask that our community lift these students in prayer that they would achieve all that was possible as they moved towards the completion of school and the commencement of the next step of their journey in the Kingdom of God.