Harmony Week 2026 was a beautiful celebration of the many cultures, stories and traditions that make our Hills Montessori community so special. Across the week, children, educators and families came together to share food, music, language and experiences that highlighted the values of respect, belonging and connection. From multicultural morning teas to family‑led cooking, storytelling and joyful parades, our classrooms were filled with moments that reminded us how powerful it is when we learn from one another and celebrate what makes each of us unique.
Harmony Week is always a special time at Hills Montessori School, and this year was no exception. Across the week, our children, educators and families came together to honour the rich cultural diversity that makes our community so vibrant. As shared in our family communication, Harmony Week is an opportunity to “celebrate our wide diversity of cultures within the Hills Montessori School community” and to enjoy a multicultural morning tea on Tuesday 17th and Friday 20th March. Families were invited to bring a small plate of food from their cultural background, along with a note or photo to help children learn more about each other . The result was a week filled with connection, curiosity, and joyful celebration.
Cockatiels The Cockatiel Class embraced the heart of Harmony Day — the idea that everyone belongs. Through singing, dancing, shared celebrations and warm conversations, the children explored the similarities and differences that make each person unique.
Families provided a wonderful variety of cultural dishes, and the children were so proud to share food that represented their heritage. A special highlight was Mauricio’s visit to prepare traditional Mexican food with the class — an experience the children watched with fascination and enjoyed tasting together.
Kookaburras The Kookaburra Class spent the week recognising and celebrating the many cultures represented in their group. Their classroom was filled with books, craft, clothing and food from their diverse backgrounds.
Families contributed beautiful dishes for the children to try, sparking conversations about traditions, ingredients and family stories. It was a meaningful way for the children to see their identities reflected and valued.
Brolgas The Brolga Class enjoyed a joyful Harmony Day celebration, beginning with the whole‑school multicultural morning tea — a highlight for many children. The shared table was filled with delicious food from across the world, and the children eagerly sampled new tastes (often returning for seconds!).
The four classes also joined together for a lively parade with cultural music, celebrating the diversity of our community.
In the classroom, the Brolgas created paper dolls to represent how they are all connected. A special moment was when Elle’s mum, Susan, visited to read a Korean story and introduce the children to the Korean alphabet — a beautiful example of families sharing their culture with the group.
Lorikeets The Lorikeet Class celebrated Harmony Day across two beautiful days of sunshine, food and family involvement. On Tuesday, families provided a generous array of dishes representing their cultural backgrounds. Children and staff learned more about each other as they shared food and stories — a natural and meaningful way to celebrate diversity, respect and belonging.
On Friday, Rose’s mum and grandmother visited to prepare fresh tabbouli with the class. Many of the ingredients were harvested by Rose herself from her grandfather’s farm. The children helped add ingredients and enjoyed tasting the salad wrapped in Lebanese bread. This hands‑on experience offered a wonderful window into Rose’s family culture and traditions.
🌿 Outdoor Classroom Throughout Harmony Week, the Outdoor Classroom explored cultural foods through play, books and shared experiences. Children read Children Just Like Me, discovering dishes from around the world — from pierogi to ceviche — and discussing flavours, textures and traditions.
They set up a communal dining table and a very popular Multicultural Food Truck, where children “cooked” dishes from different cultures, brewed flavoured teas, rolled sushi and even watched teachers attempt to use chopsticks. The chickens also made a surprise visit, adding to the fun. These shared spaces encouraged rich conversations about food, culture and community — and plenty of laughter.
💛 A Week of Belonging Across all classrooms, Harmony Week reminded us that while we come from many places, we share the same values of kindness, respect and belonging. As our Harmony Week letter shared, children were invited to “wear something orange… or clothing from your family’s culture” to help mark the celebration . Seeing the children proudly wearing cultural outfits or bright orange clothing added to the joy of the week.
Thank you to all our families for your generosity, your stories, your food, and your willingness to share your culture with our community. You helped create a week filled with learning, connection and celebration — a true reflection of what Harmony Week is all about.
