The day began in the auditorium with an opening ceremony, where Mr Austin, Mr Jackman, Mr Rowe, Mrs Ziebarth and Mrs Robinson performed an interpretive dance to pump up the crowd!

Opening Ceremony

Sports Captains Liam and Isaac announced Ava as the winner of the Relay for Compassion. The Relay saw Mrs Robinson retrieve the Cedar Torch from New Zealand, before it completed an epic journey through the College, with Principal, Mr Peter Thomson, completing the final leg on Sports Day. Ava lit the torch and cauldron to a huge cheer from the crowd.

Events Begin

The day’s competitions began with Relays, which was a wonderful way to start the events as a community. Teachers led the classes through the events and did an amazing job of managing so many students in limited time. They are amazing and I thank them for all their hard work!

The parents won the Tug-of-War quite convincingly against the staff, but the staff evened the score with a win in the Relay. The 100m races were the last events of the day, and many of the races came down to a photo finish review.

Mr Thomson proudly read out the final score for the last time and Gould were the victors with 1674 points, followed by Bradman in second with 1409 points, Jackson in third with 1138 points, and Laver in fourth with 911 points.

Thank you to all the parents, caregivers and friends who came to support the students, and also to the High School students who did a fantastic job helping at the events.

Mrs Bek Robinson, Sports Coordinator Year 3-12

The modern retelling brought a fresh perspective to the familiar story, captivating the children with the vibrant costumes, dynamic performances, and catchy tunes as they enjoyed experiencing the friendship develop between the spoiled princess and the cheeky frog.

The production incorporated classical music from Mozart, Rossini, and Bizet, which were seamlessly integrated into the narrative to enhance the story and create an enjoyable performance.

Teddy Bears Together

The following week, our Reception students had an exciting day as they joined their Year 5 buddy class for a memorable Teddy Bears’ picnic.

The much-anticipated event brought together some of the youngest and oldest students in Primary School, joined by their favourite stuffed companions. Many of the Year 5s recalled their own time as a Reception student and the joys they experienced through sharing special times with their own buddies, back when they first began school at Cedar.

The picnic, held under the shady trees of the Primary School, was a celebration of togetherness with their special bears and toys, creating bonds of kindness and friendship among the students from Upper and Junior Primary.

Over half of Australians were born overseas, or have at least one parent who was born overseas. Throughout the week, the High School enjoyed speakers from our community, old scholars, and student leaders, recognising that no matter where you come from, we’re all united by the Australian values of freedom, respect, fairness, democracy, and equal opportunity.

Students United 

Here’s what some of our student leaders had to say about Harmony Week:

“Harmony week offers students a unique opportunity which allows us to talk about the rich and diverse culture that makes up our school, our country and our world. These cultures all contribute to Australian society. Harmony Week allows us to take a step back so we can explore the diverse traditions, languages and customs, and to take some time to talk to friends about their culture and what their culture means to them.” – James

“I see Harmony Week as an acknowledgment of inclusivity, unity, and diversity in our community. It is a good moment to acknowledge and value the diverse range of cultures, backgrounds, and beliefs that comprise our community. It serves as a reminder that we can all live in a more vibrant, fair, and peaceful society if we embrace diversity and collaborate harmoniously.” – Aymee

“To me, Harmony Week is a celebration of diversity, but it’s also a call to action. It’s a reminder that we must constantly work to foster deeper connections between groups and remove ideas that privilege some over others. During this week, I like to have meaningful discussions with friends and family about our various heritages. If we can build on respect and understanding between all people, that is the greatest harmony of all.” – Jess

“For me, Harmony Week represents the blend of diversity, inclusivity, and the many cultural backgrounds in Australia. Harmony Week is a great opportunity to foster unity and create a sense of belonging in our school community. I hope that we can all share special parts of our culture with our friends this week and build more empathy and respect for our cultural roots.” – Kavya