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We would like to be your friends and wanted to write you a song.
We're so glad that you're here and we wanted to say welcome.
That's the message children at Taradale Primary School sent in song to their counterparts at Collingwood English Language School on Harmony Day.
Students wrote the lyrics after reading stories about refugees' experience and talking about what they might feel if they left their country.
Read more: Bendigo celebrates Harmony Day
It was part of an effort to give the students an understanding of the refugee experience.
The students began by writing letters to new arrival families, asking questions and telling them about themselves.
From the letters' themes they created lyrics, which younger students illustrated.
Music teacher Lena Mitchell's partner, a sound engineer, had just finished working with documentary makers, who offered to do the digital animation for free.
The result of the students' labours was released last year as a fundraiser for the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre.
"When they saw the video with their pictures coming to life in animation they were besides themselves, it was so beautiful," Ms Mitchell said.
On Thursday the students spoke about the idea behind Harmony Day, that everyone is loved and welcome.
They prepared salad and bread, to break bread together for lunch.
Before the meal they sung a Nigerian welcome song and a Hello song, in several languages.
"The main value here is that everyone is welcome," Ms Mitchell said.
"It's just one of the strongest beliefs in the school that anyone regardless of gender or sexual preference or cultural background, everyone's welcome here.
"We wanted to open that up and make sure that the kids know and realise that people from overseas are welcome, especially people fleeing trauma."
Prep, One, Two teacher Jake Whitcroft was amazed to discover the diversity of backgrounds in such a small school.
The Czech Republic, Romania, Cambodia, America and the United Kingdom were all represented in his class.
Mr Whitcroft said Harmony Day discussions were about making sure everyone at the school has a safe place and feels they can be welcomed in any environment.
"The idea of the day is that we all come together, regardless of religion, country," Mr Whitcroft said.
"These kids will be the adults one day and you've got to start these beliefs early, understanding that you've got to accept everyone. And these kids are amazing at that."
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