Australia June-July: Canberra Schools
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St Matthew’s Primary School
The runners were greeted to the school by Penny and Jacinta, two students who had won prizes for a national World Harmony Day art competition earlier this year. The students then walked out to the oval, as a choir of senior students sang the World Harmony Run song.
The visit finished with a relay around the oval, not once but three times, as one student from each class ran to the next class group. After this, it was the teachers’ turn. Though most of them were not as fit or energetic as the children, the fun was contagious, as they ran from class group to class group, cheered on by the students.
Duffy Primary School
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The children of Duffy greeted the running team with energy and enthusiasm, waving special cardboard hands that they had made for the occasion. One of the runners told of his visit to Europe last year, when he travelled through seven countries as part of the World Harmony Run over there. This obviously whet the children’s appetites to join the Run in far-off lands. For now, however, they had a chance to participate in their own school.
As the torch arrived, the children cheered with excitement. They then joined the tunner for a lap around the oval, each having the chance to hold the Torch and make a wish for world harmony.
Holy Trinity Primary School
This was a return to one of the happiest and most memorable schools from the 2005 World Harmony Run. The children of Holy Trinity sang their own inspiring and devotional school song. They then delighted in watching the World Harmony Run DVD, in which some of the students from their own school had starring roles.
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Several students had composed poems and prayers on peace, which you can read here .
All the students then ran with the Torch around the oval, after which they formed a large circle and quietly passed the Torch from hand to hand.
St Jude’s Primary School
All 200 students came to the hall, and after viewing the World Harmony Run DVD were very excited to hear that they would have a run around the oval. These kids - from the kindergarten to the senior years - are impressively fit, and familiar with a running course that takes them around the school and the oval - twice! After that, most of them seemed so exhausted that we didn’t know if they would have the energy to hold the Torch. But they had no shortage of energy! Those who did not have a chance to hold the Torch during their run formed a long queue, eager to hold it and make a wish for world harmony.
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Harmonemail:
You can send a message to the runners or read the messages.