Echuca College hosted its annual Student Focus and Wellbeing Day on Friday, September 6.
This year’s theme was centred around ‘Diversity’ and allowed the whole school to come together and celebrate its diverse community.
Member of the college’s student services team Dorinda Watson said the event was a chance for the students have fun and embrace their differences.
“It's just a chance for the kids to have a bit of fun together and enjoy the day at school; I love all the smiles, that's why we do it,” she said.
“We want [school] to be a safe space where they know they can come and know other students are here for them and that everyone's different and there's no judgement.”
There were a range of activities for the kids to enjoy such as sumo wrestling, a mechanical bullride, laser tag, a donut eating competition, gaming workshops, zorb ball fun, a silent disco and a colour run.
In August, students also voted on three teachers they’d like to see get slimed as a new activity for this year’s Wellbeing day.
It got messy for Sean Irving, Jesie Milligan and Angus Toll who were the chosen teachers to be slimed by three students.
Among the major highlights of the day were the performances by First Nations artist Mitch Tambo and workshops with West Papuan artist Lele.
The couple is midway through the Walanbaa Youth Tour stopping in 35 towns around Australia.
Mr Tambo said it has always been important for him to give back and praised Echuca College for its effort in acknowledging student wellbeing and mental health.
“Having a social work background and the life that I've led, I've always really had a heart for the next generation,” he said.
“[Echuca College] has been really good, not every school does this so to see the effort they're going to to really spread the message of wellbeing and get around mental health is so beautiful.”
Lele, fellow artist and wife to Mr Tambo, echoed his praise of the students and emphasised the importance of diversity.
“[The students] have been so beautiful, so respectful and so willing to get involved,” she said.
“Building relationships and connections with people of different cultures is something that needs to happen more and the more they connect and are outside of their comfort zone, the more resilient it makes them.”