By CASEY NEILL
DANDENONG Primary School students wish for an end to war in Syria, swings for the playground, a nice home for their family… and an X-Box.
Last week they hung thoughts from their hearts, in words and illustrations, from the peppercorn trees that dominate the school grounds, where they’ve stood for more than 140 years.
They’re now dubbed ‘wishing trees’ and the school hopes to make the activity an annual affair.
The trees have also inspired a new school song, just in time for its 140th birthday next year.
Grade 5 and 6 students wrote the lyrics and melody for the tune with help from Ian Moorhead from The Song Room, a national program that puts artists in disadvantaged schools.
“We used the old peppercorn trees as a starting point,” he said.
“Every generation of students has played under those trees.”
Students brainstormed what they wanted to sing about, with history and multiculturalism the strong themes.
The songwriters debuted the song at a celebration marking the school’s Kids Matter pledge on 11 September.
It signed up to the mental health and wellbeing framework, designed to make sure growing minds are mentally well so kids can develop and learn, and committed to rolling it out across the school.
The school unveiled a friendship seat where kids can turn to let classmates know they need cheering up, made friendship bracelets and celebrated the school’s diversity with Bollywood dancing and Brazilian drumming.
“Every face has a place at Dandenong primary,” welfare officer Kelly Finch said.
“Kids Matter is a pledge to look after each and every child’s mental wellbeing.”
