Wellington Christian School students and staff wanted to help those suffering at the hands of injustice in Iraq.
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The outbreak of civil war has cost the lives of thousands, and hundreds of thousands are displaced.
Christian School head Sarah Strahorn said the aim of the day was to help their students understand what it was they had been hearing regarding Iraq.
"As adults we have been shocked by the footage and events, so too have our children," she said.
"Our intention is not to instill fear, but rather to sensitively bring understanding, context and an appropriate response.
"We want our students to grow to be people who feel compassion when their fellow man is oppressed and in need, and we want them to realise that there is always something that they can do, even from the other side of the world.
Ms Strahorn said in this circumstance, they wanted the students to know what was right and wrong, and to know they did not have to feel helpless but could make a stand for right, even at a young age, giving from the blessings they had.
"Prayer is also something that we can do anywhere, anytime and time is being taken today to pray for Iraq," she said.
Students and staff have been gathering coins for the last week to form a coin trail in the shape of the Arabic letter at the beginning of the word Nazarene, the term for Christians in Iraq.
This is the letter that is being marked on the houses of those who will not renounce their faith, sentencing them to death.
The $3840 raised will be given to Open Doors, an organisation which helps and advocates for persecuted groups across the world.
The teachers explained to the students, how fortunate we were in Australia that we could display this symbol, should we choose, knowing that there was the freedom to do so.
"The concept of persecution is not new and is deeply disturbing," Ms Strahorn said. "But, it does show the courage and deep conviction and belief of those paying the ultimate price.
"We want our students to know that the belief system they determine in life is important and should come with conviction."
Students and staff also spent time looking at the map and history of the Middle East, as well as the many aspects of Middle Eastern culture such as the beauty and symmetry of their art and the fun of attempting belly dancing.
Both recess and lunch were also opportunities for students to taste and appreciate food from the Middle Eastern region of the world.
"There is such richness found in learning about other cultures and people," Ms Strahorn said.
"We want our students to value and respect people from all cultures. We don't want them to think given the atrocities of recent days, that all people of Middle Eastern descent are to be feared. They are a unique group of people of the same worth and value as we are."
