MURWILLUMBAH High School students lit more than 20 candles on Monday, one for each of the different cultural backgrounds within the school.

The ceremony was part of a huge Harmony Day celebration put on by the school as part of the national government initiative to celebrate diversity and belonging.

Musical performances kicked off the day with a definite highlight being the drumming piece performed by special education students.

But the theme of the day was sport and to promote the positive influence it has on multiculturalism Year 10 students invited more than 100 students from Murwillumbah Public School and Murwillumbah East Public School for a bit of physical activity.

The students enjoyed three legged races and blindfolded soccer designed to help them realise people with differences and disabilities can always feel a sense of belonging and acceptance through sport.

Head teacher of physical education Donna Riley said cultural differences had never been a problem at the school.

"Our school is lucky, we are amazing at appreciating differences," Ms Riley said.

"People don't see difference here, everyone fits together well.

"Today we've put on all kinds of activities to showcase that people with differences can always be involved."

Harmony Day is celebrated around Australia on March 21 each year with the theme that everyone belongs.

The day is also the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.