National Reconciliation Week at our Partner Schools – unity, community and sharing stories

Many of our Partner Schools hold wonderful events for Reconciliation Week, and we have been lucky enough to attend several different celebrations.

The Trinity Grammar fellas created a yarning circle at their breakfast and talked about their friendships and connections within school.

St Kevin’s College

A Smoking Ceremony was held at the Waterford Campus, with Uncle Bill Nicholson teaching us about Wurundjeri culture and Kendyn playing the Yidaki.

Camberwell Girls Grammar School

Reconciliation Week activities were scheduled for every day at CGGS.

On Monday we attended a very special lunch and School Assembly, where Murrundindi (CGGS Elder) narrated the Wurundjeri creation story using awe-inspiring giant puppets, and Katelyn confidently participated in a Q&A on stage at Assembly. Murrundindi thanked CGGS students and staff for the embracing of culture and respect within the school community.

Parade College

Parade College held their annual Road to Reconciliation Day on May 19 at Bundoora Campus. The day began with a moving Welcome to Country from Wurundjeri Gunnai Kurnai elder Uncle Ringo Terrick, prayers and acknowledgements, then students engaged in group-work discussing connection to Country, identity, equity, equality and inclusion, community, the Voice to Parliament and Treaty. Throughout Reconciliation Week and the following month, Parade College's Touchstones program focuses on all things Reconciliation addressing topics such as racism, Treaty, the Voice to Parliament, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island spirituality. Yorta Yorta singer and songwriter Scott Darlow completed the day providing humour, insight and reflection

Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous round, saw some moving and beautiful dance and song, and a very exciting match, with the Bombers winning by 1 point!

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General Pathways News

Sport

Sport is an important part of keeping a healthy mind and body, and our students play many sports including basketball, and our Collingwood All Stars are undefeated so far this season! (Main picture)

Our MITS Alumni students in Melbourne proudly represent their schools and clubs across a range of sports. If you have the time, please get around our mob and celebrate their achievements.

Term one holidays provided opportunities for students to return home to participate in local and national sporting competitions. Malakai Wright was part of the winning Victorian 14’s team at the National Indigenous Basketball Tournament on the Gold Coast.

His team went through the tournament undefeated, playing against Western Australia in the grand final and becoming national champions. Malakai was supported by his family at the tournament. Congratulations Malakai!

White Card training

Brighton Grammar School MITS alumni Calvin, and Kaleb, along with fellow student JJ recently completed their construction induction training course gaining their White Card. The boys had a long day of study, field work observing a work site, and a final test to check their competence and knowledge, passing with flying colours! Even over lunch the boys discussed safe work practices and risk management. A White Card is a great qualification for all alumni to have and we encourage each student to seek further qualifications enabling work when they have completed secondary school. This couldn't have happened without a strong partner school relationship.

Trinity College, University of Melbourne visit

All of our Year 10-12 MITS Alumni headed into Trinity College, at the University of Melbourne, to meet with their Indigenous students and enjoy dinner and yarn about college life.

Work Experience

Work experience gives our young people a chance to see a workplace in action and perhaps plant a seed for a future career – we have many wonderful partners who support MITS Alumni in this way. Siena College have recently made a connection with Barpa Construction Company - a majority Indigenous owned company, where the girls can experience everything from construction, to the legal aspects to the admin side of the building industry.

Homework support happens from 5.30-6.30 pm every Monday through to Thursday at each Boarding House, with Pathways Team, volunteers and staff all on hand to help. Lily and Hoanna are working with Reihana below.

MITS received a generous laptop donation from Andrew Suttle and the DASH group – Andrew kindly donated 18 surface pros and 20 laptops for student use. We are all very grateful and Calvin and Dwayne were part of the thank-you team from MITS.

MITS Family Newsletter 2023

Respect, Courage, Culture & Care

May · 31 May 2023

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