Message Stick

Yaama, 

The First Nations Students in Stage 2 & 3 are finishing up their study on Dadirri (deep listening) and research focussed on Miriam Rose Ungunmerr Baumann. This incredible lady is responsible for the reawakening of Dadirri, a cultural practice that has been lost over time. Students researched Miriam and what her life was like growing up. They were very interested to find out that Miriam was an Education Assistant in the Northern Territory, and it was here that her true passion for teaching came alive. Miriam was the first fully qualified Aboriginal Educator in the NT. The students were very inspired by their research into Miriam Rose Ungunmerr Bauman and the Dadirri experience itself. 

The First Nations Students in Kinder and Stage 1 finished up their research of Dadirri through one last listening and drawing pictures as to what they could hear. Taking the opportunity to sit still and listen to the things around them and express this through art has been a valuable experience. 

On Friday the 15th, I had the privilege of taking 6 students up to McCarthy Catholic College to participate in the first dance practice for their conference performance. The Catholic Schools NSW Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders State Education Conference will be held here in Tamworth later this year. We are lucky enough to have been asked to select students to represent our school in this collaborative performance. There will be other opportunities for our students to be involved later in the year. 

Miss Kim Taggart - Aboriginal Education Assistant