Cultural News - Week 8
New - Ganbina Education Scholarships
Ganbina's Primary School Education Scholarships are designed to help Aboriginal & Torres Straight Islander familes cover some of the education expenses.
The 2025 Scholarships are open to Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander children from Foundation to Grade 6 who are attending primary school in the Goulburn Valley Area.
For further information please see the attached flyer or contact Ganbina's Primary Education Program Officer - Sharni Beeton on 0438 217 399 or St Mary's Koori Educator - Tahlia Cooper on 5825 2858.
DANCE WORKSHOP
On Friday 27th June, the Indigenous girls from Yr 3 to Yr 6 will participate in the Wala Connections Dance workshop. On Monday 30th the girls will be invited to perform for us at Assembly. We look forward to the girls sharing culture and tradition through dance with us.
RECONCILIATION WEEK
During Reconciliation Week, the FIRE Carriers went to Benalla to celebrate the Healing for Justice Mass at St Joseph’s Church in Benalla.
As a whole school we reflected on this year’s theme “Bridging Now to Next” during Reconciliation Week. The students finished off the week by creating a footprint that shares a promise or action they will take. These footprints were placed around the school on our Reconciliation Path to represent the call to action of reconciliation, stepping forward together.
NAIDOC WEEK
In the last week of Term 2, we will have a whole school focus on NAIDOC Week.
NAIDOC Week is celebrated in the first week of the holidays.
We have been celebrating NAIDOC Week for 50 years.
The NAIDOC Week 2025 theme is "The Next Generation: Strength, Vision, and Legacy". This theme honours the achievements of the past and the bright future ahead, empowered by young leaders and the legacy of our ancestors. It celebrates the strength, vision, and legacy that will shape the future.
SHORT BLACK OPERA
Next Term, our indigenous students from Yr 4 to Yr 6 have been invited to participate in Short Black Opera which is run by renowned Yorta Yorta soprano composer Deborah Cheetham Fraillon. The program is designed to empower Indigenous children through singing, songwriting, visual arts and storytelling (acting). The sessions run from Monday 30th June until Friday 4th July. The Friday concludes with a performance from 12 pm to 1 pm at Riverlinks - Westside Performing Arts Centre.
I encourage all our indigenous students from Yr 4 to Yr 6 to participate for the week. Pending on the number of students who wish to participate, we can support travel to and from school. Registration forms have been sent home.
Please see Tahlia Cooper or Mrs Dyke for more information.
Let Mrs Dyke know if you need support travelling to and from school for that week. cdyke@smmooroopna.catholic.edu.au
COMMUNITY EVENT
Significant dates during Term 2 include:
Week 11 - Monday 30th June - Friday 4th July - NAIDOC Week (usually falls during the school holidays July 6th – 13th July) but we will celebrate early.
Workshops
Girls Indigenous Program
Boys Indigenous Program
Acknowledgement of Country
At St Mary’s Primary School Mooroopna we Acknowledge the Traditional people of this land. The Yorta Yorta Nation are the Traditional Custodians of this area and we remember their elders, past, present and future. We remember that the Aboriginal people of Australia will always be the traditional owners of the land on which we gather today. We continue to grow through education and reconciliation to a better future for all Australians.
