From the Deputy Principal

National Sorry Day

National Sorry Day, or the National Day of Healing, is an annual event that has been held in Australia on 26 May since 1998.

In addition to acknowledging the trauma and loss that continues to affect Indigenous communities, families and individuals, National Sorry Day also provides a chance to focus on healing and pursue reconciliation in Australian society.

National Sorry Day is a day to acknowledge the strength of Stolen Generation Survivors and reflect and play a part in the healing process as people and a nation. Sorry Day asks us to acknowledge the Stolen Generations, and in doing so, reminds us that historical injustice is still an ongoing source of intergenerational trauma for Aboriginal and Torres Islander families, communities, and peoples.

Reconciliation Week 

Reconciliation Week commences on Friday 27 May and runs through until 3 June.  The National Reconciliation Week 2022 theme, “Be Brave. Make Change.” is a challenge to all Australians— individuals, families, communities, organisations and government—to Be Brave and tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation so we can Make Change for the benefit of all Australians.  Watch a short clip about the week here

We will be celebrating the start of Reconciliation Week with our Walk to School Day tomorrow morning.  If you'd like to join us, please come along to Coraki Park (adjacent to Coraki Cottages) at 7.45am to start walking at 8.00am.  We will enjoy muffins and Milo following our walk.

During the week you will notice a 'Sea of Hands' out the front of the ECC which are being created by the Junior School in recognition of Reconciliation Week, and next week I will share some of the posters students have created to promote the week.  

You may like to share this lovely YouTube clip with your children, a recording of the Uluru Statement from the Heart read by indigenous collaborators or look at this explanation of the Statement here.

During the past couple of weeks we have been lucky enough to welcome Uncle Harley Coyne to GSG to share lunch with us, to share his own story of success with our students and, on another day, he shared knowledge of smoking ceremonies with us as well.  We are very lucky to have his knowledge and wisdom shared with us.

We are also preparing for NAIDOC Week which we will celebrate at the start of next term. Thank you to Ms Rachael Colmer and our students for their work in preparing for these events.

Dogs on Campus

Our therapy dogs are much loved members of the school community and each dog goes through a rigorous assessment in order to join us here on campus, and strict protocols are followed.  This ensures safety for our students and for the therapy dogs.  Other dogs should not be brought on campus, especially when there are students and our therapy dogs are with us.  This includes before and after the school day.  Thank you in advance for your support.

Mrs Emma Franklin | Deputy Principal