Around The School
NAIDOC Week Celebrations 2017
Last week our school celebrated NAIDOC week. This year’s theme, Our Languages Matter - aims to emphasise and celebrate the unique and essential role that Indigenous languages play in cultural identity. These languages link people to their land and water and in the transmission of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, spirituality and rites, through story and song.
On Monday we had Phillip Green, who did a presentation on Aboriginal survival technology. The dynamic presentation gave our students a visual and tactile experience of traditional technologies used by indigenous peoples across the varied environments of Australia – deserts, mountains, rivers and seashores. Students had the opportunity to examine and handle a large collection of museum-quality artefacts.
Tuesday, the Elders group joined us for morning tea and they were entertained by Cathy Kelly and friends who performed songs in Aboriginal language. We had our NAIDOC Assembly with our guest speaker, Mr Brad Widders, talking about this year’s theme and the Anaiwan language. We had two performances from students in middle school and senior school. These dance groups recently performed at the ACOS concert in Armidale.
On Thursday the Gomeroi dance group from Tamworth did workshops with indigenous students. These students had the opportunity to perform with the group in front of the school. This was a great experience for our students to connect with culture through song, dance and storytelling.
Kindergarten 2018 Information Evening & Orientation
Uralla Central School will be holding an information evening for students enrolling in Kindergarten in 2018, on Wednesday 6 September in the Kindergarten classroom commencing at 5.30pm.
If you have a child that will be in starting Kindergarten or know of a family that may be interested, this will be a great evening to find out about Kindergarten in 2018 and our successful Kindergarten Orientation Program that will commence on Wednesday 18 October 2017.
If you are unable to attend the information evening please contact the school to collect an information pack.
Our Kindergarten Orientation Program will run for five weeks in Term 4. The dates are:
Wednesday 18 October
Wednesday 25 October
Wednesday 1 November
Wednesday 8 November
Wednesday 15 November
We are looking forward to meeting you and your child and having them participate in this program. You will need to pack a small snack and drink for your child as well as a hat. They should be dressed in comfortable play clothes or they can wear school uniform if they choose.
Each session will begin at 9.10am and finish at 11.30am. We ask that you are prompt when picking up your child as we have other teaching commitments.
Letters will be sent home early in Term 4 inviting parents to bring their child for Best Start Assessment in the week beginning 29 January 2018. Kindergarten 2018 students will begin at school on Monday 5 February.
If you have any queries about the program or the Best Start Assessment please contact the school on 67784204 to arrange an appointment.
Kiyomis Drummers -
On Friday 18 August a group of Japanese and music students from Years 5-10 travelled to Armidale High School to attend a workshop with Kiyomi sensei from Tyke-oh Drumming. The students were taught to play Japanese drums called taiko using traditional techniques and rhythms. It was an enjoyable session and also a good workout for their muscles.
