Message Stick

Yaama, 

Last week Kaylee and I attended the second Wii Gaay Learning hub at Lake Keepit. The Wii Gaay program is where we aim to challenge, support, raise self-efficacy and provide cultural and educational experiences with like-minded students throughout the diocese.

On Monday Kaylee and fellow students visited  Boundary Rock and the Botanic Gardens. The Tamworth Local Aboriginal Lands Council and the Tamworth Opportunity Hub took the students on a tour and students participated in  activities  such as possum skins, dance and language. Following this, the students departed for Lake Keepit to settle into their bunks.  

On Tuesday and Wednesday the activities consisted of Learning Hub rotations. Wii Gaay Learning Hubs involve 3 subjects- English, Maths and IT. The students were taught three different areas of topics that revolve around the set theme - 'Connected to Country'.  The English activity involved  writing a poem about what it's like to be a Wii Gaay kid, gaining inspiration from Oodgeroo Noonuccal. The Maths activity involved using mathematical thinking and strategies to solve how much an emu can drink in a certain period of time. Finally, the IT rotation consisted of turning a Dreaming story into an animation. This Dreaming story was told to the students by Len Walters. 

Kaylee produced such beautiful work and presented these to the group on the last night at the presentation night. 

Between all the learning, the students were able to have fun doing some of the activities Lake Keepit offers such as archery, initiatives and the mud run! 

Both Kaylee and Miss Taggart had an amazing week and look forward to the next camp in 2024! 

Miss Kim Taggart - Aboriginal Education Assistant