Literacy

beginWelcome to the Literacy page of the OLSC newsletter. Here you will find information about the Literacy programs across the school, interviews with staff and students, news about important events and book recommendations from time to time.

National Sorry Day

On Monday this week, we recognised National Sorry as the beginning of National Reconciliation Week. Within each learning centre, the students listened to age-appropriate stories that conveyed the heartbreak and displacement that so many Aboriginal children and their families experienced in the past. These stories are shown below - we wanted to share with you the books that your children have experienced so that you're aware of the stories that they've heard.

FOUND by Bruce Pascoe (Read by the Prep and Year 1/2s)

This gentle story set in the rugged Australian bush is about a small calf who becomes separated from his family. The little calf is alone and simply wants his mother, sisters and brothers. He can see other animals, and after running to the river, manages to ask some horses if they are his family. The calf’s family have been taken away in the back of a noisy truck. So begins the little calf’s journey to find his family.

SORRY DAY by Bruce Pascoe (Read by the Year 3, 4, 5 and 6s)

Sorry Day follows Maggie and her mother, who watch the Prime Minister give his apology to the Stolen Generations on behalf of the Australian Government. In the crowd, Maggie loses touch of her mother's hand and is lost. At the same time, some 60 years earlier, we see a group of young Aboriginal children play hide and seek by the creek on the fateful day they are taken from their families.

TOOK THE CHILDREN AWAY by Archie Roach (Read by the Year 3 and 5s)

One dark day, when Archie was just two years old, big black government cars came to his home at Framlingham Aboriginal Mission in southwest Victoria. They forcibly took Archie away from his mother, father and family – everything he had ever known. They took away thousands of other Aboriginal children, right around Australia. Powerful people had decided that these children would be better off living and learning all the white man’s ways. Frightened and alone, they grew up in institutions and foster homes. They became known as the Stolen Generations. This book adds illustrations to Archie's song lyrics.

STOLEN GIRL by Trina Saffioti (Read by the Year 3 and 6s)

A fictionalised account of the Stolen Generation that tells of an Aboriginal girl taken from her family by the government and sent to a children’s home. She sings and dreams of her mother and the life they once shared but each morning is woken by the bell to the harsh reality of the children’s home. Finally, one day she unlocks the door and takes her first step toward home.

CEREMONY by Adam Goodes (Read by the Year 3 and 4s)

A joyful celebration of family and culture, the Welcome to Our Country series introduces First Nations history to children. From Australian of the Year Adam Goodes, co-writer Ellie Laing, and Barkindji illustrator David Hardy. Joyful and full of fun, Ceremony invites you to celebrate the rich traditions of dance, family, community and caring for Country from the world's oldest continuous culture.

WE ARE AUSTRALIANS by Duncan Smith (Read by the Year 6s)

We Are Australians encourages reflection and for readers to look further into the topics of citizenship and the role of Australia’s First Nations people. The poetic writing style creates a rich and respectful text, and the bright colours add a joyfulness and a sense of celebration. The use of traditional First Nations techniques reinforces the longevity and importance of a culture that has lived on Australian land for over 65,000 years.

National Simultaneous Storytime

Last week, on Wednesday 21st of May, students in primary schools all around Australia listened to The Truck Cat, written by Australian author, Deborah Frenkel. The event was the National Simultaneous Storytime and this was the 25th year of its running. The students of OLSC came together to listen to Deborah read her beautiful book and talk about how she came up with the idea for this heartwarming story. 

Students also watched as the illustrator, Danny Snell, showed everyone how to draw a cat like Tinka.

Hayley's Year 4 class also wrote postcards to Tinka the cat to describe their favourite places to visit. They used very descriptive language to describe these places in great detail.

GUESS WHO'S COMING TO OLSC?

Next term, in the lead-up to Book Week, we are going to be very excited to welcome Kate and Jol Temple to our school!! They are a husband and wife duo from Sydney who have brought us the wonderful Bin Chicken series (and many more!!). 

Kate and Jol will be speaking to all of us about how they come up with their stories and will also be signing books for those students who are interested. 

What are you reading?

If any of our parents would like to contribute a book recommendation to the newsletter, I welcome you to email me about a book you are currently enjoying. This might be a book suited more for adults or even a picture storybook that your family enjoys reading together. In your email, answer the following questions:

Be sure to include a photo of yourself (or your family) with the book that you are recommending.

Kristina Morrissey

kmorrissey@olscwyn.catholic.edu.au

Literacy Leader