Aboriginal Education Team

NSW Public School Aboriginal Dance Company and Associate Program

Jess, Nya, Edward, and Alexis have wrapped up an inspiring Week 7 rehearsing with the NSW Public Schools Aboriginal Dance Company and Associate Company at the iconic Bangarra Dance Theatre, all in preparation for the upcoming State Dance Festival.

This incredible week included:

Special visits from NAISDA (National Aboriginal and Islander Skills Development Association) and NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Art)

A catch-up with former Lyāmbay dancer Sophia-Rose Markham

A powerful cultural experience with Song Spirals at the Sydney Opera House

What an unforgettable beginning to their journey — we’re so proud and can’t wait to see what’s ahead!

State Dance Festival 2025

Edward, Jess, and Nya proudly represented our school as members of the NSW Public Schools Aboriginal Dance Company, performing at the 2025 State Dance Festival – Elevate at the Seymour Centre!

After a week of intensive rehearsals at Co-Lab Quarters in Newtown, they took to the stage with powerful storytelling and cultural expression through dance.

While in Sydney, they also visited the Museum of Sydney, participating in the Seeing Sydney, Knowing Country exhibition — deepening their understanding of culture and place.

Beyond the spotlight, they’ve been forming lifelong friendships and unforgettable memories with students from across the state.

We are so proud of their dedication, talent, and spirit!

Lyambay Dancers

It has been a busy term for our Lyambay Dancers! Earlier in the term saw our dancers work together with local primary school Aboriginal Dancers to perform at ACOS. It was a deadly performance which was enjoyed by everyone who watched it!

Our dancers have also been working hard in rehearsal getting ready for School Spectacular and CAPERS which are both happening in term 4. So listen out for more information!

NSW Warattahs School Visit

To start the term our Me and My Mob and Bro Speak students had the opportunity to meet 2 of NSW Warattahs Rugby Union Team.

It was an amazing session where our students got to yarn with plays, play a deadly game of touch footy and get some signed posters.

Thank you so much to the NSW Warattahs for coming along. Our students had an amazing time!

Me and My Mob

For Mob this term we have had a great time with our girls getting the chance to not only meet NSW Warrattah players, but to participate in a deadly science workshop, learn weaving and learn to sew making bags for themselves. It has been a fantastic term and we can’t wait to see what comes next!

NAIDOC Week

This year we held our NAIDOC celebrations in week 8;

On Monday we had a whole school assembly where we celebrated our deadly students, watched our Lyambat Dancers perform, welcomed guest speaker Janine Widders-Lockwood who gave a fantastic speech to our students, and celebrated this year NAIDOC Theme of: The Next Generation; Strength, Vision and Legacy.
Tuesday we welcomed our local primary school for a day of fun and connections with all students taking part in 4 workshops that were run by some of our deadly students. Fund was had by all as everyone took part in Spot, Dance, Beading and Art. We finished the day with some of our students and PCYC working together to cook a BBQ for our primary school visitors and the whole school.
Thursday was our student turn which saw year 7, 8, 9 along with the Support Unit and IEC join us in celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Culture by getting to choose to participate in either a sport, dance, beading and scratch art or working on this year NAIDOC Mural which was created and designed by the CAPA staff and Yr 7 student Georgia!

It was an amazing week for everyone and our team would like to thank everyone involved from PCYC, to our student helpers, local primary school and our staff and students for getting in and giving it a go!

Juluumgundi Bindarraygundi Numuru Art Camp

Earlier this term four of our stage 4 students; Georgia Froome-Young, Patrick Gordon, Edward Lockwood and Lyric Griffiths were chosen to take part in the Juluumgundi Bindarraygundi Numuru Art Camp ran by the Arts unit at Cascade Environmental Education Centre.

The camp saw our students spend 3 days on Country learning traditional and contemporary art techniques by local teachers and Gumbaynggirr artists. Which all came together for each student to complete one final piece with their new skills inspired by Country.

It was a fantastic time with students getting the chance to take part in workshops for weaving, ephemeral bush sculpture, digital photography, drawing and painting, as well as having a camp fire, learning language, meeting some of the animals at Cascade like twilight and having plenty of fun!

It was a fantastic camp where students learnt new skills, made new friends and connected to country so thank you to everyone involved in organising them camp in particular the Arts unit, Cascade staff and local Aboriginal elders Aunty Loral, Aunty Deb, Uncle Colin and Uncle Allen who not just passed on knowledge but also shared their passion and inspired our students!

Georgia, Lyrics, Patrick and Edwards final artworks will travel around in a travelling exhibition, so stay tuned for information about when it will come to Armidale to see our students' deadly work!

2025 State Drama Camp

At the end of last term yr 11 student Grace Weather-Allen was selected to take part in the 2025 State Drama Camp. Grace went to Sydney and spent a week taking part in different drama workshops helping to develop her skills and passions. Grace not only got the opportunity to attend a performance of ‘The Play that Goes Wrong’ at the Sydney Opera House, but it was also a fantastic chance for her to make connections and friends too. We are so proud!

Congratulations Year 12!

A huge shoutout to our remarkable Year 12 students who are wrapping up their journey after 13 years of hard work! We are so proud of each of you and can't wait to see what the future holds. You’ve all put in so much effort—congratulations and best of luck to:

Laura Billings
Madison Collins
Erica Craig
Jake Faint
Jodie Henshall
Grace Hughes
Dawson Kelly
Sophie Maloney
Annessa McDonald
Liam Poflotski
Jack Ringuet
Vanessa Rock
Jessica Weatherall-Eather
Julie Weatherall-Allen
Alex Widders
Rowie Willis
Eliza Winsor

School Holidays

We want to wish everyone a safe and fun holiday and also say best of luck to everyone that is competing in the knockout in Tamworth over the October long weekend! We can wait to see everyone back next term which starts on Tuesday 14th of October for students and hear all about it!

Thanks Aunty Carol, Miss Leonie, Aunty Tash, Jaiden, Judy and James

Parents and Community