Faith, Culture & Community 

NAIDOC Week

As we enter the winter holidays, our thoughts turn to an incredibly significant event on our national calendar: NAIDOC Week. Whilst the official national celebrations take place in the first full week of July, our school community takes great pride in embedding the spirit of this occasion into our curriculum and daily school life.

NAIDOC stands for the National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee. Its roots can be traced back to the Aboriginal rights movements of the 1920s and 1930s, which sought to raise awareness about the treatment and status of First Nations Australians.

Today, NAIDOC Week is a national celebration observed by Australians from all walks of life. It is a dedicated time to recognise and celebrate the history, culture, and outstanding achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Education is at the very heart of reconciliation.  For our students, NAIDOC Week is not just a date on the calendar, but a profound opportunity for growth, understanding, and unity. Here is why we place such a high value on this celebration:

1. Honouring the World’s Oldest Living Culture: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures endure as the oldest continuous living cultures on Earth. By learning about traditional customs, languages, and deep connections to Country, our students develop a rich appreciation for the land we live and learn upon.

       2. Fostering a Culture of Respect: Celebrating NAIDOC Week encourages our young

           people to practice empathy, listen to Indigenous voices, and challenge stereotypes.

           It helps build a school environment where every individual feels valued and

           included.

       3. Truth-Telling and Shared History: To move forward together, we must understand the

            past. NAIDOC Week provides a safe, age-appropriate space for students to learn

           about Australia's shared history, building a foundation of truth and mutual respect.

"NAIDOC Week is a time for us to pause, listen, and learn. It reminds us that the history of this land did not begin a few centuries ago, but tens of thousands of years ago. By weaving these stories into our school tapestry, we enrich the education of every single child."

Reconciliation and learning do not stop at the school gates. We encourage all families to engage with NAIDOC Week over the upcoming holiday period. Here are a few simple ways to get involved:

1. Attend Local Events: Check your local council listings for NAIDOC marches, community festivals, art exhibitions, or storytelling sessions.
2. Read Together: Visit your local library and borrow books written or illustrated by First Nations authors.
3. Discover Your Local Country: Research the traditional custodians of the land where you live or where you are travelling these holidays. Learn the traditional name of the area and talk about what it means to care for Country.

We look forward to continuing this vital journey of learning and celebration with our students, ensuring that the spirit of NAIDOC Week remains alive in our classrooms all year round.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day

Save the date! Tuesday 4th August to celebrate 'the voices, stories and knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families and communities. It recognises the importance of truth telling as a foundation for identity, belonging and cultural strength, and honours the role of Elders and community in passing knowledge to the next generation. This year, we celebrate children as the next generation of leaders; confident, proud and ready to carry forward the strong voices, stories and knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities.

On Children’s Day, early learning services, schools, libraries, sporting clubs, organisations and communities across the country take the lead in their own celebrations in ways that reflect local knowledge, priorities, culture and activities. These celebrations take many forms, including storytelling, cultural learning, art exhibitions, sports days and community gatherings that create spaces where children are seen, heard and celebrated for who they are. '  - https://www.snaicc.org.au/our-work/campaigns/childrens-day/

Our annual 'Walk Together' will begin at 8:15am on the day as we gather as a community to acknowledge the land we learn on and then raise the flags at school.  Details will be in upcoming newsletters. 

Japanese Day Prayer space for parents & carers

You are warmly invited to join in our uniquely 'Japanese' prayer in the staffroom from 

9am - 9:20am on Monday 20th July.  You are not required to be fluent in Japanese!!

We look forward to reflecting, meditating and praying with you then!