Reconciliation Week and National Sorry Day

Last week we marked National Reconciliation Week, a time for all Australians to reflect on our shared histories, cultures and achievements and to explore how we can contribute to reconciliation in our school and community. The theme for 2025, "Bridging Now to" reminds us that the journey towards reconciliation must continue with courage and commitment. At our school, we honoured this week by deepening our understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives and celebrating the rich cultural heritage of the First Peoples of this land. Reconciliation Week is a vital opportunity for our students to grow in respect, justice, compassion and integrity, values that guide our community every day.

Prep

In Prep, we read Country by Aunty Fay Muir, Sue Lawson and Cheryl Davison which supported students to understand the complexity of Country and its importance to First Nations Australians. Students learnt what is meant by ‘Country’ and they had the opportunity to observe and think about their own local environment and community and to consider the ways that they can care for Country and for each other.

Our focus question was . . . What makes Country special and how can we care for it?

Students wrote personal connections to the text by exploring their local school environment. They found a place at school that is special to them and then created an illustrated artwork depicting their special place. Students wrote short sentences about their special place using the structure of the text.

Year 1

As part of Reconciliation Week, we listened to the story 'We Are Australians' by Kirli Saunders and reflected on the importance of acknowledging and respecting Australia's First Nations peoples. We explored the significance of saying ‘sorry’ and discussed this year’s theme, 'Bridging Now to Next', considering how we can all contribute to a more united future.

Students explored the powerful message, “We say sorry. We walk together,” and created drawings to show what this means to them and what they love most about our beautiful Country.

Year 2

In Year 2 we read and discussed the picture book ‘Finding Our Heart’ by Thomas Mayor. This story highlights the importance of Reconciliation. We discussed Reconciliation as meaning being sorry for something that has happened and doing something to make it better. We considered how First Nations people were treated and what we can do so all people are treated equally. The story suggests finding the heart of our nation and we can do this through learning more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, their culture and history. We learnt about the purpose of a yarning circle and are using this model in our discussions. Children reflected on what they can do to work towards Reconciliation in their own lives and displayed these ideas in a poster of Australia.

Year 3

In Year 3, students responded to the story 'Somebody's Land' by Adam Goodes and Ellie

Laing by writing their own Acknowledgement of Country in the palm of their hand. This powerful gesture symbolised that we all have a role to play in healing and honouring the culture and kinship that has been lost. Each student concluded their acknowledgement with the words:

“It was Aboriginal land. It is Aboriginal land. And it always will be Aboriginal land”, a powerful refrain from the story that resonated deeply in their learning.

Year 4

Year 4 students read the story ‘Sorry Day’ by Coral Vass. We discussed the significance

of Sorry Day. We learnt about the historic events that led to the Stolen Generation and listened to the apology by Kevin Rudd. To commemorate National Sorry Day and the importance of reconciliation we viewed Healing Hands artwork created by Kaurna artist Jaydenlee Tong. The students recreated their own Healing Hands, acknowledging the mistakes of the past and the importance of working together towards a better future.

Years 5&6

Our Year 5/6 classes engaged in a powerful learning experience focused on Sorry Day and National Reconciliation Week. We began by listening to Trevor Jamieson's reading of Coral Vass's 'Sorry Day,' performed under the historically significant Moreton Bay fig tree in Carlton Gardens, Melbourne. This tree, a renowned gathering place for Aboriginal people from the 1920s to 1940s, hosted many prominent figures, including Sir Douglas Nicholls, who delivered sermons there. Following the reading, we listened as Kevin Rudd explained the history of Sorry Day, and his 2008 National Apology as Prime Minister to the Stolen Generations and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This event and its impact on all Australians, particularly Aboriginal Australians, sparked a rich discussion in our classroom.

The 2025 Reconciliation Week theme, 'Bridging Now to Next,' and its accompanying artwork, including its significant flora, sparked our imaginations. Our 'speech bubbles' are a reflection of the discussions and thoughts that emerged around these important topics.

In addition to this, we are currently exploring 'Black Cockatoo' by Carl Merrison, a novel that offers a profound insight into the life of a young Aboriginal girl and the intricate bonds of family and culture. Through all our reading and discussions, we are continually deepening our knowledge and understanding of Australia’s First Nations people.

Parent Teacher Interviews

Please note that bookings will open on Monday (16th June) for our Parent Teacher Interviews for Tuesday 1st July from 1:30pm to 6:00pm (in-person) and Wednesday 2nd July from 3:45pm to 4:45pm (online). On Tuesday 1st July all students will be finishing at 1:00pm. TheirCare is available should you need it.

Academic reports for Semester On will be issued to families on Friday 27th June. The interviews are an opportunity to discuss with the classroom teacher your child’s progress so far, as well as their future learning needs. An effective partnership between the home and the school is a key to the education of your child and we appreciate your time to make this conversation happen.

We are pleased to offer two meeting modes. All bookings on Tuesday 1st July will be face-to-face in your child’s classroom at school. All bookings on Wednesday 2nd July will be online video conferencing using Google Meet, which works on laptops/desktops/mobile. Parents and carers are welcome to book whichever mode suits them best.

For video conferencing, upon making your booking you will receive a video conferencing link. At your allocated time, please click the join link and wait for your class teacher to admit entry into the virtual room.

All interviews are strictly 10 minutes only. The smooth running of our Parent Teacher Interviews relies on all parents keeping to the timetable. If you need more time with a particular teacher, arrange a separate meeting or phone call.

Division Cross Country

We thank and congratulate our wonderful students who qualified and competed in the HOLT Division Cross County. Mia H, Orion V, Bela V and Samuel B all ran with speed, enthusiasm and were wonderful role models for our school. We commiserate and congratulate for qualifying and with Pearl V who qualified but was unfortunately not well enough to compete on the day.

Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD) On School Students with Disability

As stated in the NCCD Guidelines,

“Approved authorities and their schools must notify students and parents, guardians, carers or associates to ensure that all involved in the NCCD are fully aware of the data collection, its purpose, legislative basis, to whom NCCD data will be disclosed, and that

assurance activities may be conducted by the department in relation to the NCCD data (Department of Education 2025, p. 18).”

Please note that our school is currently preparing to complete the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD). It counts the number of students who receive additional adjustments or “help” at school because of a disability.

Parents can refer to the fact sheets below for further information.

Please refer to the NCCD Portal for translated versions of the document.

Calendar updates

Please note that the calendar page has been updated with the Term 3 Calendar. Please note the following updates for Term 2 dates.

Friday 27th June Feast of the Sacred Heart. As Father Jerome is away on this day, the school will celebrate with a whole school paraliturgy at school.

Just to confirm that the Middle School Mass, as communicated through the Operoo invitation, has moved to Sunday 15th June. Thank you to those families who have already responded to the invitation to attend.

Student Awards

Congratulations to the following students for their outstanding work over the last couple of weeks.

Margot B	3T	For being a great role model to her peers in self-management. Margot consistently demonstrates responsibility by being well-prepared and hardworking in all tasks. She not only manages her own work effectively but also supports others in achieving success.
James	Prep B	For always following teacher instructions and being on task and ready to learn.
Luca H	1R	For demonstrating excellent responsibility when starting independent tasks and consistently setting a positive example for others by showing he is always ready to learn.
Ellie A	2J	For always displaying a positive attitude to her learning . She approaches all tasks with enthusiasm and is thoughtful and kind to her peers.
Isla D	4M	For being a positive role model and responsibly supporting other students in the classroom.
Anna T	5/6M	For taking responsibility for your learning and actions. You can be relied on to complete a task or a job to the very best of your ability. Keep it up!
Frances	Prep B	For being focused during learning time and using all her learning time to complete her work.
Fernando N	2J	For trying your best in writing, making careful choices, and doing a fantastic job. Well done for being a thoughtful and responsible writer.
Audrey S	3T	For consistently demonstrating a self-responsible attitude towards your learning and how you conduct yourself within the classroom. Your strong sense of accountability makes you a wonderful role model for your peers. Well done, Audrey!
Olivia R	4M	For working responsibly during the lesson at St Mary's College Science Lab. A future Scientist in the making!
Mila K	1R	For trying her best to stay organised in the classroom and for showing initiative by asking for help when needed to complete her tasks.
Vihaana B	5/6M	For taking responsibility for refining and improving her netball skills by practicing at break times and seeking advice from team-mates.

Community Calendar

The 2025 community calendar can be found on the Calendar page but we encourage all families to connect to the School’s Google Community Calendar.

Please also see link to our Google Calendar.

If you wish to add this calendar to your personal device, you can use the following ical link:

https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/c_c8el163bek1cvane44i0pm23eo%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics

TheirCare Program