First Nations Education
Artucation
Year 8 First Nations students and friends participated in Artucation this term.
The program is delivered by Youth Solutions and students participate in workshops on risk taking behaviour and support seeking strategies. The final session involves a cultural activity. Our students were lucky enough to participate in a ceramics workshop with First Nations artist Natalie Valiente. The students had a great session and really enjoyed the opportunity. They can't wait for their finished products once they have been fired!!
Youth Solutions also filmed some of our students during the workshop for a promotion video they produce!!
Reconciliation Week
Reconciliation is about strengthening relationships between First Nations people and non-Indigenous people, for the benefit of all Australians. A reconciled Australia is one where the rights of First Nations people are not just respected but championed in all the places that matter.
The theme for Reconciliation Week 2024 is “Now More Than Ever”. It is a reminder to all of us that no matter what, the fight for justice and the rights of First Nations people will —and must —continue.
Now more than ever, the work continues. In treaty making, in truth-telling, in understanding our history, in education, and in tackling racism. We need connection. We need respect. We need action. And we need change.
To celebrate Reconciliation Week students participated in a Thrive session. There was also lunch time activities for students to participate in such as foam board printing, loom banding and rock art.
Junior AECG
Elderslie High School hosted the first Junior AECG meeting for 2024 with our feeder primary schools. Students from Mawarra, Spring Farm, Camden South and Elderslie Public School visited and participated in a variety of different art workshops. It was great to see students mingling and getting to know each other over some afternoon tea. These sessions provide students with the opportunity to start developing connections with the school, teachers and other students before they start high school.
Year 7 Gardening Session
Our Year 7 First Nations Students met up with Cliodhna from the Botanical Gardens First Nations Youth Community Greening. Cliodhna has provided us with lots of support in developing our bush tucker garden and yarning circle. She had a chat with students about the different plants and then students got busy planting. They even washed their hands with soap from our very own soap tree!!
Our Acknowledgement to Country sign has gone into the ground at the Yarning Circle. Next term, the students project will be to get the new plant signs in the ground!!!!
Go Scholarship
Our 15 Go Scholarship recipients attended a cultural day at UWS. The day started with a smoking ceremony performed by Uncle Eddie. Co-founders Adam Goodes and Michael O'Loughlin had a yarn about the importance of education, perseverance and hard work! Students also participated in a variety of workshops including weaving, artifacts and dance!
Later in the term, Go team members visited the school and touched base with all the recipients. These sessions provide mentorship to the students were a variety of different topics are discussed.
Dharawal Language and Poetry Day
Year 7 and 8 First Nations students participated in a Dharawal language and poetry day at the Mount Annan Botanical Gardens. We walked, we saw, we listened and we wrote!!! Students learnt a lot about language and wrote some beautiful poetry!! Students also used natural items to put their poetry into a picture. It was such a fantastic experience for the students.
A big thanks to Red Room Poetry and the Botanical Gardens.
