NAIDOC Day

Because NAIDOC Week falls during the July school holidays, our school set aside a dedicated day to celebrate and recognise the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC Week provides a wonderful opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations histories and celebrate the oldest continuous living cultures on Earth.

This year, we were fortunate to welcome members of the Australian Defence Force from the RAAF Base Wagga, who led our students in traditional Indigenous games. Many of these activities shared fun similarities with familiar childhood games, alongside movement challenges designed to educate about native animals and dance movements. The Defence Force personnel put everyone at ease - especially our older students - by diving into the activities with great enthusiasm and humour, thus encouraging the children to step outside their comfort zones and enjoy themselves. Several games also highlighted traditional hunting skills, where students practised target throwing to simulate hunting techniques. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed having the Defence Force team visit.

In addition to the games, students participated in two engaging workshops:

Respect & Reflection: Students explored the concept of respect and reflected on what it means within our community. Their thoughtful work will soon be featured in a whole-school hallway display. After completing their reflections, students decorated custom keyrings to take home.

Indigenous Arts & Crafts: Students expressed their creativity by crafting stained-glass effect animals with specialised paper or designing intricate patterns using Aboriginal scratch art techniques.

All three interactive experiences were hugely popular with our students, helping them develop a richer appreciation and deeper understanding of First Nations cultures.