Murrumbeena P.S. Newsletter

From the Assistant Principal

HELPING SCHOOLS TO CONNECT WITH OUR INDIAN COMMUNITY

 

The Victorian Government is helping schools to develop strong, sustainable and meaningful connections with Victoria’s Indian community through a range of educational initiatives.

 

The Minister for Education, James Merlino announced that 11 schools across the state have been awarded funding as part of the ‘Connecting Schools with Indian Communities Program’ and our school is a successful applicant.

 

Murrumbeena Primary School is an International Baccalaureate school aiming to develop international mindedness in our students, and global citizenship requires cultural inclusivity and understanding. When the opportunity arose to become involved in the Pilot program, we didn’t hesitate. The pilot program aims to develop partnerships between schools and Victoria’s thriving Indian community and helps Victorian students to develop their intercultural capabilities, appreciate and respect cultural difference and strengthen links within our school community. 

 

Murrumbeena Primary School engaged a facilitator to run our first focus group with the goal being to identify a cultural celebration that was inclusive of all Indian people and importantly to broaden our students’ knowledge of another cultural group in a fun and engaging way.

 

We met on Thursday 5 September and below is a summary of the key feedback from the group:

 

  • Most Indian families would have celebrated different festivals back in India, given India’s very diverse communities. So people would be used to celebrating Diwali, Eid, Christmas etc.
  • The way each of the festivals is celebrated can vary widely in different regions even within people from the same religious background.
  • Languages and customs are quite unique.
  • Diwali and Holi are big festivals but not necessarily equally important to every community from India. 
  • Most festivals have religious and cultural symbolism attached.
  • Indian independence and Republic days are other possible days to celebrate.
  • All Indian communities love their food, music, dance and the social and community aspects of festivals.

 

With the above in context: The group discussed what could be done to celebrate Indian community at Murrumbeena.

 

After lengthy discussion, the group decided the most inclusive option would be to hold a broader celebration of India, with families sharing knowledge/customs/practices from India with the whole school through a day of learning. 

 

The finer details are yet to be developed, but what a wonderful start this focus group has made.

 

NEXT FOCUS GROUP: Thursday 19 September

 

Goal of Focus Group 2:

We are holding a focus group to identify what information new families to the country and to our school need.

We have changed the time to the evening to better cater for working parents who may like to attend. 

Focus Group Goals:

  •  Identify the types of information that families new to the Australian education system would like and find useful, particularly as their children start schooling here.
  •  Use the information to create resources (for new families) that will answer questions that currently can’t readily be found.

When: Thursday 19 September

Time: 6:00 - 8:00 pm

Where: IRC (library)

 

We have engaged a facilitator (Anu Krishnan from Kulturbrille) who will run the focus group. This will be your opportunity to participate and engage in the school and your child’s education.

 

Please phone the school or send an email to let us know if you are coming so we can make appropriate arrangements.

Email: murrumbeena.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au

phone: 9568 1300

 

PEER SUPPORT

During term 3  students participated in Peer Support sessions. This was an opportunity for all year levels to work together, build upon friendships and learn about resilience under the guidance of our Year 6 students.

 

These sessions provided students with a range of activities to:

  • Learn about resilience;
  • Discuss strategies when faced with difficult situations;
  • Reflect on their actions in the classroom and yard;
  • Celebrate how they will show resilience in the classroom and in the yard.

Some of the highlights for students were participating in role plays to determine ‘resilient’ and ‘non-resilient’ behaviours and also the origami challenge. This challenge required students to demonstrate resilience and discuss possible strategies to help their Peer Support Group members make an origami penguin.

 

In their final Peer Support session, students created a group pledge to be resilient members of the school community through a creative art piece. The pledge included possible strategies to use when faced with a difficult situation and drawings of each member of the group. The pledges have been combined as collage and can be viewed in the hallway near the staffroom.

 

Congratulations to the Year Six students for being risk takers and confident leaders whilst teaching the younger year levels about such an important attribute!