the Nor'Wester

assistant principal's message

wominjeka picnic (welcome picnic)

International food night has a new name, new date, new focus and new activities!

As part of our annual celebration and recognition of diversity within our BNW community, we have traditionally held our International Food Night. This has always formed part of how BNWPS supports Harmony Week celebrations. This year in order to continue this tradition, while paying respects to the original owners of the land on which our school resides, and launching our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), we are inviting everyone to this picnic and cultural event. 

The RAP, developed in consultation with BNW learning communities comprising of BNW OSHC, BNWPS and BNW kindergarten, provides a plan on which further work will be based. Our teaching staff and Education Committee contributed to this when formulating the Cultural Safety principles. These principles will form the framework on which school wide policies will reflect.

Cultural Safety Principles

  • At BNWPS, we live and learn on Wurundjeri land and pay our respect to their elders, past, present and future. By acknowledging the Aboriginal connection to land and the history of dispossession, helps us understand that the effects of dispossession and loss are still felt today. We acknowledge the survival and resilience of the world’s oldest continuous culture’ in our community. We seek to embrace and connect with local community members.
  • Yakka Baring, is BNWPS’s starting point of paying respect to the local community.
  • This helps all of our community grow past their entitlement, encouraging them to learn about injustice and privilege.
  • We are proud to belong to a diverse and inclusive community, we are in the ‘awareness’ phase but starting to show deeper understanding and respect.
  • Despite this sad past, the resilience in the community is strong.
  • Through having these ideas, we will build inclusive attitudes towards our own community and the broader community. We envisage that these principles will be continually refined and act as a prompt to keep the importance of being culturally safe.

 

When: Tuesday 25 February

Time:    5:30pm for smoking ceremony in Yakai Baring

6.00-8.00 pm for picnic and indigenous song and dance workshops.

Where: Yakai Baring for the smoking ceremony and acknowledgement of country

Basketball courts and undercover area for picnic and workshop

What to bring: Please bring food your family enjoys sharing with each other to share with our community.

Families are asked to arrive at approximately 5:30pm leave food on the tables in the undercover area and then move down to Yakai Baring

Thanks as always to our wonderful Community Events Team (CET) who will help arrange the table of delicious food while the ceremony is occurring!

If we have wet weather, please go directly to the Multi-purpose Room. Fingers crossed for no rain on Tuesday night! 

 

Hope to see you there,

Wendy White