L.O.T.E 

NAIDOC WEEK

At the end of Term 2, in the lead-up to NAIDOC Week before the date was changed due to lockdown, come classes undertook at two-week unit on Woi wurrung language. This is the traditional language of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation, the traditional Custodians of Melbourne and surrounding lands.

This was to complement curriculum that students cover in their classrooms, from a language perspective. We discussed how the First Peoples of Australia had complex and diverse cultural systems, religion and distinct languages. Over 200+ languages were spoken, of which, sadly, now more than three-quarters are lost, with Victoria and Tasmania particularly affected. However, there is a push to revive and help these languages survive.

We looked at the Bunjil Creation story, rewritten by Aunty Joy Murphy, Senior Wurundjeri Elder, and learned some Woi wurrung words relating to this story. Junior classes made masks of Australian animals and practised the Woi wurrung words for these. Senior classes practised communicating with a partner using Woi wurrung, and looked at the use of symbols in communication.

Many thanks to the students who took part in these classes. 

“Our language is like a pearl inside a shell. The shell is like the people that carry the language. If our language is taken away, then that would be like a pearl that is gone. We would be like an empty oyster shell.”  — Yurranydjil Dhurrkay, Galiwin’ku, North East Arnhem Land

German News

Our Oktoberfest activities have been winding up this past week, stretching into November a little – so, as the students have been calling it: “Novemberfest”!

Some classes also worked on Halloween activities, in F–2, looking at shape names in German and making a Kürbislaterne using these; and in 3–6, creating some spooky shape poetry. 

Junior classes have been working on letters to Santa, requesting an Elf-on-the-Shelf for the German classroom. Once all classes have completed their letters, we will send copies of the letters to the North Pole. Copies of the letters will also be posted to Seesaw. 

Shape Poems

Frau Petrilli & Frau Lindner