Around the Junior School
Orange NAIDOC Week Award
On Saturday 5 November Kinross Wolaroi School’s Indigenous Learning Coordinator, Corey McLean was presented with an Orange NAIDOC Week Award for its Junior School Wiradjuri language program: The ‘Community Program/Projects Aunty Val French and Aunty Judy O’Neill Memorial Award’.
A local Wiradjuri man, Mr McLean was responsible for the design and delivery of the award-winning program to students from Kindergarten to Year 3.
“The students learn about Wiradjuri culture and learn the language. They are taught greetings, names of family members, animals and land features. We translate their English name to show how it would be spelt in Wiradjuri. They learn about artwork - the symbols and how to tell a story; dance - the animal movements; bush foods - what they look, feel and smell like, along with their uses; and also learn songs in Wiradjuri language,” Mr McLean said.
He said the students showed a big interest in wanting to learn about language and culture with a lot of great questions being asked.
“To not only be recognised by our Orange Aboriginal community but to also have one of the judges say to me that our one really stood out from all the others is a really pleasing and humbling thing.
“I am taking the award to show all the students. Hopefully they are as proud of the award as I am. Without them wanting to learn and without Kinross wanting to have the program run, none of this would have been able to happen.”
Earlier this year Mr McLean was also the recipient of the 2022 Excellence in Indigenous Education & Boarding Leadership Award from Indigenous Education and Boarding Australia. Mr McLean was recognised for his outstanding work supporting the School’s First Nations boarding students, his promotion of knowledge and understanding of Indigenous culture across the school and community, and for his excellent Wiradjuri language program for Junior School students.
Kinross Wolaroi Principal, Dr Andrew Parry said Corey McLean’s contribution to the School’s Indigenous Program and to the wider teaching program was very significant and that the school was proud and lucky to have him on staff.
Stage 3 Digital Technology
To supplement their science unit this term, Year 5 used Makey Makeys in their Area 51 session to explore electrical circuits. They created their own game controllers using the Makey Makey website games, the Makey Makeys and their laptops. Some students went further and created a controller to play Minecraft Education by using the other side and other outlets on the Makey Makey.
Mr Pearce, the school’s ICT Manager, gave a demonstration of computer components to Year 6. Prefaced by the warning “do not try this at home – or at school”, Mr Pearce pulled apart a 10 year old desktop CPU, a more recent desktop CPU and a laptop. Using the webcam linked to the CommBox, we were able to zoom in on the different components and give the students a better look inside the devices.
Muriel Fatai
Leader of Technology and Innovation
Year 4 attend Orange Regional Museum’s First Nations Cultural Day
Year 4 relished the opportunity to attend the Orange Regional Museum’s First Nations Cultural Day on Wednesday 2 November, when a last minute vacancy became available.
They began the day by taste testing some bush tucker and were treated to a bowl of popcorn sprinkled with crushed warrigal greens and smothered in honey. They learnt the benefits of lemon myrtle to treat headaches, repel mosquitoes or heal wounds. They loved the taste of the finger limes and realised that kangaroo grass can be crushed to make johnny cake – a type of damper. Gerald Power, who conducted the presentation, spoke about how our First Nations peoples were able to gather emu eggs and how they tricked the male emus. Gerald has been involved with our school for some years and has already planted a bush tucker garden at Windermere for us to harvest.
With their tummies full, Year 4 moved on visit the Orange Regional Museum exhibition with educator, Sally MacLennan. Sally told the story of “Awesome Emu” by Gregg Dreise and the children learnt about Mulaa Giilang: Wiradjuri stories of the night sky. As their minds were bursting with new information they were able to join in some interactive storytelling with Larry Brandy and continue learning about so many First Nations tools and artefacts. The day ended with local artist Sanon Gibbs-O’Neil who gave all students a chance to create their own stories on a bookmark as he explained the connection between art, stories and sharing culture.
How very fortunate the children were to be given such an informative and memorable opportunity.
Pre-Kinder Update
Pre-Kinder enjoyed listening to two of Harriet's books, Far Away Granny and Where do teachers go at night? They were delighted to discover that instead of going home and turning out the light, teachers embark on a worldwide adventure before returning in the morning not even yawning.
We had a great Step It Up Day and are excited and eager for the Kindergarten journey to begin!
Junior School show their appreciation to teachers
