From the Deputy Prinicpal

Reconciliation

This week is National Reconciliation Week and myself, Mr Rudge and 20 of our students were privileged to be involved in what is becoming a tradition in our twin towns – the Echuca Moama Reconciliation Walk. It was wonderful to join teachers and students from many of the other schools in our region as well as other individuals and community groups in supporting Reconciliation. At the end of the walk two of our Kinder students were gifted a banner from some of the Indigenous students at St Joseph’s College. This is exactly what Reconciliation is all about. Rosie and Stefania were very honoured to receive this gift and held the banner up proudly during the presentations at the Aquatic Reserve.

The theme of this year’s National Reconciliation Week is “Grounded in Truth, Walk together with Courage”. In our Assemblies and Chapel Services this week the importance of Reconciliation being part of all of our lives was highlighted. Reconciliation is not just about this week. Sharing history and stories between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians is how we will continue to learn and grow with each other. We all need to strive for a world where Reconciliation becomes obsolete because we all are aiming to live in harmony, showing mutual respect to each other no matter where we are from or who we are.

On Tuesday evening I had the honour of listening to many of our hard-working musicians in the Primary School at the Young Performers evening. It was a fabulous evening that was very well coordinated by our wonderful Head of Co-Curricular Music, Mrs Fiona Gibbs.

We are also very privileged to have such a great group of very qualified and professional Co-Curricular Music teachers working with Mrs Gibbs teaching our students. A huge thank you to these Co-Curricular Music teachers; Marion Moncrieff, Heidi Moncrieff (Heidi is a past Moama Anglican Grammar student so it is very exciting that she is back with us as a co-curricular Music teacher), Priscilla Jasper, Carol Aylward, Margaret Monro, Margaret Ross, Katie Kim, Victoria Pannett, Shane McGrath and Kevin Kiely. We have also had Kevin’s son Jordan work with some of our students at a number of events. Jordan has actually written a textbook for schools that has made it to the list of Year 12 Performance list of texts for Victorian schools as part of the VCE. It is exciting to see how our student musicians are progressing and developing their skills in their chosen instrument or voice.

Next week we will be having our school photos. Recently I was looking through my own school photos - yes, that was a long time ago! Looking through these old photos reminded me of very significant memories of my schooling life. We look forward to all our students taking part in the school photos next Wednesday and Thursday to create future reminders for their life long memories.

Kathleen Kemp

Deputy Principal