Koori News

All of the programs are now up and running and the amount of opportunities made available to our students has been amazing. Students from Year 7 to Year 12 have been involved in a number of extra-curricular activities including holiday camps, leadership days, mentoring days and participation in the half time entertainment at the AFL Giants game.

Go Foundation's Cultural Connection Day

The GO Foundation recently hosted a cultural connection day where 9 lucky students in Year 9 and 11 were able to travel to Sydney University and connect with other students around NSW. They listened to speeches from Adam Goodes and Michael O’Loughlin and were able to participate in a range of cultural activities including weaving, traditional dance, looking at artefacts and all within the walls of the Business School. The students came away from the day inspired, motivated and ready to pursue the highest level of education.

KARI Camp

2 Year 7 students Madison and Jaxon were chosen to attend the KARI camp in the April School holidays – a 3 day camp where they were able to connect with other students from different schools and participated in lots of fun activities including cultural specific and traditional games, making clap sticks and didgeridoos and camp fire stories and songs.

NASCA Corporate Day

Our Senior students were asked to be involved in the NASCA Corporate Challenge and Leadership day held late last term. They were required to learn and then teach a number of corporate teams how to play 3 different traditional indigenous games (TIG). We travelled to Redfern to the NASCA headquarters and our students ran the event. 6 different teams entered the gala day and our students were highly regarded by the organisers of the event and their teams. They were able to develop relationships with a number of different companies including NESTLE, Firetrail Finance and Lend Lease. Some of these students will be attending a leadership camp this week with a number of the same companies providing further mentoring and leadership opportunities. We wish Hannah, Lara, Lisa, Caiden and Blade all the best of luck for this week.

NRL School to Work Program

Brendon Young in Year 11 is one student involved in the NRL School to Work Program that assists our students in the senior years to develop links to careers and further education after school. Sponsored by NRL club Penrith Panthers, Brendon has been chosen to attend a 4 day camp at Homebush where he will have the opportunity to connect with lots of other students from local and interstate schools. They will develop skills and knowledge in seeking employment after they finish the HSC and will be given plenty of opportunities to speak with a range of individuals in the workforce. The week will conclude with one student being chosen as an ambassador to represent the students at the Panthers vs Cowboys game as part of the Indigenous Round.

Giants AFL Match

On Sunday 22nd May 17 Kingswood High students were invited to attend the Giants AFL match. They were treated to a tour of the training facilities, chats with Giant superstars and even had the opportunity to be involved in the Dance Cam and Half-time entertainment. Congratulations to Bella, Leroy, Andre and Clancy who won the half time entertainment activity and secured $2000 for the NASCA program – what an amazing achievement. Thanks to NASCA who organised this excursion on the weekend and for the parents and carers who were able to support this great opportunity for our kids.

NASCA

NASCA have been an integral part of our programs this year and we have welcomed in the classroom every Tuesday and Wednesday. They provide lots of support for all of our students in all classes across the school. They include lots of connection to culture and provide an excellent opportunity for our whole school community.

Young Mob

Young Mob has been attending weekly and have provided lots of opportunities for our junior students. In the next few weeks they will be asking students to apply for a special leadership and mentoring day to be held in Sydney. Anyone interested will be able to fill out an application form.

Reconciliation Day

Reconciliation Day is next week – we will be providing activities in the Achievement Group for all of our students to gain knowledge and understanding of the importance of reconciliation. We will be holding lots of different types of competitions including colouring in, writing and drawing competitions so look out for notices and announcements in the next 2 weeks.

NAIDOC Day

NAIDOC Day will be celebrated in week 2 of term 3. We will be holding a special assembly organised and run by our students. The whole school community will be involved in a range of activities organised by each faculty and once again we will be having lots of different competitions that everyone can enter. If anyone in the school community or beyond have any ideas on how we can ensure our day is a great success is most welcome to contact me and let me know how you can help. My email is nicole.meyers@det.nsw.edu.au so please get in contact if you think you can help.

We have enlisted the help of an ex student of Kingswood High to come and provide dance lessons for our school community. Announcements have been made during Homeroom groups and a number of students from all year groups have put their name down to be involved. Those dance lessons will commence in the next two weeks and will culminate with a performance from the children on NAIDOC Day.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns about any of the programs we deliver at Kingswood High please make sure you contact me for further discussions.

Mrs Geyer (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Students Program Coordinator)