The Newlands Times

House Names and Flags 


Presented

Newlands has a history of always listening to its people (the community, student and staff). We knew we needed to have new House Names that better reflect who we are and what we are about. Some ideas started floating at the end of 2020, however in 2021 Newlands was fortunate enough to get a Creative Arts Grant to help us along with this vision. Therefore, through the Newlands Inquiry Cycle we set to develop new house names. 

A group of student leaders, alongside Hanna Tai, and our teacher Sra Karren started wondering what we could create. 

We looked at the local community connections with our school, thinking of how the 1st Nations people would have seen and used the land. 

We enlisted the support of Uncle Bill through   Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation. He told us in an online forum (yes the days of online learning) about the area and the significance of symbols within culture.

 

After, we started putting our heads together with the waterways very much present in our ideas, as water connects us to the land and as said by Uncle Bill water is the giver of life and spiritually connected to humans.

In addition, we looked at what flora and fauna in each area to draw ideas on symbols such as the red okra rock. We investigated by doing an excursion to Edgar's creek, and historic websites. 

We also wanted to make sure the bilingual nature of our school was present in some form. 

Within the “I Discover stage” We consulted with Uncle Bill every step of the way to ensure we were on the right path.

Finally, in the I try stage we ended with our amazing new houses.

We present to you: 

Birrirung Salvia – Ever flowing Representing Yarra Yarra River, the symbol is the Bush Tacka and the Spanish colour of Salvia (Sage) that best represents this house.

Edgars Carmin – Lateral stream flowing along the eastern edge of a lava flow Representing Edgars Creek, with the symbol of the flower, and the colour from the red okra therefore in Spanish we used Carmin (Crimson) that best represents this house.

Merri Merri Ambar = place of many rocks Representing Merri Merri Creek, with the symbols of Limestone found there within and the colour of Ambar (Amber). that best represents this house.

Darebin Celeste = Representing Darebin Creek with the symbol of the swallow that are ever present in the area and a colour Celeste (Light blue) that best represents this house.

We then realised that we needed another house to complete all the names and waterways and so...

Kurrum Malva was born = Representing Plenty River using a symbol of the endangered sugar glider and a colour as unique as Newlands Malva (Mauve) that best represents this house.

The work was rewarding, and some leaders are still at the school this year (grade 6s now) like me Stella and me Magnus, knowing that we will be part of Newlands legacy is fulfilling. 

So, we want to thank everyone who was involved and who will always be part of Newlands History.

  • Uncle Bill 
  • Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation
  • Creative Arts
  • Hanna Tai 
  • Sra Karren 

Current students 

  • Bronte
  • Fatma
  • Stella
  • Manuel
  • Rita

Past students

  • Saskia
  • Sebastian
  • Zaynah
  • Mia
  • Iggy
  • Jett
  • Kim
  • Leyla
  • Lily
  • Hoth
  • Gabrille
  • Cooper
  • Edith
  • Elke 

 

Thank you once more...