Heathmont Gazette

Marrung Education Plan

 

To our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community,

House Totem Proposal

 

As part of our House system, we are hoping to have an animal totem for each House (Monash, Flynn, Hollows and Gilmore) that has an Indigenous design. We are proposing that each House chooses a totem animal and then select students from each House become part of the design process with a professional Aboriginal Artist (Simone Thompson). We would like your feedback and input on this proposal.

 

In addition, we are investigating the possibility of building an outdoor yarning circle space. Similar to the below image, but reflecting our College values (see above) and the colours used in their design,

 

On Wednesday 30th August (3:30pm, HOPE Centre at Heathmont College), we will be inviting members of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community to seek feedback on our proposal. We will invite members from the Department of Education, Each, VACCA, Mullum Mullum Indigenous Gathering Place and all the families of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.  

 

The meeting is also an opportunity to discuss how we can further support our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students at the College.

 

If you can attend the meeting, please let me know via reply email (shane.hunt@education.vi.gov.au). 

 

We hope to see you there. 

 

Journey Tracks / Deadly Tucker / Yarning Circle

 

Vanessa Murdoch (Aboriginal Health Promotion Officer from Each) will come into the school to support the learning and social development of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. She will facilitate two programs; "Deadly Tucker" which is a nutritional program where students can also prepare traditional food and "Journey Tracks" which students will learn about the following:

  • Understanding the importance of Indigenous foods, plants, and their purposes
  • Connecting to Country
  • Environmental resources and sustainability
  • Cultural education (traditional clothing and tools etc)
  • Cultural activities

Colleen Garner (Koorie Education Coordinator)  will also visit the school to meet our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students for a Yarning Circle. 

 

These programs will occur on Wednesday afternoons during SWEL class. Please see Compass for details or email me or Leigh Holland if you have any questions.

 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Maths Alliance (ATSIMA)

 

Our College Principal, Kerryn Sandford, and myself are extremely honoured to be invited to present at the 4th Biennial ATSIMA Conference. This is based on the work we did last year. That is, we looked at the rich contexts from the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Histories & Cultures in the Australian Curriculum Mathematics. We produced a lesson sequence of 4 activities which were primarily based from the learning of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation in Victoria and while applying mathematical (statistical) reasoning – very much utilising Professor Chris Matthews Goompi model of teaching & learning.  

 

The Conference will be held between 9th – 11th October 2023 in Yirrkala, North East Arnhem Land, Northern Territory. This will be the first national mathematics education conference held in a Yolŋu Community.

 

We look forward to sharing our experiences when we return!

 

As always, if there is any way in which we can assist any of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and their families, please do not hesitate to reach out to myself or Leigh Holland.

 

Shane Hunt

Community Relationships & Connectedness