GEKA Centre Road

Respecting and Celebrating Culture 

Elspeth Marson-Thomas, Early Childhood Teacher 

At GEKA Centre Road Kindergarten we are aligned with GEKA values and have a deep respect for the different cultural backgrounds and knowledge that our children and families bring to the community. In all three groups we celebrated Chinese New Year in Term 1 and this term in the Seahorses we have been lucky to have Stamati’s Dad, Peter come in to share the family’s Greek Easter traditions and what is important in Greek culture, while Stamati shared this in the Little Fish group. 

In the Seastars, Henry‘s grandparents Isabell and Brian, came in to chat with the children about their adventures in the Northern Territory and how each year they help out at a remote kindergarten for an Aboriginal tribe. They shared their many experiences with the Aboriginal families and children they work alongside. 

Throughout this year we have explored Aboriginal cultural perspectives at GEKA Centre Rd Kindergarten, embedding an understanding of the importance of demonstrating respect and feeling gratitude towards the First Nation’s people. We are committed to intentionally teaching the children to build an understanding of Aboriginal perspectives and to build their respect for the traditional owners of the land. In all three groups we gather each day to sing or say an Acknowledgement of Country, thanking the Boon Wurrung people for sharing their land with us and committing ourselves to care for the land. 

We have enjoyed an Aboriginal art incursion by Didgeridoo Australia, a hands-on incursion to extend the children’s knowledge of Aboriginal perspectives and to experience some indigenous culture. The children made their own paint and decorated boomerangs. 

The children have continued to explore further ways of expressing themselves through Aboriginal art techniques such as painting leaves and bark using the traditional dot painting methods. We have further explored Aboriginal culture, enjoying watching traditional Aboriginal dance on YouTube and listening to the sound of the didgeridoo during mindfulness. Learning more about each other’s traditions, culture and values teaches us other ways of doing and cultural competency, broadening our understanding of the world in which we live. 

Throughout the year we will invite the children to continue to share their different cultures, celebrations and family traditions with us as we welcome learning more about our cultural melting pot. We will continue to explore Aboriginal perspectives through visual arts, dance, Dreamtime stories and drama. 

We would love for our parents and families to come in and share your traditions with the children if you have a spare moment. If you have your name down to do kindergarten duty, this would be the perfect opportunity to do so.