Last Friday, we had a special assembly to acknowledge and celebrate Reconciliation Week. This year the theme is More than A Word.

Our assembly featured songs by Ms. Pullman and Ms. Rigney's classes, students in Ms. Power's class and the Senior Choir who were accompanied by our ukelele instrumental group and Mia D on the keyboard. Thank you to Mrs. Anna Theodosi for leading and supporting our students as they performed.

The 2021 National Reconciliation Week theme graphics are drawn from the artwork of Jessica Johnson.  The artwork reflects connection and mutual obligation to one another, community and Country. Through commonality and difference, we have the ability to come together and achieve real change. 

Elements of her artwork include:

• Spirit souls = thinking/awareness
• The undulating landscape is shown through the contours at the base of the artwork.
• Moons/planet = Represent cycle and time.
• Stars = Navigation and knowing the way.
• Boomerang = Coming full circle. 20 boomerangs represent the 20 years of Reconciliation Australia.
• Reflection = Reflecting on our actions.
• Central river = The crying river represents the degradation and needed renewal.

A sincere than you to Mrs. Deb Hampton (our Aboriginal Education Teacher) and Erin Douglas (our ACEO) for their work in supporting our staff and students to learn about Reconciliation and what it means in the context of Australia. We have a range of resources and picture books in the library to support conversations you may have about Reconciliation.  Once of them is called 'Finding Our Heart' by Thomas Mayor. You can watch him reading his story at the Bendigo Writers' Festival last year via the YouTube link below:

Finding the Heart Thomas Mayor - YouTube

Our goal is for all Australians to understand and value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous cultures, rights and experiences, to create stronger relationships based on trust and respect and that are free of racism.  This can happen through one action and one conversation at a time, and we all have a part to play in this. 

Kind Regards

Penny Wilde               Belinda Finlay-Smith               Christine MacLean

Principal                    Deputy Principal                      Acting Wellbeing Leader