JUNIOR SCHOOL
BELOW : JUNIOR SCHOOL RECONCILIATION PANEL : BACK ROW LEFT TO RIGHT : MS TRACY TAITOKO , DION WHITFIELD , MR PAUL MCMAHON AND MRS REBECCA BAOHM FRONT ROW , LEFT TO RIGHT : WILLIAM BATCHELOR , SEBASTIAN FLYNN , BRENDAN YIP , AIDEN RICHARDS AND MRS CISSY WANG
LEAVES FROM THE JUNIOR SCHOOL
KINSHIP TREES , SYMBOLISING UNITY ,
CONNECTION AND DIVERSITY WITH OUR INDIGENOUS
PARTNERS
EMBRACING A MEANINGFUL
FUTURE OF RECONCILIATION
JUNIOR SCHOOL MARKS RECONCILIATION WEEK WITH A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES
As a Junior School , we committed to acknowledging National Reconciliation Week ( 27 May to 2 June ) through classroom lessons and whole-of-school activities . Our Reconciliation Vision Statement for the Junior School states that we see a future where all students and staff take meaningful action to promote reconciliation , by valuing and respecting the cultures , rights and histories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples .
In 2023 , the National Reconciliation Week theme was ‘ Be a Voice for Generations ’. It urged all Australians to use their power , their words and their voice to create a better and more just Australia for all of us . Throughout the week , Junior School students engaged in various activities to promote meaningful action .
One of the highlights was the creation of the Kinship Trees , symbolising our unity , connection and diversity as a Junior School . The trees were adorned with the leaves created by our families , and around each tree there was a collection of indigenous plants . These plants will be relocated to a garden bed near the canteen , marking the importance of our action .
After morning tea on Monday , the entire Junior School participated in a special Dadirri , emphasising the Indigenous value of deep listening . Classes were scattered around the school . There was a wonderful moment of stillness , as the entire Junior School decompressed from the morning . Boys returned to class feeling a sense of renewal . The boys and staff enjoyed the time to sit and appreciate the natural world around them .
As part of Reconciliation Week activities , the Year 5 boys enjoyed designing their own Indigenous Round school jumpers , having learned more about Scotch ’ s commitment to the same process for the Senior School boys in the previous weekend ’ s APS Indigenous Round .
The Year 6 boys embarked on a fascinating piece of work , developing an internal survey to gather data on the perspectives of the Year 6 boys and then comparing the outcomes to data gathered in a national survey . They drew
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