Our school community values First Nations cultures and embraces opportunities to connect and celebrate culture. This has been built through the school over time, where we have established good connections with the local Aboriginal community, including past and present families that are connected to our school.
Once a fortnight, our First Nations students meet to discuss a range of topics around culture. Our Deadly Mob meetings create a safe space for students to ask questions, discuss culture, make changes throughout our school, and organise the way our school is going to recognise, celebrate or commemorate significant dates and events.
Every classroom at our school has created an Acknowledgment of Country as part of their morning circle. Our First Nations Students discussed what they would like to see included in each Acknowledgment. Together, they decided it was important for classroom acknowledgments to recognise the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nations. Our First Nations students returned to their classrooms with the feedback from our meetings and changes were made. Other projects and experiences include, organising NAIDOC week Traditional Indigenous Games, creating culturally safe classrooms, and we are currently in the process of designing our own sports uniform. One of our First Nations students had the idea to design a sports uniform for each of our team houses, gurrung-gurrung (kookaburra), marram (kangaroo), warin (wombat), and gawan (echidna).
Hear from some of our First Nation students when asked about our fortnightly Deadly Mob Meetings.
“I like that we talk about respect and make our school a safe place.”
“I like listening and learning about the culture”
“I like that we get to eat lunch with other kids from around the school and talk about things that matter.”
Our students were also invited to attend the 19th Victorian Aboriginal Remembrance Service at the Shrine of Remembrance. The annual service commemorates and honours our forgotten Indigenous soldiers. We were honoured to be able to attend and pay our respects.
“We were grateful that we got the opportunity to go as we were one of the only Primary Schools to be there. We, along with Maison, our First Nations Leader, got to go up to the Eternal Flame to lay the wreath, which was really cool to do and see in person. It was amazing to be there, we felt very lucky” – Maiya and Pearl, Grade 6 Captains.
We are fortunate to also be located directly across the road from Healesville Sanctuary and have developed a strong partnership with the team at the Sanctuary, providing another opportunity to connect and enrich learning about culture, land, and animals.
