NAIDOC WEEK : 23rd - 27th June
Aunty Freda Ogilvie, our respected Noongar Elder, has given special permission for our schools to celebrate NAIDOC during this week. Since Reconciliation Week, we've been actively exploring Aboriginal history, language, and culture across our classrooms. Our NAIDOC celebrations have included rich curriculum-based experiences such as Deadly Two-Way Science, Dreamtime stories, Noongar language learning, and excursions to Kaarta Koomba and the WA Museum Boola Bardip.
Following all the activities during the week, we concluded our celebrations with a special NAIDOC Assembly on Friday 27th June. Students performed 'Solid Rock' by Goanna - the Voices for Reconciliation song - and signed the chorus in Auslan. The school song was also sung in both English and Noongar, a translation done by Nan Roma Winmar. We were honoured to welcome back Aunty Betty Garlett, who closed the assembly with a traditional smoking ceremony - an act of cleansing, respect, and a commitment to walking together with open hearts and minds.
Also on Friday, our schools participated in Yarning Circles. Students gathered in multi-age groups to share their learning and reflect on Aboriginal language, history, and culture.
During these celebrations we were delighted to continue our collaboration with Iona and St Hilda's, with students coming along and assisting with face painting and lunch time activities. This follows the wonderful performance from the Wesley Moorditj Mob during Reconciliation Week. These students from year 9 through to year 12 performed a spirit dance and amazed us with the sights, sounds and colours including performing dances with a Yonga (kangaroo) and Weitj (emu) to pay respect to their food source and spiritual animals.
Our schools are proud of the meaningful work we do during NAIDOC Week and Reconciliation Week, as we continue to celebrate and strengthen our shared commitment to truth, respect, and unity.
