This Weeks Activities
This week, our School celebrated NAIDOC Week, with various activities for our staff and students. Given the majority of our students and staff were on school holidays during the official week of NAIDOC during 2-9 July, we decided to celebrate NAIDOC Week this week to ensure that as many students and staff as possible could attend. We consider ourselves very fortunate to have Indigenous students from different language groups, allowing us to learn about their rich cultural traditions.
At Senior School assembly, our Preparatory students joined their older peers as Nan Roma Winmar/Yibiyung (Noongar Elder) provided a moving speech and a Welcome to Country. Our Indigenous students performed dances with the help of volunteers. Andrew Beck (Ngadju Mirning/Wudjari), our former Indigenous Program Coordinator, played the didgeridoo with current student Brian (Palyku/Banjima/Niyaparli/Noongar/Arrente, Year 10).
Our School Co-Captain, Lemarna (Gubbi Gubbi/Koreng Koreng, Year 12), shared her Guildford Grammar School journey, and Chanell (Ballardong/Whadjuk, Year 11) discussed the importance of NAIDOC events. The assembly ended with a group dance by our Indigenous groups.
During lunch on the same day, our students served delicious kangaroo burgers on damper buns with cheese, bush tomato chutney, and nasturtium leaves for their peers to enjoy.
Traditional Owner Fiona Auguston (Yamitji Yinggarda/Badamija) also visited on Tuesday afternoon for Kaartdijin Conversations at our new boarding house precinct. She provided sound educational advice to our students and relived memories of growing up in Western Australia with former Australian rules footballer Jimmy Krakouer (Noongar Koreng/Mineng).
On Friday we have ‘Bright Bookas’ where staff and students are encouraged to wear Indigenous prints or colours from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags for a gold coin donation to support Indigenous literacy. This shows our commitment to cultural awareness and literacy in our school community.
We deeply appreciate the opportunity to celebrate NAIDOC Week and promote inclusivity within our community in acknowledging our nation’s traditional culture.
