St Aloysius Catholic College eNewsletter

ABORIGINAL EDUCATION

Grade 7 Ancient History

Grade 7 students have been studying Ancient Australia. One lesson was facilitated by the College's Aboriginal Student Success Teacher, Anne-Marie McWatters who brought in a range of traditional style artefacts including tools, weapons and musical instruments from mainland Australia. Students were given hands on learning opportunities to use a bullroarer. Many children successfully created the roaring noise that is used as a warning communication device. They held coolamons, spears, digging sticks, a club, two shields, a boomerang, a fish trap, and a didgeridoo. Students in Mr Leach's class enjoyed some dramatic play with the weapons.

NAIDOC Week

The College commemorated NAIDOC Week this year in a number of ways.

Students at our Junior Campus enjoyed lunchtime activities including scratch art, colouring in the NAIDOC poster and dancing to Yothu Yindi. Children had hands-on experiences with some tools and weapons, made for the College by an Aboriginal craftsman from mainland Australia: Murruppi: a descendent of the Djirrabal/Ngadjonji tribes (Atherton Tableland, NQ). These artefacts are now on display in the library.

First Nation students at our Middle Campus spoke about the significance of NAIDOC Week and the achievements of both local and mainland people at our end of term Assembly. Students congratulated local Aboriginal Elder Uncle Rodney Dillon for all his tireless work for Aboriginal rights. They spoke about Baker Boy: a talented singer and dancer from Arnhem Land and played a video of his popular song 'Move'.

St Virgils College Excursion

A group of First Nations boys from Year 8 recently visited St Virgil's College. They learned how to skin a wallaby and basic skin tanning methods. The group made wallaby leather bands with the help of SVC's groundsman Bushy. The boys also spent valuable time with peers from SVC.

Together the group made a fire and were introduced to the concept of cultural burning and fire-stick farming. The boys also learned about some bush tucker and traditional uses of native plants. St Aloysius staff members in attendance were Food Studies teacher Mr Brian Green, Aboriginal Student Success teacher Ms Anne-Marie McWatters and Deputy Principal Mr Brad Canning. All staff were impressed by how engaged and respectful the boys were. They are to be commended on their positive attitude to learning during the day. The College is grateful to St Virgils College for hosting the group.