National Reconciliation Week

This week is National Reconciliation Week. It is a time for all who share our country to learn about shared histories, cultures and achievements.

As part of our school’s recognition of National Reconciliation Week, students have engaged in learning programs which incorporated the Western Australian Curriculum cross-curriculum priority of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories & Cultures.

In Jarrah (Room 11), students deepened their understanding of Reconciliation Week through a rich variety of texts, including poems, narratives, informative reports, and persuasive writing. Students  applied their focus reading strategies—activating prior knowledge, questioning, inferring, and summarising—to uncover the deeper messages and significance behind Reconciliation.

Students began by activating their thinking, asking: What do I already know about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories? What connections can I make between this text and my own life or world events? As they read, they practised questioning, using prompts like Who is sharing this story? What is the author’s purpose? Why is this message important?

Through inferring, students looked beyond the surface to consider the feelings, perspectives and lived experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. They reflected on questions such as: How might people have felt during these events? What values and lessons are being shared through these stories? Finally, students strengthened their summarising skills by identifying key ideas and retelling them in their own words, asking: What is this text mainly about? What are the most important messages to remember?

Students in Dangalang, Koorla and Cara (Rooms 15-17) have engaged in a variety of learning activities. Students painted gum leaves using traditional colours and symbols, learning how art can tell stories and express identity. They also explored the Dreamtime story of the Rainbow Serpent.

Using National Reconciliation Week as their mentor text focus, students in Koordjit (Room 6) read, responded and learned about two significant events in our country’s reconciliation journey– the 1967 Referendum, and the High Court Mabo Decision. The dates of these events now mark the start and end of National Reconciliation Week. Students also built their understanding of the meaning and importance of National Sorry Day.