Chewton Primary School Newsletter 9th June 2022

Chewton Primary School is situated on Jaara Jaara Country.

We acknowledge the Dja Dja Wurrung people, the custodians and caretakers of the land. We thank them for the care they have taken and continue to take of Country: the rivers, mountains, trees and animals. We pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging.

We commit to Be Brave, Make Change.

What's coming up

10 June Sushi, Soccer Clinic Grade 2-6

13 June Public Holiday

17 June Pupil Free day: Berry St training for staff

17 June Grade 4-6 soccer at Chewton Soccer Field: Parent led activity

20 June Teachers Professional Practice Day: students do not attend school

21 June Winter Solstice winter warmer (More info next week)

24 June End of Term 2:30pm dismissal , Reports sent home

11 July Student Goal setting conferences: Parent, student, teacher meetings

12 July Term 3 Classes begin

Reconciliation Walk

The Reconciliation Walk was a truly special community event. It was thought provoking, heartfelt and everybody involved worked hard to make it a success. Particular thanks to Bethia and Kylie who were on the organising team and to Aunty Kath who gave guidance and organised permissions for us. Thanks to all the people who helped in some way: Dan, Rob, Eloise, Nicole, Wendy, Kasey, Affrica, Ingrid, Ally, Michelle, Phill, Marian, Lily, Rachel, Kirsty, Stewart Carter from People Pictures (audio visual support) and Julie Millowick (Photographer) and to everyone who was able to join us on the walk itself. We had playgroup members, CSC representatives, grandparents and other community members who were able to join us.

Speeches at the School before departing on our walk

Jem and Otis: Acknowledgement of Country

Bernadette: I would like to acknowledge that we are on Jaara Country and it has never been ceded.

I would like to acknowledge and thank Aunty Kath for being patient with us, working with us to make sure the walk today followed a logical sequence, covered necessary detail and stayed true.

I would like to acknowledge and thank Uncle Rick for permission to use his Welcome and Crowdfunding talk.

I would like to acknowledge and thank Aunty Kerri for support and recommendations for Reconciliation week here at Chewton,

I would like to acknowledge and thank Aunty Julie for allowing us to view the Bunjil teaching today and for her incredible contribution to educating our children and teachers over many years.

I would also like to acknowledge Trent Nelson who talks to us about connection to country and to the young Indigenous people you will see on film as you walk.

Our students have made signs, investigated and explored Sorry Day and the notion of Reconciliation, have researched Aboriginal people who have made positive change in our community and nation.

Jem

We ask you to take your time and use this opportunity as a time to reflect, to listen, to watch and to learn.

We ask that you take the time to connect to Country as you walk, and to think of what you can do in your life to make change.

We ask you to think about what you can do to stop racism.

Otis

We ask you to think about what you can do to make our community a safe place for all.

We ask you to think about what you can do to make our country a better place for all.

We ask you to be brave, to make change.

Recording of Uncle Rick's Welcome to Country, Placing a gum leaf into the fire

Bunjil Teaching (Aunty Julie)

Connection to Country (Trent Nelson)

Who's your mob? Kinship (Information courtesy Aunty Kath, CSC)

What is Sorry Day? What is Reconciliation? Work by Grade 5/6 students

Aboriginal People today. Nobody has the right to question someone's Aboriginal Identity. (You can't ask that clip)

Celebrating Aboriginal people as change makers

Arriving at Me Mandook Galk

Uncle Rick's talk on Me Mandook Galk, Aunty Kath's reflection

Me-Mandook Galk

by Kathryn Coff

For years the spirit of our Ancestors comes from Country. A seed is nurtured by her warmth and its thirst quenched by the falling rain.

As the days go on she becomes a seedling. And our Ancestors come and go from Country. Some die with honour and age. Some with pain with blood spilt on Country.

Still she grows, remembering all she sees.

Country dissolves sadness with love.

And now she is a small tree. And our Ancestors remind her, 'Don't forget me.'

New plants are grown, that she doesn't recognise. They feed a new type of human.

Still my Ancestors come up from Country and pass on with sadness in their hearts. They say again to her, 'Don't forget us.'

The day will come when the land will return to us and our Ancestors hearts become strong.

And she stills grow and lingers on.

Her girth widens with age and her branches stretch to reach the sun.

Where have my brothers and sisters from Country gone.

How can my nieces and nephews live on?

Then they come to the gate, her excitement and loves glows deep inside. It spreads across the Country wide.

Our children come to dance and sing and play. They even lit a fire and built humpys that day.

Our Ancestors are now smiling that we have returned. And she feels the fire of their Ancestors burning within. Never again will Grandmother tree feel lonely. She recognises her blood and those that came from the same Country.

The tide is turning, Country is healing , and the power of Country lives on.

Grandmother tree opens up wide to feel the rain on her branches and to feel the warmth of Country from the inside.

We are here Grandmother, to look after you, to be there until the end. We will protect you and honour you.

Me Mandook Galk we love you.

Making our commitment to Be Brave, Make Change

Celebrating the Grandmother Tree and our epic walk!

Building Update

We have some disappointing but not unexpected news following the cheapest tender coming in at $200 000 over our budget. The architects and the VSBA (Victorian Schools Building Authority) have been working on changes to the design so that we can come in under budget. As we have prioritised the teaching and learning spaces at all times, there are other areas that will have to go into the next stage, which is dependent on future government funding. This means that the extension will not be part of this building scope, and the current staff room will remain unchanged. The deck at the back of the Prep-2 room will not be part of this work. There will be a new window put into the office to make the entrance more visible for visitors. The mezzanine no longer fits within inclusive access regulations and this room will be reconfigured as a classroom, with moveable library shelving.

Shelving, and original blackboards will be removed. If you are interested in purchasing some of these items, please come into the school. We want everything to be rehoused and hopefully the sale of some things will assist with the purchase of new books for the library. If you are handy with tools and can come up with a project to repurpose the mezzanine in some way for us onsite we would love to hear about it.

The order of the works seems to have changed again! We will have confirmation by the end of the week, but it appears that the 5-6 class and library will be the first to be upgraded. This means the 5-6 students will move to the Art room and the library and art room will need to be packed up.

Moving: we need people to assist Kate with the art storage space, to pack up the library and to assist the 5-6 move. If you have some spare time we need you! Please email to let us know when you are available. This is a big job and needs lots of people to assist. We will pack next week and move in the last week of term!

Kimochis Challenge

Take the time to be kind. Please chat with your child and ask them what kind things they said or did each today.

Remember, sometimes kind people do mean things. That is the time to redo a hurtful moment and restore the relationship.

STAY COVID SAFE

Please help us by making sure your child stays home and gets tested if sick. If they are a close contact and are symptom free, students can come to school but must wear a mask if they are in Grade 3-6. On Tuesday there were 200 COVID cases in Castlemaine. Please help us stop the spread by following good hygiene, keeping your child home if they are unwell

RAT tests are only required if you have symptoms, but we have plenty and strongly encourage you to keep using them.

There are free flu vaccines for children and adults. available through your GP or Chemist.

Valentino's show and tell: a giant skeleton book!

Uniforms

Can you please check your child has their name on their jumper? We have lots of un-named jumpers in lost property that are free to a good home!

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