Last Friday our wonderful staff participated in an Amazing Race around Ballarat. Our staff at St Alipius value opportunities to interact outside of their day to day roles, as colleagues.

We never underestimate the importance of having fun together and building our relationships in the process! 

Did anyone see us racing around Ballarat?

Valanga Khoza was born in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. He grew up in a traditional setting surrounded by lively singing, drumming and dancing. The Limpopo area is rich in traditional healers, orators and storytellers, highly respected throughout Africa. These were his neighbours. Their nightly ceremonies carried songs and rhythms passed down through thousands of years. Valanga carries these influences through his songs and storytelling. He is also influenced by his travels throughout the world which were driven by his struggle against racism and his fight for freedom of the black people in South Africa.

Valanga is a consummate storyteller and musician, shaping tales of his early life into captivating presentations. He uses humour and wit to tell stories of depth, of growing up and surviving under the racist system of apartheid. Through his storytelling and music, Valanga educates students about the human side of refugees and their plight, the humanity that we all share and the resilience needed to overcome struggles. Educational notes and suggested reading and viewing for this presentation are available.  

Foundation Learning Community

Over the last couple of weeks we have been looking at being creative thinkers and drivers of our learning. During investigations we have spoken about the process we go through when creating things. Brainstorming, planning labelling and creating have all been happening throughout our sessions. These boys have been working hard on making a Zoo. They have found pictures on the computer and made some different animals that can be found at the zoo. 

Alfredton Rotary Environmental Challenge

Are your community members full of great ideas? Are they concerned about our environment?

We are, so we want to encourage our community to think creatively to solve an issue - big or small, to aid our environment.

Our Environmental Challenge is FREE & open to all. Students, Staff or Parents, Groups or individuals. There is a Junior category for under 18s and Open category, with monetary and mentoring prizes available from local industry leaders.

Entries are now open and Close 19 May.

National Reconciliation Week 2021 

The 2021 National Reconciliation Week theme, More than a word. Reconciliation takes action, urges the reconciliation movement towards braver and more impactful action.

The Reconciliation movement is at a tipping point. In the past year, with Black Lives Matter protests and huge numbers at Invasion Day rallies across the country, we’re seeing people understanding the truth and speaking up on issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

More than a word. Reconciliation takes action asks people to take this awareness and knowledge, and use it as a springboard to more substantive, brave action.

For reconciliation to be effective, it must involve truth-telling, and actively address issues of inequality, systemic racism and instances where the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are ignored, denied or reduced.

While we see greater support for reconciliation from the Australian people than ever before, we must be more determined than ever if we are to achieve the goals of the movement — a just, equitable, reconciled Australia.

The #NRW2021 theme calls on us to reflect on our own contributions and strive to do more. #MoreThanAWord

#NRW2021 ARTWORK: ACTION

The 2021 National Reconciliation Week theme graphics are drawn from the artwork  Action by Jessica Johnson.

The artwork reflects our connection and mutual obligation to one another, community and Country. Through commonality and difference, we have the ability to come together and achieve real change.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island peoples have been listening to the heart beat of the land and seafor generations. With their rainbow shaped souls the spirits ask for us to join and make reconciliation more than a word, take action. We need to love one another and every aspect of the existing environment and community – we all have a role to play.

We are the change.