Aboriginal astronomy, the Dharawal language, weaving and games featured among the activities Alexandria Park Community School students participated in as the school celebrated NAIDOC on the last day of Term 2. 

 Uncle Hilton Donovan emphasised the importance of NAIDOC Week to the school community. 

 “NAIDOC Week is an essential part of our culture where we get an opportunity to celebrate and share our culture with other diverse groups,” he said. 

Relieving Principal Debra Lade said the school prides itself on inclusivity and was delighted to invite the community to its day of celebration, which reflected this year’s theme ‘For Our Elders’. 

 “The day started with a whole-school NAIDOC ceremony including a welcome to Cadigal Country, student performances and NAIDOC awards on the Getiela sportsfield,” Ms Lade said. 

 “Families and community members were invited to stay after the morning ceremony for morning tea and to see the Kindergarten to Year 12 art installation. 

 “Seeing the activities gave parents and carers a good idea about how Aboriginal culture is taught across the Year groups. 

 “Participating in the activities gave a deeper understanding about how our students are learning about the significance of the area’s Aboriginal history and the continued importance of Aboriginal cultures in Australia.” 

 The activities, which students rotated through during the day, also included creating a whole school artwork, the links between meditation and connecting to Country, and a research project. 

 With at least two hundred guests, the day was not only bus, but also very colourful, with students invited to acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags by wearing red, black and yellow, or green, blue, black and white.