Parallel partnerships at Eungai Public School
Dylan Harry
Here at Eungai Public School, we build positive transitions for our kindergarten students through our partnerships with our preschool next door. Students get to explore the school, range of activities where they interact in the bush and students feel safe, supported and welcomed into our school.
Malia
I share culture with younger students so they can take care of nature and learn language.
Dylan Harry
We work proactively with our parents’ community. We engage them regularly, we're constantly yarning, having conversations, looking at best ways to support their students, their voices and their connections to the school.
The way that we run our personal learning pathways is student led, so they get to choose the spot, the location within the school. Parents come in, sometimes grandparents, aunties, uncles, and we sit in a circle. We yarn around their big goals, their dreams, their heroes. We look at celebrating their successes of where they're deadly, and then we look at their cultural goals and their academic goals. And we work as a parallel partnership, ensuring that they work towards feeling safe, connected and respected within their culture.
Malia
In my acknowledgement, I like talking about my culture and Country. We treat Gumbainggir land with respect and care by keeping it clean and helping it to grow. When you're on these lands, we ask you to care for it and connect with it too.
I'm Malia. This is My Future, My Culture, My Way.
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Who am I?
I’m Dylan Harry, the principal at Eungai Public School on Gumbaynggirr Country on the Mid North Coast. At Eungai, we work with the neighboring preschool to create positive transitions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
With feedback from parents, my team and I have made Aboriginal culture part of the school’s identity, leading to an increase in Aboriginal student enrolments this year.
It’s important that we lead culture through the school, and not just because we have a high percentage of Aboriginal students. All schools should do powerful things to support Aboriginal Culture because that’s how we’re going to make authentic and meaningful change.
Transition to school
For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, transitioning from preschool to primary school can be a significant step that requires careful planning and support. Eungai Public School identified the need for a process that would make students feel safe, confident, and welcome as they begin their primary education journey.
We have implemented a range of strategies focused on building strong relationships and familiarising students with the school environment:
Partnerships with preschool: The school has developed a close partnership with the neighboring preschool. This collaboration includes joint activities and school visits, enabling students to become familiar with the school environment and staff before their transition.
Friendly and fun interactions: Programs like “Bush Bowl Bounce Back” allow learners to explore the school grounds, particularly the bushland that covers nearly half of the school’s property. These activities foster positive relationships between preschoolers and primary students, making the school a welcoming space.
Proactive wellbeing: The school's unique use of the bushland serves as a tool for promoting student wellbeing. This approach connects students with Country, aligning with cultural practices and helping students feel a sense of pride and safety.
Knowing students individually: We prioritise getting to know each student before they start school. By regularly visiting the preschool and inviting preschool students into the school, the staff build connections with the children. This personal engagement means that when students finally join kindergarten, they are already known, making the transition smoother.
Engaging parents and the community: We work closely with parents and the wider Aboriginal community. The school hosts regular yarning sessions, where staff get to know families and begin to understand how to best support each learner. This ongoing dialogue ensures that the school respects the voices and aspirations of the students and their families.
Building confidence in primary school
The positive transition program at Eungai Public School has had a notable impact:
Student confidence: Students enter primary school feeling strong and confident due to the familiar and supportive environment created through regular interactions.
Student-led Personalised Learning Pathways (PLPs): Students and families take the lead with Personalised Learning Pathways (PLPs). They are used to help students identify and achieve their big dreams. These goals can be cultural, academic and wellbeing.
Cultural inclusivity: Students play an active role in boosting inclusivity, writing personalised Acknowledgements of Country. Each year during NAIDOC Week students reflect on their Acknowledgements and how they connect with the land around them.
Community connection: The school’s active engagement with parents and the community strengthens trust and reinforces a sense of belonging among students.
Key takeaways
Strong partnerships: Collaborative efforts with local preschools and the wider community are vital in facilitating smooth transitions.
Cultural connection: Utilising natural spaces and cultural practices helps foster a sense of belonging and wellbeing for students.
Personal engagement: Building relationships with students and their families before school entry is key to creating a welcoming environment.
Want to know more?
Visit My Future, My Culture, My Way, follow the Department of Education on social media, talk to your school, or contact your local Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (AECG).