The Chronicle Issue 2

Dear Parents Guardians, Friends and Students

It is unbelievable that we have come to the end of our Semester One – the halfway mark of our Academic School year. It has been a very busy time for all at the College and has seen the students working towards results which show evidence of growth for each of them. If it is indicated on the report that staff would like to speak to you for a Parent Interview, please contact College Administration and they will be able to facilitate a meeting time for you.

A big thank you to all of our staff for their wonderful work this term. I can say confidently that we have exemplary teachers and house parents who look after your young people at school and in boarding. Each member of our staff whether it be in the kitchen or any other area of the College has one purpose in mind and that is ensuring that they provide the best in whatever work they are doing. Our staff always have our students as the focus.

We are saying farewell to two staff members who are leaving to take on new challenges. Ms Fleur de Vries has been our College Receptionist since January 2020. She knows each student by name and has been a welcoming presence during that whole time. She will be missed. Also, Ms Emma Wallace, who has been a House Parent since January 1 2022, in both the little girls and big girls dormitories. She is leaving us to do some study. We wish her luck with this.

We have a couple of new staff who have joined our team in the last couple of weeks. Ms Tasma Rush- Harvey has joined our kitchen team and Ms Joanne Day has begun in the office as our new Administration Assistant. I know you will join with me in welcoming them to our community.

Easter is such an important time for Christians everywhere. For Catholics it is the principal feast of the year. Throughout Lent we prepare for this time when we remember the death and resurrection of Jesus and the importance that this has for all of us in our lives today. I wish all of you every blessing that this special season brings and know that the students will return from this wonderful time refreshed and ready for the start of Term 2.

God Bless

Marie Barton
Principal

Cultural performance the message Tapping sticks and dance

Boomerangs are used as musical instruments and tapping sticks bring movement and dance to become a ceremony.  The gum leaves are able to be used by the women in ceremonial dance to punctuate movements and the message being delivered.

The Hut/Mai

The huts were carefully positioned so that the afternoon/evening breeze would blow heat into the shelter to warm the occupants overnight. The smoke would rise and the heat would enter the front of the Mai.

After constructing the hut/Mai the ground in the campsite was smoothed off so that any animal tracks would be left and if there was an animal in the Mai – it could be trapped. What we might now refer to as ‘home delivery’. • With the sticks used to create the Mai they were bound with the twisted reeds from the Yanchep wetlands.

Above:  Year 10 Science students enjoyed a day out at Yanchep National Park and the Moore River.

Yarning circle and bushwalk

The walk around the wetlands took about 40 minutes and allowed for discussion, discovery and connection to the features of the wetlands the park is found in.

The role of the yarning circle is for:

• Relaxation and meditation – finding one’s centre
• How are you feeling? Great/ok, struggling, good, empty
• What are our signs and symptoms of stress?
• We need our daily dose of excitement
• Relaxation: guided relaxation, Tai chi, slow breathing, massage, Yoga

Story of The Place

Traditional Hunting Techniques Collecting materials and tool making

Sharp stones and rocks called boys- from the area were traded to make tools and other implements.

There are about 7-8 different types of boomerangs across Australia the tribes used for all purposes; including music, ceremony for example. Heavy hunting boomerangs were thrown at the legs of animals. Returning boomerangs were thrown around the back of trees to have birds startled and fly towards the hunter, for example, ducks and water birds, as the boomerang when landed would float. The shadow of the boomerang when flying past would cast a shadow on the water scaring water birds as they thought it was a hunting eagle.  Hook ended boomerangs were used for digging, fighting and around the campsite.

We arrived at the boat jetty to meet Mr Cooke and listen to a briefing and board the cruise boat.  We then cruised up Moore River to Diamond Island to look out for flora and fauna and bird spotting

We arrived at the Desert for an explanation of sand movement where we then had a sand boarding lesson followed by a BBQ lunch and swim.

Thank you to Year 10’s, Uncle Jimmy, Miss Hannah, Mr Neil and Mr Cameron for a great day out.

Cameron Eglington
Assistant Principal