New space helps students connect with culture

Newton Moore Senior High School has formally opened its highly-anticipated yarning circle, giving students and staff a place to connect to culture and take a quiet moment. The space has been in development since last year and includes a mosaic designed by the school’s Aboriginal and islander education officer Glenn Garlett and made by the students. It was opened at a ceremony on Monday with Bunbury Mayor Gary Brennan and Forrest MHR Nola Marino as well as Aboriginal elders, staff and students. A sign was unveiled detailing the significance of storytelling to Indigenous communities and the intended usage of the space before a smoking ceremony was held. Newton Moore associate principal Kylie Cattaway said the opening was an important occasion for the school community. “This is a culmination of the work our students have done in the mosaic but also in building the yarning circle,” she said. “The yarning circle is all about giving a space, an outdoor classroom to our kids where they can celebrate culture and embrace some of the Aboriginal traditions. “This is about acknowledging the fact we are embracing culture in our school and connecting with the community around us.” Of the school’s students, 20 per cent are Indigenous, with a significant emphasis placed on the celebration of culture and heritage in the education of students. “Hopefully we can have class room groups come in and utilise it as a way of learning verbally, a lot of our students can do so well in that verbal medium and we want to be able to use this as a space to move the paper and desks away and get to the soul of what people are learning,” Mrs Cattaway said.