First Nations Education Newsletter - Term 2, 2025

First Nations Education Newsletter

Celebrations

NATIONAL RECONCILIATION WEEK

What a wonderful couple of weeks we had for National Reconciliation Week across the college! The students participated in inclusive Yarning Circles from P-12 this term. The First Nations students brought a friend to their year level Yarning Circles. Both campuses held a Trivia game where the students paired up to win a Freddo Frog.

In Years 7 to 9 Religious Education classes, the students participated in a Laudato Si and First Nations Spirituality pilgrimage through the college. The students journeyed through the school, identifying the vast flora and fauna that exist on the Senior Campus. They also reflected on First Nations’ care for Country and made connections between that and Pope Francis’ message of caring for our common home. We concluded each pilgrimage by tuning into nature through the ancient practice of Dadirri, drawing on traditional knowledge from the Ngan’gikurunggurr and Ngen’giwumirri peoples in the Daly River region of the Northern Territory.

Pastoral Care Classes (PCC) from Years 7-12 were invited to participate in a daily National Reconciliation Week quiz focusing on First Nations cultures and history. The winning PCCs were gifted a small hand-painted object for their prayer table, with the overall winners receiving First Nations designed prayer cloths in the liturgical colours, in addition to the object. This is a symbol of our College’s continual journey to work together for true reconciliation.

On the Junior Campus, each class had a lesson about what Reconciliation Week was about and they looked at the theme: Bridging Now to Next. They completed a class pledge of everyday actions we all can do to build peace and harmony with First Nations peoples. These pledges were brought together at our Assembly on Wednesday and completed our Bridge banner which is on display in our Library.

NAIDOC MARCH

Each year on the last Friday of the July school holidays, Townsville NAIDOC committee holds the city’s NAIDOC March. You are invited to join with other students and staff of the College to march. We will assemble on Friday 11 July, at 9:30am at the roundabout at the intersection of Hinchinbrook Drive and Thuringowa Drive (outside Kirwan High School). You are asked to wear your Ryan First Nations shirt, sports shorts, and school hat. Don’t forget to bring a water bottle too. Please complete the Expression of Interest form below to register your attendance.

Team contact:  Phone: 4773 0100  Email: firstnations@ryan.catholic.edu.au

Senior Campus Activities

YARNING CIRCLE

This term we had three Yarning Circles which ran for Years 8 & 12’s, 7 & 11’s and 9 & 10’s. Our students participated in a very competitive quiz to celebrate National Reconciliation Week! Students were also invited to bring a friend along to show them our Yarning Circle protocols and to share in the Reconciliation Week celebrations. Our students loved bringing their friends along and showing other students what Yarning Circles are all about!

WOMEN'S BUSINESS

This term our girls had a very special lunch where they were invited to bring in a dish that held significance to their family. From Vermicelli to Rice Pudding we were treated to a delicious lunch with dishes from many different cultures and meanings. It was wonderful to sit and talk with the girls about what significance the dishes they brought in held for their families.

MEN'S BUSINESS

This term our boys had a visit from the Blackhawks who were able to run them through a great fitness and wellbeing session. The boys were able to discuss the importance of being level headed in the heat of the moment and the importance of taking care of their mental and physical wellbeing.

FIRST NATIONS PASTORAL CARE CLASS (PCC)

This term in First Nations Pastoral Care Class, the young people worked on the collaborative Strand Ephemera project. We have now completed our contribution to the artwork and have been preparing for our College’s National Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week events. We continue to build relationships across the College within our First Nations student body, having matched the Year 8s with the Year 12s, the Year 7s with the Year 11s, and the Year 9s and 10s. In the short time we have together, we share reflections on the week's focus, catch up on Emerging Leaders news, and share our successes.

First Nations Pastoral Care Class Timetable is as follows:

• Monday: Years 8 & 12  
• Tuesday: Years 7 & 11
• Thursday: Years 9 & 10

*First Nations Pastoral Care Class for Years 7 - 12 is in I22.*

Junior Campus Activities

KIDS ON CAMPUS

On the last day of the term we held Kids on Campus which was a NAIDOC Week theme. Each class organised and ran an activity celebrating our First Nations peoples culture. Our First Nations team ran the face painting activity which was supported by some of our Emerging Leaders. We thank Taylahni, Lorianna, Jesse, Grace and Ariarne for giving up their time to assist with this activity. As you can see from the photos the students were very engaged and excited to participate.

YARNING CIRCLE

We have ended the term on a special note, inviting our Prep students to their very first Yarning Circle for 2025. The children were welcomed to the Yarning Circle space by Gail and Lucy, and all introduced themselves to their friends. This was a great opportunity for the children to become familiar with this space and develop connections with their fellow First Nations peers. In Week 6 as part of our Reconciliation Week celebrations we held an open Yarning Circle with each year level on the Junior Campus where the children were all invited to bring a friend. During this gathering the children reflected on how we can action reconciliation with others and completed a Reconciliation quiz.

HOMEWORK CLUB

Our Year 3 & 4 Homework Club has been growing each week with the number of students joining us on Tuesday afternoons. It has been a great opportunity for the children to not only finish their homework tasks for the week but also practice other vital skills such as timetables and sentence structures with support from the First Nations team and 4A teacher Therese Strogusz. Thank you Therese for your time and support during these sessions. 

If you would like to sign your child up to the Year 3 & 4 Homework groups for Term 3 please complete this form. 

Our Year 5 & 6 Homework Club over the last few weeks has moved into the First Nations office on the Senior campus. This enables the children easy access to laptops and other resources to support them with their homework tasks as well as enabling them to utilise Writer’s Toolbox and their Google classroom to complete any other tasks that they may be working on during class times. 

If you would like to sign your child up to the Year 5 & 6 Homework group for Term 3 please complete this form.

PERSONAL LEARNING PLANS (PLP'S)

All of the Personal Learning Plans have been completed for every First Nation student from Prep to Year 6. These have been emailed home to parents for any edits, additions and to confirm and approve. Once this is done, the PLPs will be uploaded to your child’s profile on compass.

JUNIOR DEADLY DANCE TROUPE

Our Deadly Dancers have been taught the entire dance from William Mabo. Our team is busy with preparing the costumes in readiness for our performance at the NAIDOC Week Assembly on Friday the 25th of July. Next term we'll be holding practices on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday in Week 1.

YEAR 5 & 6 PASTORAL CARE CLASS (PCC)

Term 2 has been interrupted with many Friday events and therefore had less sessions than usual. The sessions we were able to hold included the following topics: Sorry Day, Reconciliation Week and the NAIDOC Week theme for 2025. We hope that we have less disruptions moving forward. Our first session next term will be Week 4.

Programs

AFTER SCHOOL TUTORING & HOMEWORK CLUB

Our after school tutoring program has continued to grow in numbers in 2025! Many of our students from Years 7-12 have been attending to work on homework and assessments. We have had our external tutors helping students with their assessments and any subject areas that the students feel they could improve in. This has been a great success and we are looking forward to seeing all students back again next term. In term 3 Tutoring will commence again in Week 3 and will conclude in Week 9 of the term. If you wish to enrol your child/ren in the First Nations After School Tutoring Program you may do so here; https://forms.gle/J5pu729WLBhdtuNcA 

EMERGING LEADERS

All our 114 Personal Leadership Agreements have been returned and we have been engaging in some meaningful check-ins this term. Our mentors have been encouraged to use the TAPS, the questions centre on Transition, Academic, Pastoral and Support which leads to some great conversations with our students.

Outreach Program - St Joseph's Mundingburra Catholic School

This year as part of the Emerging Leaders programs, we are reaching out to some primary schools. At St Joseph’s Mundingburra, we had some motivated Year 7 & 8 students who led a yarning circle and ran a quiz on traditional games with their First Nations students during National Reconciliation week. There are two more opportunities in Term 3 & 4.

Outreach Program - St Clare's Catholic School

This term we also supported St Clares’ Catholic School with their NAIDOC week celebrations again this year with our students doing face painting and some weaving activities. Students were engaged with running these activities which were much appreciated!

CARINITY EDUCATION SHALOM READING PROGRAM

Our Reading Program with Carinity Education Shalom started in Week 4 this term. The reading program was open to First Nations students in Years 9 to 12. Our students thoroughly enjoyed reading children's books with Shalom students in Years Prep to 4 before school each Tuesday. 

Important Dates

FIRST NATIONS T-SHIRT DATES

The college's First Nations T-shirts are available to purchase ONLY via the Uniform Shop. Emerging Leader students can use their uniform subsidy towards these T-shirts. The significant days to wear them will continue and you will be notified via the College newsletter.

New Staff

TRENT LAFFIN - FIRST NATIONS EDUCATION SCHOOL OFFICER

Hi, my name is Trent Laffin, and I’m really excited to be joining the team at Ryan.

I’m currently studying a Bachelor of Secondary Education, specialising in Physical Education and Mathematics. I’ve always had a passion for teaching and working with young people, and I’m especially interested in helping our First Nations students develop both their academic skills and personal confidence.

Outside the classroom, I’m a big sports enthusiast, I love playing soccer and cricket, and I’m always keen to get involved in school sporting events. I’m thrilled to be here and can’t wait to contribute to the amazing work already happening at Ryan.

First Nations Education Team

Have a safe and deadly holiday from the First Nations Education Team!

From Carmen, Pria, Gail, Michelle, Alesha, Shruthi, Tanya, Trent, Kalifa, Lucy & Leah

For any queries, please contact us at firstnations@ryan.catholic.edu.au