The power of Culture Circle

Although still embracing all the qualities and foundations of what Culture Circle means at the Girl Academy, this Semester we introduced several new elements to further leadership qualities in our Senior students, develop deeper student understanding of themselves as individuals, and the importance of community participation.

We began with the introduction of three school houses with selected seniors as House Captains. House Captains were assigned responsibility of their group to ensure involvement and participation.

The achievements were impressive, the confidence and leadership skills extended from our seniors and the response of our younger students without doubt displayed the importance of community and respect that is the underlying value of Culture Circle.

Students came together to plan our forward sessions, brainstorm activities, seek resources needed, allocate time slots, determine a scoring system and more. These sessions included relay egg racing, three legged racing, blind fold trust activities and round robin team sports.

Further responsibility was taken to collectively come up with a name and design for each house.

Again the students excelled. Discussion and compromises amongst themselves with support of the House Captains resulted in selected designs with house names being – Emeralds, Rubies and Sapphires – we cannot wait to see the final products soon.

Balancing these activities was the introduction of journaling, allowing students quietness and space to enhance their consciousness, inner environment and awareness of being. Journaling prompts guide the students to notice how they might feel without reactivity, to recognise weakness and strengths without negativity and to develop gratitude. The student response to this was quite incredible, leading to students using their journals at other times outside of the Culture Circle to self-regulate and respond in a productive way.

CAPTAIN NAIDOC SPEECH

Thank you guests, families, students, teachers for coming today to celebrate our naidoc celebration. Hi my name is Naydia Dooley. I am a young 17 year old Wik Mungkan and Wadjigu girl from Pormpuraaw and Woorabinda. I have been at Cape York Girl Academy since the middle of Term 2. I came to this school because I am young mother wanting to go forward in my life through my education, and my learning experiences. I am also a school captain. I am the mother to baby Thea Dooley who is eight months old. Thea is definitely my motivation to keep going through life. I love her endlessly. Heal Country to me means to mend all the hurt and pain that has affected our Country through the past and present. It means to heal all the hurt and destruction that has sadly happened to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It’s moving forward from the past so we can build a better future for our young ones. THANK YOU for listening and I hope you enjoy today.

Rubies Design

Emeralds Design School house designs

School House - Team Building