NAIDOC for Minimbah means the acknowledgment through school actibities that include local community members that culture and knowledge can be explored by the children in play and school. The core values are emphasised in NAIDOC school activities, identity, knowing, kindness and confidence
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"NAIDOC is always an exciting time for us at Minimbah School," Jenny Brown Principal at Minimbah Preschool and Primary schools said.
"We start with our official flag raising and smoking ceremony at the beginning of the week.
"The community Elders and families are invited to come and have morning tea and a special cake decorated with the Aboriginal flag, with the students.
"In the middle of the week we teach cultural activities to the students.
"The Preschool and the Primary School join together for this activity day and get to know each other while have fun," Jenny said.
These activities include traditional painting and Indigenous games as well as beading, to help with fine motor skills, and face painting just for fun.
The sport ball activities for the younger boys involved teaching them confidence and kindness.
The beading work for the younger students helps build concentration while cultural beading work includes indigenous craft work.
The drawing and face painting is fun while at the same time all the children join the activities understanding that NAIDOC week is a celebration.
The pottery piece now completed are fired in the school ground. The final pieces are used within the school setting as you walk around, the school pottery is part of the decorations outside and inside the school walls.
The impetus for the school came from local Aboriginal parents who believed their children were not coping in the mainstream school system in Armidale.
"The preschool and primary school are both thriving. Families are committed to the culturally appropriate curriculum that we provide at Minimbah.
"Our experienced staff are committed to encouraging initiative and self confidence through our four Core Values of Identity, Knowing, Kindness and Confidence.
"We work with the community to build a culture that reflects the values of our families, and
"We are committed to the idea of life long learning, using the most current learning programs to develop students who are happy, confident and successful," Jenny Brown concluded.
