This years’ NAIDOC celebrations were held over the course of a week with students engaging in a range of activities. The 2023 theme was For Our Elders. Where students develop an understanding and recognise that across every generation, our Aboriginal Elders have played, and continue to play, an important role and hold a prominent place in our communities and families.
The highlight was the NAIDOC incursion where students were honoured to witness a performance by Aboriginal Elder, Olman Walley, from Boorloo Aboriginal Cultural Experences, sponsored by the City of Kalamunda. Students in the Kalability Catering Program served a morning ‘high tea’ to our invited guests.
The Yarning Circle was a collaborative project between KSESC and First Kalamunda Scout Group.
The official opening was held in July as part of this year’s NAIDOC events, with a traditional smoking ceremony by local Aboriginal Elder Mervyn (Nick) Abraham, owner and lead guide of Warrang-Bridil.
This event was supported by community members from First Kalamunda Scout Group, Kalamunda RSL, Black Dog Ride WA, the City of Kalamunda, and parents. Attendees and students enjoyed the inaugural yarn “How the Birds Got Their Colours.”
After the ceremony, guests and parents were invited to share a NAIDOC themed light lunch provided by Kalability Catering.
This year members of the Kalamunda RSL, The Kalamunda CWA, school patrons Don and Pamela McKechnie joined our students for a day of ‘round robin’ activities as part of our ANZAC Day commemorative celebrations. Our visitors worked together with our students as they created commemorative poppies, participated in a fun, interactive ANZAC quiz, learned about the heroics of Simpson and his Donkey, recreating the donkey from card and pegs, and learning about the ‘Light Horse Brigade’ while interacting with the horses.
Our students were interested to hear members of the Kalamunda RSL and Tom Woolfrey, a 95-yearold WWII veteran, talk to them about serving in the Defence Force and they especially liked seeing his old photographs and medals and learning what they were for.
This year we were lucky enough to host several clinics from the Perth Wildcats for basketball. Two Wildcats players attended each of the clinics, including Captain Jesse Wagstaffe, Jordan Usher and Hyrum Harris. The Wildcats taught our students some new basketball skills. The students were very excited and joined in the clinic with enthusiasm. Students received team posters, signatures, and photos with the players.
The 2023 Graduation and Awards Ceremony was held in the Kalamunda Performing Arts Centre in December with four of our year 12 and year 13 students graduating.
Special guests at the event included The Mayor of the City of Kalamunda, Margaret Thomas; our school patrons, Don and Pam McKechnie; the KSESC School Board Chair, Peta Kennedy; President of the Kalamunda RSL, Geof Irvin; Kathryn Kinang from the Kalamunda CWA, Kalamunda MLA Matthew Hughes and Forrestfield MLA Stephen Price. Representatives from the Bendigo Bank, and The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award program also attended.
Students entertained the audience with performances by the Auslan Choir and presentation videos of the highlights from the Duke of Edinburgh Program and memories of our graduates. A selection of the students’ work from all classes was on display in the adjacent Agricultural Hall where a light supper – including the graduation cake – was provided.It was a lovely day and the culmination of a wonderful year for our whole school community.