We were so pleased to welcome Rhe Lotter, Aboriginal resource teacher, back to our preschool. After COVID and road closures, she has finally been able to get back to KV and continue her cultural program with us.
Rhe gathered the children together to read ‘Ceremony’ – a book about people preparing to share a special event. She also showed us special Aboriginal symbols and explained what they represent.
Rhe demonstrated why ‘U’ shapes are used to represent people at a gathering place. She asked some children to sit cross-legged on the carpet, then she drew around them with chalk – a U-shape was formed. If you see a UI shape – that means the person represented is male – they bring a spear to the meeting place.
Rhe gave the children playdough to sculpt Aboriginal symbols. She provided them with ochre to paint with and she painted symbols onto rocks that the children had painted on her last visit, creating matching games for the children to explore.
We are looking forward to seeing Rhe again next term.
The cultural celebration of Easter was acknowledged at preschool. Easter baskets were created and the children practised their scissor skills cutting out paper eggs that they had decorated. There was excitement and delight when the children discovered that the Easter Bunny had hidden chocolate eggs for them!
The excitement continues at preschool: the Latham family kindly donated a giant digger that their boys have grown too big to use. The digger has inspired lots of turn taking, sharing and game planning among the children as they play. A big thank you to the Latham family.
Jacinta Price