Curriculum
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Students
Our school recognises and respects the Narungga people as the traditional custodians of the land on which we meet today, and pay our respects to their elders past and present.
Moonta Area School celebrates the number of special dates to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people throughout the year. We celebrate National Reconciliation week, National Sorry Day, National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day and NAIDOC Week.
We involve our community, elders and families to participate in the events that are held at Moonta Area School.
Our Aboriginal students, parents and families receive support by the Aboriginal Education Team, which consists of AET Aboriginal Education Teacher, Matt Altmann; ACEO Aboriginal Community Education Officer, Lisa Weetra and APAS Aboriginal Program Assistance Scheme Coordinator, Wendy Muir.
The team works closely with students and families to assist with wellbeing, attendance, intervention, monitoring and class room support. Working with teachers in the implementation of Aboriginal cultural studies and Aboriginal perspectives in curriculum design and delivery. We have the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags flying within the school to show our respect for the community.
Nharangga Language Book Launch: Matt Altmann, Lisa Weetra, Lesley Wanganeen, Lee Tremayne, Cathy Glazbrook, Michael Wanganeen, Steve Heyes and Moonta Area School Students at the launch of a new Nharangga Language Resource by the Nharangga Aboriginal Progress Association (NAPA) in term 3 2020.
Our Programs
APAS: Aboriginal Program Assistance scheme
The Aboriginal Program Assistance Scheme provides funding for targeted intervention for targeted students to support their literacy and numeracy development. This is tailored and tutored by our coordinator Wendy Muir. APAS supports students with literacy and numeracy progression with the aim of improving learning outcomes and reaching their goals set for that year. Parents are notified if their child is eligible to be involved in the program and have interventions to recognise learning gaps that need to be addressed.
Each year Moonta Area School takes part in the celebrations of National Reconciliation Week. In 2020 the theme was “In This Together”. Students from reception to year 9 participated in activities that looked at unpacking the theme as well as the meaning of reconciliation itself. As part of the week, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and members of the Student Voice and Action Group collaborated to create a video that reflects the attitude and commitment of Moonta Area School in working towards achieving reconciliation. Students were individually interviewed and freely expressed their thoughts and opinions which were captured and edited with the expert help of Michael Scarce.
APAS Students: Aboriginal students who participate in the APAS reading program each week at Moonta Area School.
SAASTA: South Australian Aboriginal Secondary Training Academy
SAASTA provides opportunities for our students to grow and develop as young adults. They connect with their culture and gain knowledge and skills in various sports such as football, netball, basketball and soccer. SAASTA is available for students in Years 10, 11 and 12 who are studying for their SACE.
Moonta Area School joins Kadina Memorial School and Central Yorke School for SAASTA that is held at Central Yorke School once a week.
SAASTA Students: Vaun Gummow, Jamelia Webb and Corey Angie attending SAASTA at Central Yorke School.
Reconciliation Action Plan
In 2020 Moonta Area School drafted its first Reconciliation Action Plan with the assistance of the Reconciliation Australia platform, Narragunnawali.
Narragunnawali is an online platform that helps support schools and early learning services in Australia to develop environments that encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander to develop high level of knowledge and pride in their people’s histories, cultures and contributions. The Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) itself is a formal statement of Moonta Area School’s commitment to reconciliation. The working group currently consists of Kirsty Amos, Matthew Altmann, Lisa Weetra, Wendy Williams, Kelly Harris, Felicity Partington and Nicole Cross.
We welcome any parents and community members who express interest in joining such a group to get in touch with Moonta Area School to discuss this further.