Stone Laying Ceremony for Sorry Day

27 May 2014

Dural’s partner school, Pacific Hills Christian College, acknowledges Sorry Day with a special stone laying ceremony.

A group of 13 students/ staff and parents led a morning assembly to reflect on Sorry Day. An acknowledgment of Country and Flag Raising were also part of the morning. The gathering of 430 listened to students as they were led through history of the Stolen Generations and the impact far reaching into today and their futures. Teachers led a reflection on what young children might be wondering about this day and why Reconciliation efforts have lagged. The whole gather was then invited to respond by laying “Sorry Stones” – in a grassed garden. The stones represented the physical, emotion, mental and spiritual barriers that had been put on Indigenous people impacting their abilities to live full lives. Students placed the stones asthey prayed to leave a large word “SORRY” in the middle of their playground space. The atmosphere was reflective and with young year 5/6 boys being the group to spontaneously engage the most. The garden will have added materials and small group lunchtime activities for the week of reconciliation for students to engage with opportunity for yarning circles and questions to be answered by staff and Indigenous students. Pacific Hills Christian School are also attending with a group of students from years 7-12 a Reconciliation event with Hornsby Council – “Voices of Reconciliation ” this Friday. Thank you Reconciliation Australia for your valuable resources and opportunities. http://www.reconciliation.org.au/nrw/

Topic: Education