'Working Together Towards a Brighter Future'

Extracts from Thomson, J. (1998) Demonstrating Best Practice in Aboriginal Education: Working Together Towards a Brighter Future, Crossways and the South Australian Division of State Aboriginal Affairs, 1998.

The reconciliation process is seen as:

• valuing differences
• accepting all people
• listening
• seeking to understand others.

This commitment to reconciliation should be evident in our:

• relationships with students, staff, parents and community
• curriculum planning, programming and delivery - an inclusive curriculum
• administration and communication processes, and staffing.

At all times, students, staff and parents abide by the simple code of conduct:

'Love one another as I have loved you!' (John 15:12)

Where love is expressed as:

• consideration
• cooperation
• courtesy
• respect
• acceptance.

Maintaining the vision

With a new understanding of the mission of the school through its reconciliation statement, three crucial groups of people had clear responsibilities to each other and the vision of a brighter future.

These were:

• The School Staff
• The School Council
• The Aboriginal Student Support and Parent Awareness Committee.

The leaders of each group could be called the 'Keepers of the Dream'.

It is their responsibility collectively to see that the reconciliation plan remains on track and is kept to the forefront of both the school community and the wider community.

This has been done by:

• Ensuring information is distributed through the media, churches, civic events and significant local celebrations.
• The reconciliation theme permeates all school publications, events and promotion materials.
• Keeping the theme in front of staff and children at all times.
• Having a school representative at funerals of people who have been associated with the school and releasing relevant staff associated with the culture group concerned to attend.
• Keeping the belief statement uppermost in mind and only compromising on any matters if they still fulfil the requirements of the basic belief statement.
• The school will accept enrolments from all who wish to attend the school if they are prepared to accept the Belief and Mission/Vision Statement on which the school is based.
• Two places are reserved on the School Council for representatives of the Aboriginal parents, as well as the chairperson of ASSPA.
• The ASSPA program aims to involve the parents of Aboriginal students in decisions that affect their children's schooling. The funding to the local ASSPA committee provides, where possible, facilities and opportunities for all children (irrespective of cultural background).

In all of this, we acknowledge the work of the three congregations that make up the Ceduna Lutheran Parish. Theirs was the original vision and the responsibility for setting up the school. Their continued support, including funding, makes the school's viability certain.