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The Shearwater Library is a hive of activity! Primary classes are immersed in the culture of stories as they listen to and enjoy reading and borrowing during their weekly library sessions. Our Fairy Wrens Preschool class also visited the library recently to listen to stories read by the Class 5 students, who individually selected picture books that would engage the younger children.

This term Classes 3 to 6 are learning about academic honesty, copyright and how to write simple bibliographies, learning in context - I know, I care, I act - to be ethical users of information.
 
New fiction and nonfiction books have arrived! These are based on student suggestions and selected to support the curriculum, with an added  focus this year on building diverse and inclusive voices in the library collection for both Primary School and High School.
 
'There will be times when you walk into a room and no one there is quite like you until the day you begin to share your stories.'
— Jacqueline Woodson, The Day You Begin

Students need to hear and see their own voices and stories in books as well as to be introduced to stories that reflect different perspectives and experiences. Books provide the opportunity to build community and increase our understanding and empathy.
You may like to watch this video by Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop who discusses her 'Mirrors, Windows and Sliding Glass Doors' analogy to highlight the importance of diversity in books, or watch any of the videos by the authors in this article: Why Diverse Books Matter: Mirrors and Windows.

With new books arriving, the library is looking for volunteers to help with covering books. Training and a cuppa will be provided. Please email library@shearwater.nsw.edu.au if you are interested :)

Our Year 6 students are also embracing their community service as library helpers. They are learning how to shelf read (making sure books are in shelf order), help with loans and return books, tidying the library and helping with book displays. It is wonderful to see I know, I care, I act in practice!

Finally, a reminder for our younger readers in Classes 2 to 4 to please bring a waterproof library bag each week for borrowing.

Yvonne Barrett
Shearwater Library

Award-winning filmmaker and Shearwater alumni Jahvis Loveday brought his new short film, Bangay Lore, to our High School students (and some of our upper Primary School classes) last week, as part of our National Reconciliation Week activities. The screening of Jahvis' film, which explores his connection to culture and country, is one of a number of activities taking place across the School.

​Today we marked National Sorry Day by listening to the Apology made to First Nations Australians by then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in 2008, also known as the Sorry Speech. Many classes have also been discussing the Uluru Statement from the Heart and taking part in artistic activities.

National Reconciliation Week is a time for all of us to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

The dates for National Reconciliation Week remain the same each year — 27 May to 3 June. These dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey — the 1967 referendum which finally gave First Nations Australians the right to vote, and the historic High Court Mabo decision, on 3 June 1992, when the High Court of Australia overturned the doctrine of terra nullius and recognised the land rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

For reconciliation to be effective, it must live in the hearts, minds and actions of all Australians as we move forward, creating a nation strengthened by respectful relationships between the wider Australian community, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We all have a role to play when it comes to reconciliation, and in playing our part we collectively build relationships and communities that value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories, cultures, and futures.
The National Reconciliation Week 2022 theme, Be Brave. Make Change. is a challenge to all Australians — individuals, families, communities, organisations and government to tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation for the benefit of all Australians.
This year we all have the opportunity to make change beginning with brave actions in our daily lives – where we live, work, play and socialise. Here at Shearwater we embrace this opportunity and thank Jahvis for coming and sharing his important film. 

Sarah Ndiaye
High School Teacher

Although we have been seeing a lot of grey, rainy days this autumn, in Kindy we know that a cloudy day is a chance to search for rainbows!
 
Rainbow Glow shines so bright, she fills our hearts with love.
A warm glow shines within us all when a rainbow shines above.
 
We started our term with busy fingers, as the Kindy children wove their own autumn rainbows, made rainbow crunchy buns and tie-dyed rainbow Kindy shirts as well as rainbow starry craft bags.
 
Last week our school celebrated IDAHOBIT Day. In Kindergarten, 'Rainbow Day' was a day to celebrate the diversity of people in our wonderful community and world. In the words of one of the Kindy children, “We celebrate that all people are different and all people are beautiful”.

Kara Mallory
Hummingbee Kindergarten