STUDENTS from Barrack Heights and Albion Park Public Schools have taken part in a reconciliation project during the holidays, painting totem poles at the Barrack Heights Community Garden with Aboriginal-inspired art.
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The students from the two schools are part of Access Community Group’s Family and Cultural Engagement (FACE) program, which operates a homework club at the two schools.
‘‘The homework club runs at the schools each week, and it’s an opportunity for the students who might need a little extra assistance to get that help,’’ community worker Christine Thomas said.
‘‘It’s a great environment for the kids. There’s no distractions and a lot of the volunteers are retired teachers.
‘‘It’s great for families that have three or four kids at school where the parents can have a hard time helping them with their homework during the week.’’
Ms Thomas said part of the program was also about engaging the children with the community.
‘‘We do try to have some activities for the kids to try and get out and be involved in the community, like what we’re doing here with the poles.
‘‘It’s a bit of a reconciliation project. We’ve involved the local Aboriginal community and we’ve got the kids here today, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal, painting designs that are influenced by the culture of the Aboriginal people who are native to this area.’’