VISION FOR RECONCILIATION
- Rosemont House Montessori’s vision for reconciliation includes listening, celebrating diversity, deconstructing bias, reconciliation and striving for social justice. We will do this by hearing the voices of members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, rather than making assumptions or speaking on their behalf, we are able to make meaningful decisions and progress. We not only acknowledge diversity between groups, but also within groups, to avoid reinforcing stereotypes, especially the cultural diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. We intentionally and thoughtfully present an anti-bias curriculum that introduces children to an appreciation of diversity, an awareness of the importance of respect for others, an understanding of how history has shaped our world, and a personal commitment to contributing to a positive, reconciled future for all. We recognize that equal rights and reconciliation are an ongoing process and that as educators we can participate in this process, as well as empowering children to understand that they also have a role in tending to this unfinished business in the future (Harrison, 2011). We develop, follow and review a Reconciliation Action Plan to remain accountable to our principles over time. We promote and participate in events that improve social justice and educate the next generation about our national heritage. We also carry on the Montessori method’s core values of viewing education as a pathway to peace, with an emphasis on social justice, inclusion and equity built into our learning program and our way of operating. We understand this to be an ongoing process, with our own growth in this area being monitored through critical reflection and evolving through continuous improvement.
Actions
Acknowledgement of Country
Care for Country
Curriculum Planning
Take Action Against Racism
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flags
Teach about Reconciliation
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People in the Classroom
Cultural Responsiveness for Staff
Welcome to Country
Celebrate National Reconciliation Week
Build Relationships with Community
Explore Current Affairs and Issues
Inclusive Policies
Staff Engagement with RAP
Celebrate RAP Progress
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages
Elders and Traditional Owners Share Histories and Cultures
Teach about Days of National Significance
Physical Acknowledgement of Country