The Byron Community Primary School (BCPS) proudly announced the launch of its Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), calling it ‘a powerful commitment to fostering a future of respect, equity, and cultural understanding’.
In a statement, the school says, ‘RAP outlines our vision for a caring, respectful, and connected future, guided by the knowledge and perspectives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’.
Ella Noah Bancroft, CEO of The Returning Indigenous Corporation, consulted on the school’s RAP. She says, ‘We all have a valuable opportunity to step back and reconsider the beliefs and systems that have shaped us and influenced our thinking. Prioritising Indigenous leadership, knowledge systems, and lore is one of the most important things we can do in this current time for the next generations and ensuring our actions and choices are steps towards collective liberation, connection and care.’
Tony Cross, Principal of Byron Community Primary School, said, ‘BCPS is dedicated to engaging in meaningful relationships and deepening its commitment to reconciliation. Walking side-by-side with the local Arakwal Bumberlin and Bundjalung Nation Elders and community members, we are committed to building meaningful and respectful relationships’.
Care for Country
‘We are dedicated to learning from, and caring for, Bundjalung Country, while embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives into our curriculum and everyday practices.’
Principal Cross says the RAP sets out specific actions to ensure that BCPS students not only learn about the rich cultural heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, but also develop a deeper respect for the land and sea Country that sustains our community.
‘Through this ongoing commitment, BCPS hopes to contribute to a future where all people stand together with respect for each other’s cultures and histories’, he says.
The school is located at 53 Tennyson Street, Byron Bay. For more information visit www.bcps.org.au/rap.
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