St John Paul II Catholic Primary School continued a tradition of celebrating cultural diversity by hosting a First Nation’s Cultural Evening as part of this year’s Parents and Friends (P&F) ‘welcome back to school’ event.
16 Apr 2025
First Nations culture celebrated at St John Paul II CPS
The event exemplified the school’s motto, “In Harmony,” fostering a sense of pride, unity, and cultural awareness among its vibrant community.
Following the success of previous celebrations highlighting African nations in 2023 and Asian nations in 2024, this year’s event showcased a deep connection to, and appreciation of, First Nations culture.
The evening began with an Acknowledgement of Country before students united to perform “Wandjoo,” a heartfelt welcome song. Kindy and Pre-Primary students charmed the audience with the Torres Strait Island song “Taba Naba.” In a remarkable linguistic and cultural showcase, older year groups performed songs in Noongar and English, including “Djinda Djinda Kanangoor” (“Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”), “Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes,” and the National Anthem.
A highlight of the event was the performance by Saltwater Sisters, a local community group whose dances captivated both children and families. Students eagerly joined a Torres Strait Islander sit-down dance about fishing, radiating enthusiasm, and curiosity.
Families were given cultural “passports” to explore a variety of activities and experiences. The tasting station, featuring native foods such as kangaroo, crocodile, emu, quandong jam, and Illawarra plum chutney, delighted attendees of all ages. Other engaging activities included examining cultural artefacts, decorating message sticks, sculpting playdough Nyingarns (echidnas), creating handprint art for a “Wandjoo” sign, and contributing to a vibrant sand art display.
Year 6 student, Rashaad said:
“I felt happy learning new things about my culture. I loved the food tasting, and I felt proud of my culture.”
Principal Martin Tucker reflected on the event’s success.
“Our families take immense pride in sharing their culture, and celebrating our wonderful community is so important at St John Paul II CPS. It was fantastic to see families, staff, students, and the community coming together, having fun, and learning about our First Nations people.
“I am truly grateful to our Cultural Team, who planned the evening with our P&F, the staff who prepared the student performances, and our parents and community groups for wholeheartedly participating in this unique experience.”