Pia Wadjarri School
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When Pia Wadjarri Remote Community School opened
its’ doors to students in August 2002 a dream
was fulfilled for Rachael Papertalk. She and her mother
began the original school in order to keep children in
the community. Her role as AIEO is a vital one, assisting
students, liaising with parents and guiding the new
teaching staff.
The school’s distinctive black, red and white uniform with logo designed by student Ike Simpson has been well received by the community. The smart red hats reinforce Sunsafe policy in the school. The school motto “Learn language, live in country, respect elders” reflects the community’s desire for children to grow strong in cultural knowledge. This is interwoven with the school’s educational policy and school priorities of Health and Well Being, Working Mathematically and Critical Literacy. It is also reinforced through the Values outlined in the Curriculum Framework. The schools’ Wajarri language programme is directed by Brenda Papertalk and the students look forward to the visits of elders into the school for story telling and bush trips. The students’ excellent attendance is a source of pride to the school. Staff members include Jenine Comeagain - Education Assistant, Karen Jones – Library Officer, Vanessa Smith – School Officer, Lawrence Merry – Gardener, Sharon Cocking – Registrar, Fred Gorman – Teacher and Gail Cresswell – Teacher/Principal. The school embraces Global Education, ‘You
Can Do It’ and Protective Behaviours
Programmes. Students have been proactive in winning a
school computer from Market Creation and were the
runner-Up school in the Sunday Times Bus Competition. As
a result of this huge effort Frontier Services Australia
donated the school a small bus. This will assist the many
ventures on which this brave little school will embark.
The official school opening will be on June 5th 2003 and
all are welcome to attend. Pancake Day – Murchison
Shire The students from Pia Wadjarri Remote
Community School travelled 150 kms to participate in
Pancake Day at the Murchison Shire Offices. Cooking is an
integral part of the curriculum and the students had
practised their pancake mixing the day before. Students
were eager and ready to try out their skills and Marie
the museum caretaker is an adept pancake flipper. She
showed the students just how to do it. Although not
inundated with customers the students sent off $120.00 in
donations to Uniting Care. Murchison Shire CEO Neil
Warne, his wife Elsie and Marie are strong supporters of
the school. They sat and enjoyed the pancakes with
students, teachers Fred Gorman and Gail Cresswell and
AIEO Rachael Papertalk. They day was capped off for
students when they spotted a bungarra digging for water
in the dry sands of the Murchison River. It was captured
by the older students and taken home for dinner.
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  Marie flipping pancakes  Fred and the kids on Pancake Day  Clock making at the Pia Wadjarri School |