Culturally Safe Environment

Mother Teresa Catholic Primary School is a culturally inclusive and safe environment, where children and families of different cultural and religious groups are welcomed through our school focus of, ‘Hospitality and Dialogue – an invitation to encounter.’ This focus is visible at the front entrance of our school. Documentation near our front entrance shows that we are open to learning about and from the different faith beliefs in our school, including the Sikh religion. Three wire statues that line a pathway to our school is an interpretation of the parable of the Good Samaritan and Jesus’ teaching of, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The notion of love and hospitality of other is woven throughout our religious learning as part of Faith and Life inquiry.

We have a particular respect and seek to be inclusive of our First People. We acknowledge as part of our Whole School Prayer and school gatherings that we stand on the land of the Wurundjeri people. We have a special relationship with Wurundjeri elder, Murrundindi who is welcomed in our school community throughout the year. Murrundindi shares his culture through stories, songs and dance which invite all members of our learning community, children, teachers and families to reflect on how we can become open-minded and tolerant of people of differing cultures and religious beliefs. Our respect of the Aboriginal culture is evident in our school through Aboriginal bollards, artefacts and an acknowledgment of country visible at our front entrance.