July 2009 - Gawa Christian School Website

G^wa News
July 2009
Gawa Christian School Elcho Island Northern Territory email: gawa@ntcsa.nt.edu.au
We have all arrived back from holidays refreshed and eager
to begin our term. It is wonderful to be greeted by the
smiling faces of the students here in Gawa and we look
forward to another enjoyable semester of fun and learning.
What a big start to the semester! Staff had the pleasure of
joining with all NTCSA schools at the OTT conference in
Darwin. We were able to share our stories, worship and reflect
upon our journeys. Upon our return we had a team of
10 fly in from the Bayside Church to help us renovate.
Basma and I also flew to Darwin for the Indigenous Leadership
conference - certainly a busy start to the term!
2010 Calendars for Sale
Please see attached Order Form
Graduating Class News
It is always exciting to share our news about
our secondary students. Gurrumuwuy has been
employed as a health worker at the Clinic in
Galiwinku and it is great to see him in full time
employment. We are also pleased that Gulungama
has chosen to enroll at Marrara Christian
School. The opportunities for him are endless
and we will continue to pray for these boys.
New staff
We welcome Mary-
Ann Hvala to our
teaching staff. Mary-
Ann will be the new
Kinder teacher.
Soccer Exchange
Gurrumuwuy & Gulungama
Gudirramurrn & Wuduwawuy
Gudirramurrn and
Wuduwawuy competed
in the Soccer
Exchange competition
during the
school holidays with
other girls from Arnhem
Land. It was exciting
for the girls to represent our school in
their favorite sport. Thanks to all the sponsors
for making this dream a reality for these girls!

A team of ten volunteers from Bayside City Church in
Melbourne came out to Gawa on the second day of term.
They were kept busy with renovating the old school
building and school classroom in
Ban’thula, painting school toilets,
putting up shadecloth over the
playground and putting together
new swings. They also assisted in
the Kinder, laminated
books and organized the library! Staff, children and community
appreciate all the projects they were able to complete in the
short time they were here– there is always so much to do here
in Gawa! The team also raised money for the school by shaving
all the boys heads one night! We had wonderful times of fun
and fellowship with the team. A big thankyou for your enthusiasm
and willingness to serve.
Bayside Team
Claire & Rachael
painting the toilet block
Paul & Jarrod fixing
shadecloth over the
playground
Yol\u Matha Classes
Everyone is welcome at our Yolnu Matha classes
held on Thursday afternoons. Basma has taken
on the challenge to get the increasing ‘Balanda’
staff fluent in the language used by the students
everyday. With the support of other local
elders, we are very excited that this is a chance
for all us to increase our language skills.
Big Catch of the Week
Muymuy, Wanya & Bunu\ with their catch
Staff attending language class with Basma
Who caught the biggest fish? The senior class
who were fishing this week on the school boat
caught a 17kg Spanish Mackerel. The class was
excited to show off their prized catch around
the community.
Andrew with his ‘rock painting’ and other students artwork