Yarning Circle at Fort Street
Over these school holidays after a year in the planning with the SRC and P&C our yarning circle will be installed in the Rowe Quad. Eventually we will also have a mural in this area on the back wall of the library to finish off the space.
The existing planter boxes in this area will be relocated to a designated area in the Rowe Quad. A new one metre wide garden bed will also be built along the (street frontage) fence line and the Rowe building area to the fire door.
Yarning Circle – Fort Street High School
This new outdoor space has not been designed to prevent any teacher from taking their class anywhere they would like in the school to initiate a yarning circle but it is hoped that it will encourage more yarning circle activities.
Our yarning circle has been designed by Scully Outdoor Furniture.
The design has been permitted and approved by The Elders of the Dharug Nation, namely Aunty Edna.
To be approved we had to attach ideals to the 8 rocks of significance (these are the 8 sandstone blocks), and these ideals are as follows;
Listening and Talking
Teamwork and Unity
Trust and Tenderness
Belonging and Storytelling
We have an option for these ideals to be on a signpost next to the Yarning Circle to remind students of these ideals.
Our Reconciliation Poles are hand painted by an Indigenous Artist.
What is a Yarning Circles:
A yarning circle is a harmonious, creative and collaborative way of communicating to:
- encourage responsible, respectful and honest interactions between participants, building trusting relationships
- foster accountability and provide a safe place to be heard and to respond
- promote student–student interactions and student–school–community connectedness
- enrich learning experiences for students.
Implementing yarning circles in your classroom
A yarning circle is usually initiated or hosted by an individual — a teacher, a student, or a visitor. Yarning circles can take a number of formats but the following guidelines generally apply when initiating a yarning circle
- Sit in a circle: Participants sit in a circle and are encouraged to actively listen to others’ views. Participants should understand that they are all considered equal within the circle and that there is no hierarchy.
- Introduce the group: The host invites participants to introduce themselves and share something about themselves.
- Introduce focus questions: Yarning circles can be undertaken for many reasons. The host introduces the purpose of the yarning circle or the focus question to participants.
- Share ideas and thoughts: The host encourages participants to take turns to talk and to promote reciprocal sharing and learning. Time can be allocated for participants to write or draw their thoughts after each person speaks. The host could provide butcher’s paper in the middle of the circle for participants to record their thoughts, or hold the circle outside so participate can draw their thoughts in the dirt.
- Reflect: Resolve any actions or issues identified by the yarning circle, or agree to follow up in future yarning circles.
