Peter Stewart remembers when the Darling River at Wilcannia was just a series of parched dust bowls.

The principal at Wilcannia Central School recalls a time of high student suspension rates and staff turnover, with staff eligible for transfer moving away at the first opportunity.

But that was four years ago, before the river started to flow again, drawing the predominantly Aboriginal community – the aptly named Barkindji “river people” – back to its banks.

The replenishment of the ancient channel is symbolic of the change that has taken place at Wilcannia Central School through a renewed focus on learning with the establishment of a kinaesthetic class. About 95 per cent of the school’s students are Aboriginal.

For the past two years targeted students in Year 3 to 6 have combined outdoor and culturally specific activities – such as fishing, building shelters and campfires – with maths and science syllabus outcomes. As they catch fish and construct traditional shelters, the students develop understanding of concepts such as measurement and weight, along with cultural knowledge.

“It’s about learning through being active in an environment outside the classroom,” Mr Stewart said.

“Once the students have been out in the bush, when they come back you see a change in their attitude towards what happens in the school. They’re really happy and involved.”

On one occasion the group, led by local anthropologist Walpa Thompson, found artefacts at a campsite at a lake. On another outing they discovered human remains.

“NSW Police forensics and the National Parks and Wildlife Service identified the bones and [the students] helped conduct a re-burial and participated in a smoking ceremony,” Mr Stewart said.

The inclusion of outdoor learning is just one of the changes made at the school. A full-time language tutor, Murray Butcher, was hired to teach the Barkindji language and formalities – including limiting the number of school bells rung each day and assemblies – have largely been removed.

“We don’t have an end of year presentation day, we have a day of celebration where we go to the river – which is the spiritual heart of the community – and have a number of different activities during the day,” Mr Stewart said.

The changes have brought significant – and some unexpected – improvements at the school.

Mr Stewart said Years 3 and 5 students recorded the school’s best Basic Skills Test results last year. Suspension rates have plummeted from more than 55 suspensions in 2004, to now less than 10 a year. About one-third of the teachers start their fifth year of teaching at Wilcannia during 2008.

“Continuity at the school has been reinforced by the fact that there has been no staff change for 2008, which positively affects students, school and the community,” he said.

And perhaps most importantly, parents and families are now more comfortable coming to the school.

“The community has become more positive about what’s happening at the school,” he said.