Principal's Address
Boorowa Central School
New guidelines for Protecting School Photos and Videos
As many of you would have seen from the Compass notification I sent at the start of the term, the Department of Education have released new guidelines for Protecting School Photos and Videos. These guidelines are based on the Online Safety Advisory by the eSafety Commissioner, providing guidance about how to safely share school photos online and what to do when an image is misused. This advisory recognises that emerging technologies such as AI tools have changed the way images can be copied, manipulated and misused online, and schools should continue to take a deliberate, risk and consent-based approach to deciding what they share. Using this approach, school photos and videos can continue to be used as an important way to celebrate student achievement, help prospective families understand what makes a school unique, connect them to school communities and showcase learning.
What will this look like at Boorowa Central School?
Our staff will continue to take photos and videos of our students doing wonderful things at school and at school events. However, these photos will be taken in a risk-based approach including, but not limited to:
- considering if the image has a clear purpose and adds to the message
- using authentic images but minimise identification of a specific person
- deciding between close-ups or distance options
Whilst these photos may not look as engaging as they once were, here at Boorowa Central School we are ensuring we can do whatever we can to prevent the improper use of our photos of your children.
Touch Football / Netball Carnival
Another successful Boorowa Touch Football / Netball Carnival is behind us. The day was a huge success with all aspects running smoothly.
Whilst not the biggest event ever, we are continuing to grow back to pre-COVID-19 like participant numbers. This year, we had a total of 47 schools of which formed 257 Touch Football teams and 148 Netball teams. These teams played a total of 869 games across 49 Touch Football fields and Netball Courts at the Boorowa Showground. These games ran every 20 minutes between 9am and 3pm, without a break. All teams played a minimum of 4 games during the day and had the opportunity to watch many more.
Keeping the children well fed and hydrated, plus all of the adults, were the 2 canteens and coffee carts that were manned by Boorowa Central School and St Josephs staff and students, P and C members, parental and community volunteers. We also had Rotary members assisting with car parking from 7am.
Thank you to all of the staff, students, parents, volunteers and organisations who volunteered their time to ensure the event is as successful as it is. We simply could not achieve a carnival of this magnitude without support from all of you.
Once invoices have been paid, the proceeds of the carnival are equally shared between Boorowa’s 2 schools. At Boorowa Central School, the funds are used to subsidise the cost of year group and stage excursions as well as purchasing specialist learning equipment. Money well spent in my opinion.
Shaka Project town event and secondary workshops
The Shaka Project’s Sean came to Boorowa on Tuesday night to have real conversations about mental health and suicide prevention. His down-to-earth approach and honest conversation enabled attendees to feel more confident about supporting themselves or each other when things are not going well. Representatives from Wellways, Yass Headspace and Medicare Mental Health from Young also attended to offer information and support to those who came.
The following day, secondary students met Sean at the club again to hear an age-appropriate version on the same topics as the night before. Our students, including some of whom who have been impacted by these topics this year, were thoroughly engaged and joined the conversation in a respectful manner.
I hope that these students now feel better equipped to manage their mental health and knowing how to support a mate if they are not OK.
On behalf of Boorowa Central School, thank you to Sean and The Shaka Project for coming to our community to help us in a time of need – it was greatly appreciated.
If you are worried about your child or a loved one, please reach out to our school’s Student Support Officer Taryn here at Boorowa Central. She can help link you with mental health services and find options that you may not be aware of.
It’s not ok to be feeling not ok. Tell some one today to get the help you deserve
Year 12 end of schooling
Year 12 finished their final week of school at the end of last term with a flurry of fun activities. Each day they dressed up in a new theme and paraded themselves at morning muster, much to the delight of the other students and staff. On Thursday afternoon, their celebrations turned serious as we hosted the Year 12 Graduation assembly with family and friends. This was the final school-based activity that the students attended and this reality hit home with many tears being shed. Highlights included the Kindy students walking in with the year 12 graduates and an impromptu haka performed by Isaiah in Year 10 for his graduating stepsister Santahna.
The serious activity ended soon after the graduation with the Year 12’s hosting their own Muck-Up assembly which included a visit from the Boorowa Fire and Rescue Fire Truck who hosed students and staff alike.
Year 12 are now engaged in their Higher School Certificate examinations. I look forward to closing their schooling journey with the students and their families at their Formal on 7 November.
Preschool Update
Boorowa Public Preschool has just completed their 4th week of operation, welcoming an additional 5 children and taking our overall enrolment to 16. All children have thoroughly enjoyed learning in our new preschool and look forward to coming each day to find what new experiences are on offer.
The preschool will be officially opened soon with the date to be confirmed by the minister’s office. This will involve a minister or politician, local media and an opportunity to showcase our preschool. I look forward to this occasion so the Boorowa Public Preschool can be promoted far and wide
If are interested in a preschool enrolment for the remainder of 2026 or for 2027, please go to the school’s website and complete the Expression of Interest form.