Around the School 

Lions Youth of the Year 

Three of our fantastic senior students, Michael Looker, Harris Dullaway and Ellie Mitchell took part in the Lions Youth of the Year Competition on Wednesday 2nd March 2022. They had to submit an extensive article outlining their involvement and successes at school, present a 5 minute report on a topic of their choice and were given two impromptu questions that they then had to prepare and present in a speech. All students performed outstandingly. Harris Dullaway won the public speaking award and Ellie Mitchell was awarded overall Lion Youth of the year for Guyra. 

Ellie continued her journey in the Lions Youth of the Year along with a Glen Innes candidate in the Regional Finals held in Guyra on Saturday 12th March.  Ellie finished the competition as runner up.  

Guyra Central school would like to acknowledge Ellie for her commitment and achievement's during the Lions Youth of the Year Competition. Congratulations Ellie.  

A special thank you to Mrs Rebecca Smith for her organisation and ongoing support to the students in preparation for the Lions Youth of the Year.

Primary Mid-Term Rewards Session

Kindergarten was joined by Year 1 for their Mid-Term Reward- class party. Meanwhile, Year 2 were at their last day of the Learn to Swim Program. 

K-1 enjoyed  a movie and a range of activities!

Secondary North West Swimming Carnival

A big congratulations to our students who participated in the North West Swimming Carnival in Week 6. Guyra Central School had 4 students in year 8, 9 & 10 that participated on the day. A fantastic effort on making it this far. 

Congratulations Adaiah Galindo and Cooper Brennan for swimming a personal best in at least one of your races. It is a big effort when you are used to training in a 25m pool. 

Thank you Mrs Ryan and Mrs Belson for your work in organising the team, training the team and being there on the day to support our students. From a small school it is great to see such enthusiasm and willingness to want to better your own achievements. 

Overall results:

Adaiah Galindo 

Boys 13yrs 100m Freestyle: 8th 1:21.41

Boys 13ys 50m Freestyle: 9th 35.38s

Boys 13yrs 100m Breastroke: 2:03.32

Boys 13yrs 100m Backstroke: 1:58.32

Cooper Brennan

Boys 16yrs 50m Freestyle: 35.02s

Boys 16yrs 100m Breastroke: 1:51.95

Emily Bull

Girls 14yrs 50m Freestyle: 48.04s

Maddy Bull

 Girls 16yrs 50m Freestyle: 42.88s

Whats happened in Term 1 - By Stage 2 Gold 

Clean up Australia day

We went out and participated in Clean up Australia day. Our area was the bottom playground and the soccer fields. We collected a bag of rubbish. Mrs. McIlwain took our photo on the new table and chairs near the COLA.

Guyra show   

We went and visited the Guyra Show. In the exhibits hall we were excited to see many winners from our school. Laney and Jaylee from our class won prizes! It was exciting to see the vegetables from our school garden in the show as well. We got to buy either something to eat, a slushy or a show bag. The hot chips were yummy! 

Swim Carnival and North West

Lots of people from our class were in the swimming carnival in Armidale and then went onto the North West Carnival. We are very proud of them.

Science: solar ovens

In science we have been learning about Forces and Energy. One type is solar energy from the sun. We designed our own solar ovens to melt a piece of chocolate. We used cardboard boxes, foil and glad wrap. At The beginning of term we investigated how Forces work by using a balloon. We were able to push, pull, squish and kick it. We were able to see how much force was needed to burst the balloon and change its shape.

Music: creating our own music

In music we have been learning to create our own music by using an online musical piano. First we tried to make our names then we made patterns, we investigated how to make a short piece of music to share with the class. 

Coding and Technology

We have been learning how to code. Mrs McIlwain brought in the Edisonbots and we have been learning how to make then follow different commands. First we have to open up the Edblocks code application and create a code telling it what to do. We then have to send the code to the edbots. They then do what we ask. Sometimes it is tricky and we can not get the code to load. It takes time and patience to make the Edison Bots work but we are having fun. The Edison Bots have been helping us to understand the force of friction as they move differently on the carpet, concrete, grass and lino.

Primary Maths Groups 

The students were mining for precious gems before having to add up the total of their expedition. 

Stage 2 Olive have been working hard in class on multiplication facts.

Secondary Sunhill Dairy Goats Farm Excursion

On Thursday 17th March,  Senior Agriculture students attended a Farm Case Study at Sunhill Dairy Goats Farm. Our students met all the milking goats and Flavio the buck, checked out the pastures and milking shed before taste testing the delicious cheeses they make. The students asked lots of relevant and interesting questions and were a pleasure to take on excursion. Many thanks to Eunice Blair who accompanied our group of Aggie's.

Mrs Rebecca Smith 

Secondary Agriculture Classroom Teacher 

Walcha Show 

On Friday 11th March secondary Argriculture students attended the zone finals at the  Walcha Show. Ellie Mitchell, Darcy Heagney, Hugo Brazier and Brooke Grills competed in the competition. They all performed well with Brooke Grills achieving 2nd place in the sheep meat judging. This qualifies her to compete at the next level for our zone at the Sydney Royal Show in April. This is an outstanding achievement and we wish her all the best in Sydney! Thanks to Mrs Rebecca Smith and Mr Jason Alwood for accompanying our wonderful students on the excursion. A truly wonderful day for all of us.

Mrs Rebecca Smith 

Secondary Agriculture Classroom Teacher 

Quilting and Patch Work New England Annual Festival 

On Friday 18th March, Big Picture students had the opportunity to assist in the set-up of the Quilting and Patch Work New England Annual Festival which was held in Armidale over the weekend. 

The students received a standing ovation for their hard work from the organisers of the event and are to be commended for their hard work and efforts on Friday in assisting in making the Festival a huge success.

Mrs Helen Doyle

Careers Advisor

National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence 

Friday March 18th saw Guyra Central getting involved in the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence, also known as Bullying No Way! Day.

The theme for this year was Kindness Culture: It Starts With You. 

Kindness Culture promotes inclusiveness, respect and community belonging. The 2022 theme offers an opportunity to learn about kindness, and demonstrate kind behaviour as kindness plays an important role in school-wide bullying prevention.

This day was an opportunity for schools everywhere to deliver the powerful message that bullying is never ok. At GCS we encouraged students to join the conversation to find positive solutions for bullying prevention.

Secondary students worked together on this day to construct a Kindness Wall filled with messages of kindness, positivity, respect and encouragement. This wall remains up in our canteen area for students to be able to pause, read the messages left by their peers and connect with one another in a kind and positive way.

A congratulations and thank you is deserved to all students who got involved in this day for successfully working together towards maintaining a positive and connected, kind school culture!

Kailyn Marsh

Student Support Officer

International Womens Day  - League Tag Gala Day

Play Rugby League North West NSW hosted a GALA Day in Inverell on Wednesday 9th March.  Our Guyra Central School Secondary League Tag Team attended the event held on International Womens Day.  It is fantastic to have events for our students back in full swing and our League Tag team had a enjoyable day getting together and playing sport with students from around the region. 

Opens Touch Trials

On Wednesday 16th March, Guyra Central Schools Opens Touch Team travelled to Inverell for the Zone Touch Trials.  Oscar Atkin, Brodi Campbell and Archie Dowden were each selected to attend the Regional Trials for the opportunity to become part of the North West Team for the CHSSA State Touch Carnival in Term 2.  Thank you to our junior students who attended the day and played with our Opens Team. 

Oscar Atkin, Brodi Campbell and Archie Dowden were all successful in securing positions on the North West Open Touch Squad after attending the North West Trial in Inverell on Wednesday 7th April 2022.  They will now travel to Wagga Wagga in Term 2 to compete in the CHSSA Touch Carnival.  Well done and good luck Oscar, Brodi and Archie. 

North West Golf Trial

Congratulations to Harry Purvis who will attend the CHSSA Golf Championships in Yamba in Term 2.  Harry was selected for the North West Golf team after attending the Regional  Trial at the Longyard Golf Course.  Congratulations Harry on this remarkable achievement. 

CHHSA Open Girls Soccer Knockout 

Our Opens Girls Soccer team travelled to Armidale on Monday 14th March to play round 1 of the CHSSA State Knockout competition against Armidale Secondary College. Although the girls were defeated 7-0, Jada Alefosio and Leah Varcoe had outstanding games in goals, saving many. Jaymie Donnelly and Chelsea Walls both had fantastic games in the backs, Annabelle Collins and Leah McElroy each playing well in the halves.  Akashia Brazier also had an outstanding game and had many opportunities to score as striker for the team.  Thank you to their coach Miss Eunice Blair for training the girls.

Primary PSSA State Knockout Competition 

On Friday 18th March, our primary cricket team travelled to Armidale to play round 1 of the PSSA State Knockout Cricket Competition against Armidale City Public School.  Armidale City Public were first in bat and scored 52 in the first innings.  Guyra Central School went on to defeat Armidale City Public in 15 overs.  Congratulations to our primary cricket team who will now proceed to play round two of the competition in the coming weeks. 

Secondary Winter Trials –Soccer & Rugby League / Regional North West Trials 

On Monday 21st March, secondary students had the opportunity to attend the Winter Trials in Inverell for several sports.  Jada Alefosio and Cooper Brennan both had a successful day making it to possible/probables in soccer selections.  Well done Jada and Cooper. 

Oscar Atkin, Brodi Campbell, Riley Campbell and Archie Dowden were all selected to attend the regional trials in week 11 for Opens Rugby League and Rave Brazier, Riley Melmeth and Cooper Wilson were each selected to attend the Regional Trials for Under 15s Rugby League. 

Congratulations to each of our students who attended the Winter Trials for their fantastic sportsmanship and representing Guyra Central School with pride. 

Regional North West Rugby Trials

On Monday 4th April 2022 seven boys trialled for the North West Opens and the Under 15 rugby league teams.

Archie Dowden, Oscar Atkin and Brodie Campbell trialled for the opens but unfortunately did not make the side. These boys still have two years to trial for this team so gained some valuable experience from the day.

Rave Brazier, Cooper Wilson, Riley Melmouth  and Darcy Heagney trialled for the 15's side. Rave, Cooper and Riley were fortunate enough to make the side after some terrific performances in the selection games. They will now go on to play for North West against the Western side in Coonabarabran to push for a spot in the Greater Western side. This side will then contest the State CHS trials, good luck to these boys.

Mr Malcolm Gaukroger

Secondary Classroom Teacher 

 Primary Sport

Regional Hockey Trial

Tommy Bull attended the Zone Hockey Trials on Monday 21st March 2022 and was successful in securing a position on the Armidale Zone Team to attend the PSSA Regional Hockey trials for a position on the North West Team  to attend the State Carnival in Term 2.  Tommy went on to secure his position on the North West Team to attend the PSSA State Hockey Carnival in Tamworth in Term 2. Congratulations Tommy on this wonderful achievement. 

PSSA Regional Basketball Trial

Congratulations to Zander Lloyd who was selected to attend the Regional Basketball Trial.  Although Zander was unsuccessful in securing a position on the North West team this is the first time we have had a Guyra Central School student make the zone team in Basketball and  Zander is to be commended for his achievements in this event.  Well done Zander.

PSSA Regional Touch Trial 

Chloe Wilson attended the PSSA Regional Trial in Tamworth for Touch Football.  Chloe played extremely well but was unsuccessful in securing a position on the North West team.  Congratulations Chloe for representing Guyra Central School in Touch Football. 

PSSA Cricket Trial

Peyton Heagney and Tommy Bull have both been successful in securing positions on the Armidale Zone Girls/Boys Cricket teams to trial for the PSSA Regional North West Cricket Girls/Boys sides.  Congratulations to both Peyton and Tommy. 

Armidale Rugby League Trial

Guyra Central School had several students attend the Armidale Zone Rugby League Trial on Monday 4th April.  All of our attending students were selected to attend the PSSA Regional North West Trial on the first day of Term 2.  

Congratulations and good luck to Lincoln Atkin, Max Lockyer, Billy Ryan, Tom Ward and Beau Wilson who will all be trialling in the 11s division and Parker Campbell who will be trialling in the opens division.  

Anthony Kelly Visits Guyra Central School 

On Thursday 24th March Guyra Central School had a visit from Martial Arts and Sports Coaching Expert, Anthony Kelly. He was invited to the school by Ms Rebecca Smith and Mr Mal Gaukroger to not only show the school his unique style of martial arts and reaction training but also to talk to the students about working hard, respect and developing confidence for success in life.

Our students saw video footage from all over the world in the introduction of Mr Kelly’s visit. He has appeared on many shows including Mythbusters, NBC News America and Guiness World Records. Our students were amazed at the people My Kelly had worked with including the Newcastle Knights NRL side and the New Zealand Silver Ferns netball side. He has also trained with famous boxers including Anthony Mundine and has had sessions with world renowned martial artist Jackie Chan.

Anthony took our students through a range of core strength and reaction time drills that they can work on for their chosen sport. Many of our older boys in particular were amazed at Mr Kelly’s strength and speed and the way in which he teaches his students to use the whole body in both martial arts and other sports. At 58 years of age, Mr Kelly can still amaze a crowd with stories of his illustrious career. The Guyra Central School students completed Mr Kelly’s activities with effort and enthusiasm and he commented on the positive attitude and manners displayed by all students in the group.

Years 9,10 & 11 Visual Arts Excursion to NRAM and ACCKP

On Thursday 24th March, Years 9, 10 & 11 Visual Arts students went on an excursion to the New England Art Museum (NERAM) and the Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Keeping Place (ACCKP) in Armidale. At NERAM, we were given a tour of the Gallery by Ms Rickards, the gallery’s Education Officer that included the Hinton Collection (a collecting of fine examples of Australian late 19th century painting) and the current temporary exhibitions of contemporary art on show. We saw a range of art from paintings, sculptures, photography and even assemblage. Once finished the tour we headed to an art workshop in the Museum of Printing, which is under the gallery, where we all completed a work of assemblage art.

After lunch at the Six Counties Cafe and Restaurant at NERAM, we walked down to the ACCKP and conducted a self-guided tour of their current exhibitions of contemporary aboriginal art and artefacts. We were all very enticed at the exhibitions at the ACCKP.

Emily Jackson

Yr 10 Visual Arts

PBL Rewards Disco

On Friday 1st April, primary students put their dancing shoes on during their Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) Reward Session.  Eligible students who have upheld our core values of Pride, Respect and Responsibility over the last five weeks were invited to attend our PBL Rewards Disco.

Our students had so much fun dancing and joining in on all of the disco games.  

Thank you to our Stage 3 students who were our hosts for the disco and assisted with the games and the canteen.

Congratulations to our participating students for a terrific start to 2022.

Blues Youth Leadership Program

Year 10, 11 and 12 sudents were given an amazing opportunity to attend the Blues Yourh Leadership Program held at the University of New England  on the 22nd March 2022. 

Brydens Lawyers NSW Blues coach Brad Fitller and Harvey Norman NSW Sky Blues coach Kylie Hilder, Gotcha4Life founder Gus Worland, Crime Stoppers International Cheif Executive Officer Shane Britten and frmer Paralympiam, motivtional speaker John McLean all presented at the seminar focusig on reslience, control and teaching our youth techniques to stay in control of their lives through breathing, diet and hydration. Shane Britten spoke about social media awareness, mobile phone technology, social media platforms and how they all pose a risk to mental health delivering a message to our youth on how to manage online exposure for self protection now and in their futures. 

Our students heard from John Maclean who was an aspiring Rugby League player until his life was drastically changed when he was hit by a truck in 1988. John was not expected to live.... let alone walk again and his story was  inspirational to our students.  

Under 15 Girls Soccer -  Bill Turner Cup

Our Under 15 Girls Soccer Team had an outstanding game in round 1 of the Bill Turner Cup against Inverell High winning the game 5-0.

Shahkita Pixton and Shantaye Irving-Frost both had outstanding games in the forwards.  Shahkta scoring 3 goals, Leigha McElroy scoring 1 goal from a penalty and Annabelle Collins scoring off a corner.  

Karleah Alefosio and Stevie McElroy had fantastic defence games saving several goals as goal keeper. Leah McElroy, Gabbie Hartas-Berry were both strong in defence and Annabelle performed well in the halves. 

Thank you to Mr Tim LLoyd for refereeing the game and Eunice Blair for coaching the girls team.  

The girls will now play round 2 of the Bill Turner Cup early next term.  

Eunice  Blair

Aboriginal Education Officer