Around the school 

Stage 1 visit the School Farm

On Friday 2 February, Stage 1 students had an exciting visit to the school farm. They had the opportunity to see and feed the piglets, interact with a charming baby alpaca, and learn about the different animals on the farm. The students had a great time picking apples and pears to feed the piglets and sampling some themselves.

Moreover, they explored a paddock of sunflowers, discovering more about them, and took some back to the classroom to collect seeds for planting next season. The students also engaged in a guided drawing session, resulting in beautiful artworks.

A special thank you to Mrs. Readford for organizing the visit, and a big shout-out to Mrs. Smith and Ethan Harris for guiding the Stage 1 students around and sharing their knowledge.

Lions Youth of the Year Quest

In an impressive display of eloquence and intellect, Trisha Varley, a Year 12 student from Guyra Central School, recently showcased her public speaking prowess at the Lions Youth of the Year quest for Region 4 held in February. Competing against four other talented students, each of whom had emerged as winners from their respective clubs within the region, Trisha took part in a challenging competition that tested not only her public speaking skills but also her ability to think on her feet.

The competition consisted of two segments designed to evaluate the contestants' public speaking abilities comprehensively. Initially, each participant was required to address two impromptu questions in front of a panel of four judges, speaking for two minutes on each question. This segment tested their spontaneity and ability to articulate their thoughts under pressure. Following this, they each delivered a five-minute speech that they had prepared in advance, allowing them to showcase their research, planning, and delivery skills. This format provided a well-rounded assessment of each contestant's capabilities in public speaking.

Mr Jim Betts, President of the Lions Club in Guyra, expressed his admiration for the contestants' presentations, highlighting the high quality of their performances. Trisha, along with her fellow competitors, received commendation for their outstanding achievements throughout the competition. Their ability to engage in public speaking with such confidence and skill at a young age is commendable and reflects their hard work and dedication. The Lions Youth of the Year quest not only offers a platform for young individuals to develop and demonstrate their public speaking abilities but also fosters a sense of accomplishment and self-confidence among the participants.

Primary Assembly - Friday 1 March 2023

Guyra Central School hosted its inaugural Primary Assembly for the year on Friday, March 1, 2024. The event saw a wonderful turnout of parents who enjoyed captivating performances by stage 1 and stage 3 students. Merit Certificates were awarded to students to recognise their dedication to hard work and commitment to upholding the school's core values of Pride, Respect, and Responsibility.

During the assembly, family members proudly presented leadership badges to our Primary Leadership team for 2024, which includes:

School Captains: Fletcher Gardiner & Mackenzie Tooth

Year 2 Student Representative Council: Matilda Auld & Alania Tawhai

Year 3 Student Representative Council: Harrison Tooth & Ariella Galindo

Year 4 Student Representative Council: Hugh Kliendienst & Elsie Post

Year 5 Student Representative Council: Hamish Brown & Aoife Collins

Additionally, the 2024 Sport Captains were announced:

Malpas: Flyn Byers (captain) & Kade Burnett (vice)

Nincoola: Brax Hutton (captain) & Jessica (vice)

Chandler: Kayne Brennan (captain) & Sam Torrens (vice)

Representatives for the 2024 Aboriginal Education Consultative Group include Sherkaya Munro-Davies, Izabella McLeod, Taearliegh Torrens, and Willson McElroy.

Other leadership roles for 2024 were assigned as follows:

Technology Captains: Kiarnie Shersby & Lacey O’Hara

Creative Arts Captains: Rose Gordon & Tessa Roberson

Library Monitors: Noah Gilvear & Lincoln Rowe

Congratulations to all students elected to leadership positions. It's a great opportunity for our leaders to advocate for the student body in school decision-making and enhance student engagement. We eagerly anticipate the leadership team's journey throughout 2024.

We extend our gratitude to the school community for their presence at the assembly. Our students take pride in having their parents/carers participate in school events like these. We look forward to welcoming our school community to future events at Guyra Central School throughout 2024.

University of New England Science and Engineering Challenge

On the 6th of March, twenty-one science students travelled to the University of New England for the Highlands Science and Engineering challenge. Schools from the surrounding region competed in various science-based challenges to earn points. These challenges included creating sustainable fish traps, constructing earthquake-resistant skyscrapers from straws, and designing and launching a glider. Notably, Christian Loeb, Rose Kliendienst, Edward Collins, and Dixie Orford spent the day building a balsa wood bridge, which was tested to bear weight until it broke. Guyra emerged victorious, with their bridge holding nearly 90 times its weight. Congratulations to all participants and a huge thank you to the Armidale Rotary Club, the University of New England, and the University of Newcastle for their support in organizing this event.

Charlie Ward - National Skeet and Trap Clay Target Champion

Guyra Central School student Charlie Ward recently participated in the National Skeet and Trap Clay Target competition. Charlie emerged as the Australian National Ladies Champion 12 Gauge, securing 2 gold, 2 silver, and 2 bronze medals across different events during the championships. Congratulations, Charlie! We are excited to follow your future endeavors.

Agriculture off to a Flying start during Term 1

It has been a bustling term at the School Farm, with our students actively gearing up for the junior judging competitions at the Guyra Show back in February. This year, thirty-five students participated in the Junior Sheep Judging, where Lincoln Brown showcased exceptional skills in sheep meat judging, and Brooke Grills emerged victorious in the wool judging category. These talented students will be competing at the Royal Easter Show in Sydney next week, proudly representing our zone. We extend our best wishes to both of them for success!

During this term, students were actively engaged in preparing two Angus heifers borrowed from Richard and Prue Post Glenavon Angus Stud for the Armidale Show. Within a short timeframe, the students managed to halter train the heifers and successfully showcase them in the school's steer/heifer section and junior paraders competition at the event. A special mention to Max Lockyer (year 7) for his excellent performance in his debut cattle judging show, securing third place in his age category. Congratulations, Max! Our heartfelt appreciation goes to Richard and Prue Post for their generous loan and support of the agriculture program this term.

We are excited to welcome new Limousin heifers soon and participate in the Northern Schools Prime Lamb Competition in Inverell towards the end of this term. Our school is grateful for the generous donation of three prime lambs for the competition from Warren and Gina Lockyer. Thank you for your continuous and generous support of our school's agriculture program.

We are currently exploring pig husbandry in stage 4 and recently hosted a visit from primary students to introduce them to our piglets and other farm animals.

Rose Kliendienst awarded the Harding Miller Scholarship

Rose Kliendienst has been awarded the Harding Miller Scholarship, totalling $20000 over the next four years. This scholarship is available to year 9 female students enrolled in an Australian public high school, residing in geographically isolated areas, and selected based on their applications and academic performance over the past three years.

Scholarship recipients are required to exhibit academic and professional motivation, with a commitment to pursuing tertiary education. The scholarship aims to equip students with the necessary tools and support to achieve their full academic potential.

The scholarship encompasses a laptop, financial assistance for educational materials, tutoring, and assigns each recipient a mentor for guidance throughout the four-year period.

Rose and her mother, Michelle, will journey to Sydney in May for an official award ceremony. During the event, Rose will meet with the Harding Miller team, her mentor, and engage in interactive sessions and workshops.

Congratulations Rose!

Harmony Week emphasises inclusivity, respect, and fostering a sense of belonging for all individuals. It serves as a tribute to our diverse society and the successful integration of migrants into Australian communities. Guyra Central School marked Harmony Week during week 8 with various festivities, including a Harmony Day Assembly on Thursday, March 21, 2024. Throughout Harmony Week, students engaged in activities and discussions on diversity, respect, and the unique aspects that make Australia a wonderful place to live. The shared values of belonging and respect showcased by our students during Harmony Week can be practiced daily by all of us beyond this dedicated week.

On Thursday, March 21, 2024, many students dressed in cultural attire or wore orange or purple to demonstrate their support for Harmony Week. During the Harmony Day Assembly, Ingrid Chilcotte-Geere shared her experiences as a Rotary Exchange student in Mexico, highlighting the challenges she faced and the value of her time there. Trisha Varley, the winner of the local Lions Club Youth of the Year competition, presented a speech relevant to Harmony Week to the school community. Mrs Linley Ryan discussed the connection between sports and Harmony Week with our students.

Special thanks to Mrs Annette Callister and her team for coordinating the Harmony Day activities, and gratitude to the parents and carers who joined us in celebrating Harmony Day.

K-6 Easter Hat Parade 

On an exuberant Tuesday, 26th March 2024, the Bill Wicks Gynasium Cola area of Guyra Central School buzzed with excitement and creativity as Transition-Year 6 students showcased their flair and imagination in the much-anticipated annual Easter Hat Parade. This event not only fostered a vibrant community spirit but also marked an important milestone for our Transition students participating in their first official school event. The diligence and enthusiasm with which these young minds approached the task were evident in the kaleidoscope of Easter Hats paraded before an audience of proud parents and carers.

The challenge of crafting these Easter Hats was embraced both at school and home, offering a wonderful opportunity for students to express their creativity and skills in a festive context. The array of hats this year was nothing short of spectacular, featuring an assortment of designs that ranged from the whimsically imaginative to the beautifully intricate. This made the task of selecting winners for the categories of Best Home-Made Hat and Best Hat Made at School exceptionally challenging for Ms Callister. However, amidst tough competition, standouts like Oliver Morrow, Dallas Gesell, and Kailyn Dittman, among others, were duly recognized for their outstanding creations, highlighting the diverse talent within our student body.

The Easter celebrations at Guyra Central School extended beyond the parade, with students engaging in Easter-themed colouring activities that further displayed their artistic talents. The announcement of colouring competition winners added another layer of excitement to an already memorable day. The success of these events is a testament to the vibrant school community and the supportive involvement of parents and carers. It's these shared experiences that enrich our students' educational journey, creating cherished memories and fostering a sense of belonging and achievement. As we reflect on this year's Easter festivities, we are reminded of the joy and creativity that define the spirit of Guyra Central School.

After our Easter Hat Parade, Transition-Year 6 students had a delightful Easter Egg Hunt arranged by our Primary SRC representatives. The event was enjoyable, as students enthusiastically collected eggs to fill their baskets, with older students lending a helping hand to the younger ones. It's commendable how our students showcased our core values of Pride, Respect, and Responsibility during this festive occasion.

Grace Collins named 2024 RM Williams RAS Rural Achiever Award at Royal Easter Show 

In a remarkable celebration of dedication and passion for agriculture, Guyra Central School's very own Farm Assistant, Grace Collins, has been honoured with the prestigious 2024 RM Williams RAS Rural Achiever Award at this year's Royal Easter Show. This accolade holds significant esteem as it shines a spotlight on young individuals, specifically those in their 20s, who are actively contributing to the enrichment of rural Australia. Grace's achievement not only highlights her exceptional commitment to the agricultural sector but also positions her as a shining example of the future leadership in this vital industry.

Grace's journey in agriculture is marked by her current academic pursuit, a Bachelor of Agriculture at the University of New England. Her selection as one of the eight finalists for this year's award underscores her outstanding contribution and dedication to the agricultural community at a young age. What sets Grace apart is her fervent passion for educating and nurturing the upcoming generation of agriculturalists. Her vision extends beyond her current role and academic endeavours, as she aspires to further her studies with a Master of Education. Grace's ultimate dream is to mould young minds as a high school agriculture teacher, a testament to her commitment to the future of agriculture.

Guyra Central School, where Grace serves as a Farm Hand assisting Mrs. Rebecca Smith at the School Farm, considers itself immensely privileged to have someone of Grace's calibre and passion as part of their team. Her role at the farm and her broader ambitions reflect a deep-rooted passion for agriculture that is infectious and inspiring for the students she interacts with. The school community and all who have had the pleasure of working with Grace are excited to see where her journey will take her. With such passionate and dedicated individuals like Grace Collins at the helm, the future of agriculture in Australia looks incredibly bright.

Easter Delivery to McLean Care Kolora Aged Care 

Before Easter, our fantastic School captains presented an Easter box filled with donated eggs to the residents at McLean Care Kolora Aged Care on the Thursday prior. Leading up to Easter, the students gathered the eggs from our school community. The residents and staff at McLean Care Kolora were delighted to receive the thoughtful box of chocolate eggs. A heartfelt thank you to the compassionate staff and students for bringing Easter joy to them.

A fantastic start for Transition students educational journey

Term 1 in Transition at Guyra Central has been a very exciting one! All of the students were so happy to be here at school, even if the excitement was mixed with a few nerves.

This term, we have read some fantastic books and completed some wonderful craft. We have made whales, animal masks and frogs, just to name a few! We have also been exploring colours and have been conducting “colour hunts” in our classroom. We are becoming very confident with counting too and have been incorporating counting in many of our activities.

We worked so hard to make bunny ears and other Easter craft, which we used in the Easter Hat Parade and Egg Hunt. With the help of Sally, we also created an art masterpiece for the Guyra Show. We spend our afternoons working on our gross motor skills, playing running, jumping and throwing games.

Early Stage 1 Sloths 

Term 1 has been a very busy time for Early Stage 1 Sloth’s, adjusting to school life and school routines. They have all settled in extremely well and are enjoying their time at school.

We were very excited to receive a Third Place at the Guyra Show for our mural, the theme being Tomatoes and Potatoes. The Kindy students had a great time helping to create this spectacular artwork. They had their first excursion to the Guyra Show to see their mural on display.

Kindy have also created some beautiful artwork to decorate their classroom, they also did a wonderful job drawing and painting a self portrait which is displayed outside their classroom.

We have been learning letters, sounds and numbers. Kindy have also been practicing very hard to write their names correctly. They have just started reading and using their fingers to point to the words as they read. We have been counting each day, in Term 2 we will celebrate being at school for 100 days with a class party. 

The Easter Hat parade was a very exciting time for Kindy, they decorated a mask in class and were very happy to parade these in front of their families, some students made hats at home and also displayed these during the parade. Following the parade Kindy were treated to an Easter egg hunt using their handmade baskets.

Kindy has attended 2 PBL reward days, a disco and a movie day, they all had a great time, especially dancing at the disco. They attended the mini cross country and all received a ribbon for their participation.

We have been practicing our item ‘Going on a Bear Hunt’ which Kindy performed beautifully at assembly in front of family and friends.

Term 1 has been wonderful for Early Stage 1 Sloths. They have adjusted well to school life and have been busy making new friends and learning new things.

Stage 1 Llamas

Stage One have had a busy term settling into new classrooms and new routines for the year. We enjoy breaking into three different groups for both InitiaLit and Maths. We have been busy learning about our senses in Science and participating in lots of different experiments. We have also engaged in learning about music and performed a small body percussion performance to our class. Some of the highlights from our term are excursions to the show and school farm, PBL rewards day and most recently, our Easter hat parade and egg hunt.

Written by Stage 1 Llamas

Stage 1 Dolphins, the year so far…

Stage 1 Dolphins have started the year with a desire to learn, a willingness to be team members and a maturity that shines, qualities that place students in good stead for achieving their potential.

We started the year on an adventurous note by visiting the school farm and learning about animals, seeing a litter of piglets and picking some fruit. The term progressed into academic learning with a strong focus on building upon essential literacy and math skills. Some areas of focus have been learning about complex sentences and Auslan as a form of communication, and building upon number sense by playing 'Big Picture’ math games, focusing on students’ needs and abilities. 

In Science, we have been identifying different forms of energy such as light, sound and heat, and how they are sensed and produced. We explored the questions, ‘How do people use their senses to understand the world around them?’, Where does light come from?’ and ‘Where does sound come from?’

The Arts have created much enjoyment for our class in learning new and creative techniques to create artworks, as well as delving into the elements of music such as beat, rhythm, pitch and dynamics during music classes.

During Sport and PE, students have practised fundamental skills such as hopping, skipping, sliding, throwing and catching. These skills have been used in a variety of cooperative games. The children have stepped up to the challenges and have improved or learnt new skills.

I am so proud of you Stage 1 Dolphins and it is a pleasure to teach you. Keep up the good work!

Mrs Melissa Readford

Classroom Teacher 

Stage 1 Dolphins

A fantastic start to 2024 for Stage 2 Turtles 

Throughout our busy school term, each day would bring a new adventure and a wealth of learning opportunities. A highlight of the term was the exciting rehearsals we would have for our play performance, ‘Fantastic Mr Fox’. We delved into characters and scenes who we discovered during our English studies. Next came the exploration of the realm of mathematics, where we were developing our skills in subtraction, addition, multiplication and the mysteries of place value. There's never a dull moment in Stage 2 Turtles!

For our science classes, we were fascinated by the dynamics of push and pull forces, witnessing first hand how they shape the world around us. Meanwhile, in English, we spent time honing our storytelling skills, crafting vivid narratives and unravelling the secrets of informative texts by exploring the freezing depths of Antarctica and the Arctic. 

Learning the subject of Art, resulted in a vibrant splash of colour filling our classroom, from still life drawings to intricate portraits, each stroke a testament to the creativity of Stage 2. As the excitement built for the athletics carnival and cross country, the class was ready to lace up their shoes and prepare to showcase their athletic skills and teamwork! I would also like to mention how much I have loved my time at Guyra Central School so far. As the term draws to a close, I reflect fondly on my time with the Stage 2 Turtles, eagerly anticipating the adventures that await in the next term….

Well done to everyone in the class for all of your hard work, and I wish you all a safe and happy Term 1 Holiday break!

Stage 3  - Term 1 in Review with Rose Gordon

This term has been very busy with lots of incursions, excursions and other activities. 

We started the term with the swimming carnival in week 2. Lots of students participated and tried their best in all events, including freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and relays. My favourite part was making it to district and the floaty race for the year 6 students. 

Then we went to the Guyra Show. We made our mural, which was a cow and sheep with different places and things that are important to Guyra. We also put in some veggies from our garden and received some first and second place awards. The excursion to the show was great, because we got to see lots of our art, watch the secondary kids judge animals, watch Jess Fletcher ride and check out all the rides.

We have also had many Stage 3 students wanting to be leaders, showing our younger students about Pride, Respect and Responsibility. A big congratulations to our Captains - Fletcher and Mackenzie, our SRC - Toby, Charlotte, Hamish and Aoife, our Technology Captains - Lacey and Kiarnie, our Creative Arts Captains - Rose and Tessa, our Sports Captains - Flyn, Kade, Jessica, Brax, Kayne and Sam T, our Junior AECG - Sherkaya, Willson, Izzy and Tae and our Library Monitor - Lincoln.

In the classroom, both stage 3 Frogs and Panthers have been reading and writing their own version of the Wild Robot, called Origins. Our story was about a robot lost in the forest and he was looking for where he belongs. In Science we have been looking at different animal adaptations and how animals change to suit their environment. In Geography, we looked at migration and the difference between a refugee and migrant. My favourite subjects have been Art and Sport. In art we have continued to view and investigate Escher Art and how he uses lines and shading to make illusions, like the standing tower and the never-ending hole. And for sport we have been preparing for cross country on the last day of school and athletics next term.

In other Sport we had our primary cricket team play on the 2nd of April against Glen Innes Primary School. Unfortunately, we lost 85 - 123, but had a great day out on the pitch. 

Finally, the highlight  for me this term was having the opportunity to trial for the North West hockey being selected for the North West team. I can't wait to play against all the other teams in NSW.

All in all, I have had a great start to the year and am excited to see what happens in Term 2.

Rose Gordon 

Stage 3 Frogs

PSSA  Cricket Knockout

On Tuesday the 2nd of April, the primary cricket team vs Glen Innes PS at Guyra Central School. We started by winning the toss and chose to bowl first. Brax and Sam T both bowled a Glen Innes player out and Kayne caught 3 players out, Sherkaya caught 1 out and Flyn caught 1 too. Unfortunately, we also bowled 71 wides which gave us a large disadvantage to chase for when we were batting.

After lunch we began to bat. Ryan, Willson, Brax and Fletcher all got out by being bowled or caught. Sam T and Kayne were still in when the game ended. Sadly, the score was 123 - 85, to Glen Innes. Although, we lost we all had a great day and tried hard. Thank you to Tremane for all the training lessons and coaching us on the day.

Team List: Brax Hutton (C), Ryan Vidler, Fyn Byers, Willson McElroy, Sam Torrens, Fletcher Gardiner, Sherkaya Munro-Davies, Rose Gordon, Tae Torrens, Kayne Brennan, Sam Ashman, Zion Torrens and Hamish Brown (reserve/ water boy)

Written by Brax Hutton and Ryan Vidler

Stage 3

Science and Engineering Day

On Tuesday 5 March, a group of 20ish stage 3 students travelled to Lazenby Hall at the UNE in Armidale to participate in the Highlands Science and Engineering Day.  

At the Science and Engineering Day we did lots of fun activities. I worked in a team with Chey-Anne and Kiarnie.  In our team we did 'Build a Bridge' and It's a Trap'. For 'Build a Bridge' we had to use a metal frame and use only cardboard, paddle pop sticks, straws and what not, to build a bridge that could withstand various weights. We did pretty well at this activity and got about 400 x the weight of the actual bridge before the weights toppled over the top.

Then we had a lunch break before returning inside to begin our next activity 'It's a Trap'. 'It's a Trap' was really fun, we had a whole bunch or scenarios to complete. We used marbles (which were fish) and lots of magnetic rocks that we had to stick on a magnetic board. We had to try and catch the fish (marbles). Each scenario got harder as we went along. We had to sometimes turn the board 180 degrees. The better we did at each scenario the more points we scored for our school.

We had an amazing time in Armidale and we would like to thank Mr Alletsee and Adrian Cameron for taking us.

Written by Charlotte Auld 

Stage 3

Yarn up

Guyra Central School hosted its inaugural ‘Yarn Up’ during week 8 of this term. Jada Alefosio led the discussion with questions from her Aboriginal Studies class. Both junior and senior members actively engaged with Jada's questions, showing strong support for her studies. The ‘Yarn Up’ group was fortunate to have members of the Guyra community participate. Elders Barry Patterson and Nellie Blair shared their knowledge of the Guyra area and childhood stories with the group. Mrs. Nicholson, Ms. Annette Callister, and Mrs. Danni Peoples commended the active participation in the event. The ‘Yarn Up’ session concluded with a delightful morning tea provided by the Guyra Central School Canteen.

Building a better future 

Guyra Central school secondary students had a wonderful day visiting Oorala and the Meeting Place. They engaged in various activities such as sitting in the Yarning Circle, discovering natural ochre used in traditional art, and exploring tree propagation and different tree species with the Armidale Tree Group. The students also learned about koala habitats and took a tour of the facility. During the visit, they planted Eucalyptus stellulata (black sally), Eucalyptus viminalis (manna gum), and Eucalyptus campanulata (New England Peppermint). To plant the trees, the students were taught to use a Hamilton tool and a hammer to compact the soil around the seedlings, and they protected the seedlings using milk cartons and bamboo stakes. A big thank you to the Oorala Centre, Armidale Tree Group, Helen Ward from the Local Land Services Agency, New England Landcare Group, Miss Jess Wright, and Tremane Patterson from Guyra Central School for providing such a fantastic day for our students.

Armidale Zone PSSA Rugby League 

On Monday 8 April 2024, primary boys from Guyra Central School had the chance to try out for the Armidale Zone Rugby League team. Congratulations to Greg West and Flyn Byers for making it into the 11s Armidale zone team, and to Brax Hutton, Ryan Vidler, Fletcher Gardiner, Willson McElroy, and Kayne Brennan for being selected to represent the 12s Armidale zone team in the North West Rugby League trial on Wednesday 1 May 2024. These students will have the opportunity to be chosen for the North West team to compete in the State Championships later in the year. Best of luck to all the students selected for the North West trial.

Art Express Exhibitions

On Thursday, 4th April 2024, a group of talented students travelled to Tamworth to visit the Art Express exhibition. The exhibited artworks were carefully chosen pieces from the top-performing HSC students in the state for 2023 in HSC Visual Arts. These artworks displayed exceptional talent, skill, and served as a great source of inspiration. Additionally, our students took part in a printmaking workshop during the visit, which was a valuable experience for each of them.

CHSSA Opens Touch Football Knockout 

On Wednesday, April 10th, 2024, thirteen secondary school boys from Guyra Central School travelled to Armidale Secondary College to participate in the CHSSA Open Touch Football GALA Day. Although we didn't secure the overall victory, it was a rewarding experience. We faced defeats in the first two matches against Uralla and Armidale Secondary College. However, we managed to secure a win against a short-handed Bundarra team in the third game to wrap up the day. Considering the younger age of our team competing in the open age division, our school performed admirably in the competition and is poised for future improvement. Congratulations!