Principal's Message

Just like that ... and the 2021 school year has come to an end! 

Term 4 has been a wonderful opportunity to see the depth and breadth of talent in a variety of spheres at Armidale Secondary College. It has been an absolute joy to recognise the efforts of our learners in achieving their goals and setting new ones for 2022. 

My merit signing hand is aching from the number of awards that have been handed out in our Year Assemblies. Congratulations to all our learners who have demonstrated respect, responsibility and resilience to achieve so many wonderful things this year.

Already our Year 12 students are being recognised for their achievements in their HSC practical courses with several students being nominated for the HSC Practical Work Showcases. Congratulations to Breanna Boyd and Mauatua Fa’ara-Reynolds who received nominations for Encore (Music). Congratulations also to Amber Leitner,  for her incredible achievement in being nominated and selected for both Art Express and On Stage (Costume Design).

Week 11 Activity Week saw our students enjoying a variety of outdoor learning and wellbeing opportunities as well as engaging in some study skills and our student leadership group planning for implementing their projects for 2022.

Next year we will be starting off in a positive fashion by engaging in Soaring for Success Week. This week will see students engage with year-based and whole-school programs that focus on learning about how we learn here at ASC. With a renewed focus on Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL),  we will be reconnecting learners with the school’s high expectations around our core values of Respect, Responsibility and Resilience. Students will learn about the school’s systems and process around safety, learning and assessment as well as lessons that develop study skills and learning habits.

In 2022 we can look forward to the completion of the final part of our new build, the Multi-Purpose Centre (MPC). The MPC includes two full sized basketball courts, two classrooms, a gym and movement studio, as well as a staff room and servery facilities. We will also have the opportunity to produce full scale performing arts events with retractable seating and state of the art audio visual capabilities. I know that the Theatre Club students can’t wait to get a full-scale event happening!

Our school has been successful in securing a couple of wonderful opportunities for our staff, students and community beginning next year. In 2022, we will strengthen our ties with the University of New England by becoming a Professional Experience Hub for Teachers in Training with a focus on STEM teaching. This will see our teachers mentoring and developing teachers in training during their practicums and internships and also involvement in educational research.  

Our teachers will also be engaging with our Partner Primary Schools to build better connections and to provide greater cohesion in educational transition points in our town. There are plans afoot for earlier transition opportunities for students in Stage 2 and 3 as well as opportunities for teachers to work across schools in Professional Learning Communities to improve our classroom practices. Our whole community benefits when there is is a quality teacher in every classroom!

In Term 1 2022 ASC will join 120 schools across the state in the Educational Pathways Program. This will see us work with other local public high schools and add to our staffing with a Head Teacher Secondary Studies (Careers) and a SBAT (School Based Apprenticeship or Traineeship) engagement officer. This will support the extraordinary work of our Careers Adviser, Ms Hardman, in ensuring our students transition into rewarding careers and tertiary educational opportunities once they leave ASC. 

Our return to the 2022 school year will be staggered:

• Friday, 28 January - Staff Development Day 1 (staff only);
• Monday, 31 January - Staff Development Day 2 (staff only);
• Tuesday, 1 February - Stage 6 (Year 11 and 12) and Year 7;
• Wednesday, 2 February - all students return.

I wish all our ASC family a very happy holiday. No matter how you celebrate the holidays, please stay safe and enjoy the opportunity to rest, relax and reconnect after what has been a very big year. A very happy new year to you all. May 2022 bring us time to consolidate the great plans that are in place to ensure Our Future and Our Learning.

Bree Harvey-Bice

Principal (Rel.)