Principal's Report
Term 4 Dates
Academy II Graduates for 2025
This week sees our Academy II finishing 13 years of formal education, as they prepare for their next steps in life. As a school, we gathered to celebrate and acknowledge the contributions and achievements of our graduates, with teachers and staff hosting a farewell breakfast at Alma Park, followed by our whole-school Academy II Farewell Assembly on Wednesday. On behalf of Mr Hunt, and all of our teachers and students, we wish our Academy II all the very best in their upcoming HSC exams, and with their exciting futures after school.
HSC Exams
All students in Academy (Years 11 and 12) will finish school this week, and commence their stu-vac (study vacation) period leading up to their HSC exams at the start of Term 4. As such, students in Academy will not attend school for the first five weeks of Term 4, and all Academy I are due to recommence regular classes on Monday Week 6, 17 November.
The first HSC exam for many of our students will be their English Exams (Advanced and Standard), scheduled for 16 and 17 October. All Academy students have been provided with exam timetables, as well as instructions regarding the location of these exams. Students (and their parents/carers) are reminded that HSC exams are not held on-site at Uralla Central School, but rather are conducted at the Uniting Church Hall, 18 Hill Street, Uralla.
Students will need to bring all necessary equipment to their exams – this includes pens, rulers, erasers, and calculators (if required). Working-out paper and the actual exam papers are provided.
Art Express
A group of our senior Art students in Years 10 - Academy visited NERAM on Tuesday to view the NSW ARTEXPRESS Exhibition. This exhibition showcases some of the exemplary artworks created by HSC students across the state, and served to motivate and inspire some our own budding artists.
Primary Disco
A reminder that we are hosting a Uralla Central School Primary School disco this Thursday, 25 September. The disco is for all UCS students in Kinder – Year 6, and will be held in the school hall between 4pm – 6pm. There is a dress-up theme, and students are invited to come dressed as their favourite movie character. Cost is $5, which includes a snack and drink.
Unfortunately, the secondary disco has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances, but the SRC are already thinking about possible alternate activities for next term.
Junior Rangers Program
Last week our Year 7-9 Junior Rangers Program concluded, with the participating students from Uralla Central School and Armidale Secondary College joining together for a combined performance at the Anaiwan block, Nyambinga Kyuna, near Armidale. Our students delivered a series of cultural dances to Elders, family and visitors, before combining with ASC students for some combined performances.
Our Year 5/6 Junior Rangers also finished their program this week, completing their Aboriginal artworks. This term, the 5/6 participants were able to learn about and engage with Indigenous art, artifacts, and some traditional customs that was shared by local knowledge holders.
Ms Dixie and I are extremely proud of the efforts and achievements of all of our Young Rangers, and we are excited and looking forward to running the program again next year.
Staff Changes
I invite our whole school community to join with me in congratulating Mr Craig Merrick, our ICT and Computer teacher, on his recent appointment as Head Teacher at McCarthy Catholic College, Tamworth. Craig will commence in his new role next term, and we wish him every success in this next chapter in his career! Mr Hunt is working with the Department's Staffing team to find a replacement for Mr Merrick for 2026.
At the end of this year, we will also celebrate Mrs Jo Sherrin's retirement from full-time, permanent teaching. After a career teaching in many wonderful and diverse schools and preschools across Australia, Mrs Sherrin is taking time with her family. We wish her all the very best, and hope she will continue to 'drop in' at school from time to time!
Decisions about 2026 staffing and class teachers is still being organised, and more information about these will be shared with families later in the year.
School Holidays
As we approach the school holidays next week, I would like to wish all of our students and families a safe, relaxing, and enjoyable break. A reminder that for students in Kinder – Year 10, school resumes on Tuesday, 14 October; and Academy students classes resume on 17 November (after the HSC exam period is complete).
Have a great break
Dan Williams
Relieving Principal