Welcome back to all of our students and staff. I hope that everyone had a great break with their families and friends. As usual we have a huge term ahead of us with lots of great learning opportunities planned.

We are very fortunate at Guyra Central School to have highly trained and experienced staff, within a school that is small enough to provide targeted, personalised learning opportunities for our students. It is a rare privilege to have the opportunity to educate the entire young cohort of a family. At Guyra Central School we have the opportunity to track a child’s learning from preschool, through our transition program, until Year 12 and beyond.

I would encourage all of our parents/carers, family and community members to engage with our newly constructed 2018-2020 School Plan, this can be located on the Guyra Central School website – http://www.guyra-c.schools.nsw.edu.au. The plan outlines our 3 year goals to provide individualised learning plans for each of our students, providing support and guidance as they transition from Preschool, Primary and onto Secondary and Tertiary studies. Please come and see me to discuss any element of the plan if you wish to gain further clarity.

We were very fortunate to have a beautiful sundrenched afternoon on Wednesday 2nd May for our ANZAC Day Service at the school. Thank you to Mr Hans Hietbrink, President of the Guyra sub-branch of the RSL for leading and assisting us with the planning of this important event. Rev Mark Evers led our prayers and Mr Ron Vickeress, Treasurer of the sub-branch of Guyra RSL provided our students with a very enlightened view. Thank you to Mr Michael Evans who spoke at the service, giving a history teachers view on Anzac Day. As always our junior and senior student leadership body undertook duties within the service and Ty Paterson led our Welcome to Country. Thank you to everyone for providing an opportunity for our school for reflection and learning.

Congratulations to Jessica Newberry. Jess was awarded a Pride of Workmanship award through the Guyra Rotary club. Thank you for all of the great work that you do for us here at the school Jess.

I would like to take the opportunity to welcome two new staff members to our school community - Mr James Bryant, who some of you will have already met, is working with our year 5/6 students until the end of 2018 as a temporary engagement for maternity leave and Mr Andrew Murray, who was appointed as a permanent member of staff, through a transfer appointment. Mr Murray is working in the TAS/Science/IT area and has been appointed as the Technology teacher to Guyra Central School. Both staff members bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to our school.

It is with a sense of excitement that I acknowledge two productive partnerships that have been established with our local business groups. In the coming weeks we will be providing much more information around our Guyra Streetscape Art Program that we have established with the Armidale Regional Council. This is a wonderful example of project-based learning where our students are working side by side with professional architects, engineers and artists. Our second project-based learning opportunity revolves around the creation of a flexible learning space within the Primary Quad area. We are partnering with the Costa group and Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program for this project and are urging our community to partner with our students to design and implement this project.

I am looking forward to our first Parent and Citizens meeting of term 2 next Wednesday evening, 16th May at 6.00 p.m. I would urge all parents/carers and community members to attend and have your say in the education of your children.

Thank you again for the support that we enjoy here at the school from our community. I look forward to meeting up with more of you during this term.

Competition time!!!!!!