From the Principal's Desk
With Mrs Michelle Barrett
Network Meeting
Last Tuesday, Molong Central School hosted the Orange Network Meeting for Secondary and Central Schools, which coincided with “Sorry Day” and the start of Reconciliation Week. This was an opportunity to discuss future directions of Education and debrief about the issues schools have faced with the COVID 19 pandemic with other Principals and the Orange Schools’ Director Mr Duncan Auld. Jesyca Pearson started proceedings off with an Acknowledgement of Country, which she did beautifully and Dean White the Executive Director, took the opportunity to explain the plight that some Aboriginal families were dealing with during the pandemic.
Regional Aboriginal Education Team
On Friday, Molong Central School hosted The Regional Aboriginal Education Team, where plans were made for teacher professional learning on Day 1 of Semester 2. Our Aboriginal Education and Engagement Officer, as well as members of the SNR Executive, planned professional learning, student engagement sessions and a community session. An Aboriginal pedagogy framework called “8 Ways” is currently used by some of our teachers and is embedded in some programs, but not all teachers have had the opportunity to participate in Professional Learning around the “8 Ways” framework. Reconciliation Week was the perfect opportunity to meet with the team and explore opportunities to compliment existing programs, by using Aboriginal learning techniques, when teaching outcomes using Aboriginal perspectives.
Settling Back into the Routine of School
It has been wonderful settling back into the routine of school for students and staff and it reminds us all that it is easy to take for granted things you expect will always exist. The students have responded well in most instances and for those who are having difficulty, teachers have developed strategies to reengage them, including additional Learning and Support and Counsellor referrals. We have also addressed many concerns this week from parents and students and have been able to link families to appropriate community supports.
Encouraging students to develop an effective routine to return to school can be complex, particularly when students have had such a long break and the older they get the more stressful this can become. I encourage you to contact the school if this is an issue for you. The reluctance to attend could be the key to finding out more about what their concerns are, so meeting with a Deputy Principal can be the first step in getting your child the help they need, to start looking forward to school. Our Deputies have been in contact with many families to support their efforts in returning and reengaging in school throughout last week and have been successful on most occasions.
Zoom Meeting for Year 12 Parents
Next Wednesday 11th June at 5PM, I will be hosting a Parent Information Session to explain the Universities Admission Centre Schools Recommendation Scheme. Details for the meeting have been sent home with the Year 12 Reports.
Aurora Opportunity Class
The first intake of Year 5 Aurora students will be in 2021. These students will comprise Aurora’s first Year 6 cohort in 2022 and there will be a new intake of Year 5 students in this, and in each subsequent year.
Applications for Year 5 placement in the virtual opportunity class in 2021 open Tuesday 9 June 2020 and close at 5 pm on Friday 26 June 2020.
The Opportunity Class Placement Test for 2021 entry will be held on Wednesday 16 September 2020.
Students seeking enrolment in Year 5 are considered for entry on the basis of academic merit, which is determined by the students’ performance in the Opportunity Class Placement Test.
To apply for entry in Year 5 in 2021, please visit the Department’s website: Opportunity classes – Year 5.