Student News
Student Advocate
Year 10 ASC student Nicole Tarrant has been selected as one of 24 members to represent the voice of the almost one million public school students in NSW in the new Department of Student Voices in Education and Schools (DOVES).
The Minister of Education’s Student Council has been set up in the wake of the interruption to education due to COVID-19 as it was realised there was no formal structure through which to access student views. The aim of the council is to seek innovative student voice that designs, implements, and contributes to inclusive and positive change in the NSW education system.
After submitting a 1-minute video explaining how she would be an advocate for students, Nicole was then interviewed by two students already appointed to the council and asked to outline the three main traits she would bring: Nicole cited her ability to listen to others, her acceptance of diversity, and the power to speak up.
Nicole is very excited to be an advocate for students in rural areas and looks forward to bringing a unique perspective to the table. “I’m honoured and proud to advocate for our school, students and the community”, Nicole said.
DOVES forums will also be held at a regional/local level to ensure wider consultation and Nicole is keen to here from students at ASC and in Armidale generally. The DOVES council will meet virtually twice a term with the Minister invited to participate in the final term meeting.
Anzac Day
ASC students and staff attended the local ANZAC Day Service at Central Park to honour those who have served our country. Our Year 12 Student Leaders joined other community members to lay a wreath as part of the formal commemoration.
ASC at Earth Day
Recently on Saturday 26 April, the ASC Environment Group organised a stall at Earth Day. Held in Civic Park, the event celebrates environmental protection globally. Participating students included Mia Drozdowski (Year 8) and a Year 12 contingent of Bassam Aldahki, Jordan King, Tanaka Marume, Evelyn Ward, Emilie Gates, Jigme Thinley, Arrawyn Gow, Faraj Khalaf, Dylan Knox, Ella Vu.
Group members created an activity for the public to estimate the amount of water used to produce certain items we consume such a a t-shirt, an orange, a shower, a hamburger, a piece of paper, etc. They also planned a game where the public had to organise in order, the most likely object to decompose if left in the ground to the least likely object to decompose; including a banana, a polystyrene plate and an aluminium can (by the way, its 500 years to never for the plastic plate!). Free shrubs donated by The Tree Group were handed out to those who got the correct answers.
Many thanks to the School Leadership Team and other Environment Group members who gave their time on the weekend to raise the profile of our school at such an important event.
Mr Suddaby and Ms Dunsford assisted the students on the day with the stall set up, banners and transport equipment.
Tree Plantings
The ASC Environmental Group combined forces with members of the Armidale Tree Group to plant 40 trees during the afternoon of Wednesday, 31 March.
The trees were planted in the southeast corner of the school grounds on the boundary of Kentucky and Butler Streets. Local species chosen included ribbon gum (Eucalyptus viminalis), white gum (Eucalyptus dalrympliana), Blakely's red gum (Eucalyptus blakelyi), and yellow box(Eucalyptus mellidora).
Thank you to Dave Carr who generously donated the tree guards and ATG committee members Kerry Steller, Dave Stellar, Chris Nadolny, and John Lemon who assisted in the plantings.
The ASC Environment Group also conducted another tree planting at the Open Day last weekend. A variety of trees and shrubs was planted along the boundary between White Oval and the ASC Wetland, again with assistance of members from the Armidale Tree Group.
We are excited to see all the plants grow to create a fabulous natural habitat within our school grounds!
Crew 11's Community Service
Ms Armstrong's Crew 11 class instigated the collection of goods for a pet food hamper as a community service activity.
Members of the Armidale Animal Welfare League - Margaret and Jo - are pictured accepting the hamper from Crew 11 students. Margaret commended Crew 11 on their thoughtful efforts. She said the goodies would be distributed to needy animals in the region and invited us to consider fostering or adopting homeless animals.
What a great idea!
