Principal's Message

Welcome back to Term 2 everybody. Term 1 was a very challenging term to be sure for everyone in every school across the country. After a refreshing and relaxing Autumn break, we are back on board for more positive learning experiences here at ASC. 

With the relaxation of some Covid19 operational restrictions across the state we have once again been able to offer students greater opportunities across sport, culture and academics. The landscape continues to change with Covid but some things remain the same. 

Term 2 COVID-smart school settings are now online on our Advice for families page.

• Please continue to inform us if your learner has tested positive for Covid 19 and isolate for 7 days. You need to report your positive Rapid Antigen Test Results using the Service NSW App.
• From the beginning of Term 2, students and staff who are identified as close contacts will be able to attend school at the principal’s discretion with the following risk mitigation's in place:
• Parents/carers and staff must notify the school if they or their child is a close contact and intends to attend school or work.
• Students and staff should conduct a daily rapid antigen test (RAT) and receive a negative result each morning before attending school for 5 subsequent school days
• Close contacts should wear masks in all indoor settings at school
• Close contacts are not allowed to enter support units or assisted transport or attend overnight excursions for 7 days after identification as a contact.

Educational Pathways Program and Careers

Our EPP has kicked off and we have been working with our new network Head Teacher Careers, Kylie Adams to develop our suite of programs to support student careers development from stage 5 through to post school options. One of the important supports that will be offered to our careers teacher is the opportunity for regional assistance to manage school based apprenticeships and traineeships. The program and its supports will also assist in preparing year 10 students for job readiness and further supports in making connections with businesses throughout the region.

Learning Opportunities for our students

Amgen Biotech Experience- Our Year 12 biology students were joined by some students from year 10 and 11 with a strong interest in science to attend the program run through the University of Sydney. Students performed several real-world genetic engineering laboratory exercises. This included verifying recombinant plasmids and transforming them into bacteria. This is part of a three week program where students learn about both the theory of and practical techniques involved in producing artificial insulin.

Our Year 11 and 12 Premier’s Debating Team won their first debate against Orange High on the 8th March.

Da Vinci Challenge -Mr Lane accompanied Stage 4 students to compete in the Da Vinci Decathalon. We had some stiff competition from other local schools and some very challenging questions to answer, all based around the Decathalon's theme of 'Causation'. After an exhausting day and some particularly challenging questions, ASC placed in the top three for several categories.

Year 7: 1st Art and Poetry, 1st Creative Producers, 3rd Maths

Year 8: 3rd English, 3rd Science. 1st Maths, 3rd Ideation, 3rd Legacy

Thank you to the wonderful Year 7 and 8 teams who represented ASC extremely well. Their conduct and presentation was remarked upon by visiting teachers from other schools.

Mr. Tobie White from Science is leading the way on Developing Links with Lockheed Martin through the STEMpunks program. This very exciting program will see our students challenged in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

NAPLAN

Year 7 and 9 students undertook their online practice tests for NAPLAN late last term and are gearing up for the real thing in week 3 this term. 

Digital Upgrades

On the 4th March our internet bandwidth was upgraded from 400Mbs to 6.5Gbs. This indicates about a 16 times bandwidth increase. This was not due to occur for some time but due to flooding to the north, the contracted company is moving further south to do schools that were not yet scheduled.

In the July holidays, the Rural Access Gap Infrastructure roll out will install, to supplement our current excellent digital resources, 

16 x 75” mobile height adjustable panels 

9  x 86” mobile height adjustable panels

67 x small Cameras

22 large Cameras

And 25 mini PC’s to attached to the 75 and 86 “ panels in our classrooms. 

This follows on from the laptop roll out for all permanent full time staff.

Celebrations, commemorations and successes.

8th May- International Women’s Day, our captains represented the school at the local IWD breakfast and the students at school joined in celebrations by wearing purple and green and learning about the history of IWD.

ASC’s first Yarn Up was held in Term 1 and Aboriginal students and their families were invited to come and meet staff and have an informal BBQ whilst also celebrating the achievements of Aboriginal students. A community member ran a smoking ceremony and our Deadly Dancers performed some of the choreography they have been working on with Bangarra Dance Theatre. The Arts Unit coordinator that has been organising the rehearsal sessions has described our group as “Super Stars and an excellent example to other schools.” These dedicated and committed dancers are now in hot demand across our community with bookings for performances coming in across the region. 

Many thanks to Ms Hillary Pearson for her ongoing commitment to growing the skills of our dancers and to our Aboriginal Learning and Engagement Team of Carol Green, Tash Griffiths, Leonie Donovan, Skye Gordon- Briggs, Kaylene Johnson and Darlene Ferguson for their amazing effort in organising Yarn Up and for the work they do every day to help our students shine.

A number of students have made it into regional teams for a variety of different sports including hockey, rugby union, volleyball and touch football. 

Our swimming carnival produced some outstanding personal bests from our swimmers and the school was well represented at the regional carnival. A large group of students acted as officials at the primary and secondary regional carnivals and received high praise from members of the community. We had a large contingent compete at the state carnival with some great personal bests and overall results- more on this later in the newsletter.

Our School World’s Greatest Shave Team raised over $7000.00 for Cancer Research and there was a really positive community vibe around the school. 

Our captains represented our school at the local ANZAC Day ceremony on Monday 25th April. What a lovely ceremony and setting in an Autumnal Central Park. As a newcomer to the area, I was really impressed with the great speakers and the wonderful performances by the New England Singers and Armidale Band and personally the bagpipes just do something to my tear ducts, especially on ANZAC Day. Mr Bruce Myers played the Last Post and there seemed to be a perfectly timed minute silence as the church bells chimed for midday before reveille. A fitting reminder of the sacrifices made in the many wars and peacekeeping efforts since WW1.

Yondr Pouch Roll out

Our Yondr pouch program has rolled out across the school. Feedback from community has been mostly positive, with many parents emailing us to let us know they were very pleased for the introduction. There has been a noticeable change to the tone of the school and learning walkthroughs show students highly engaged and focused. The playground is a much more active area. We have asked the P&C about the possibility of funding some outdoor table tennis tables to cater for the increased activity. Students are mostly on board and it is a small amount of students that are not engaging appropriately with the program.

Staff Changes and Development

Congratulations to Caz Lasker who has been successful in gaining a new permanent position as Principal at Wyndham Senior College in Sydney. Caz was relieving as principal at Bellingen High last term and has started in her new position at the start of term 2. 

Congratulations to Janette Holmes Janette has been successful in gaining a temporary position for 2 terms at Guyra Central School. Filling her role as Head Teacher of Stage 6 will be Mr. Nathan Craven.

At our most recent Staff Development Day, our teaching and non-teaching staff spent time undertaking mandatory compliance training on Fraud and Corruption prevention and teaching staff workshopped with Behaviour Specialist, Phillip De Zylva on understanding student behaviour. This builds on staff knowledge and understanding of trauma informed practice which we worked through last year. Staff also worked through modules of online learning around High Potential and Gifted Education. Beginning next 25 teaching staff who will be beginning their Mini Certificate of Gifted Education through GERRIC. This will allow staff a deeper understanding of how gifted brains work and how to extend and challenge our high potential students.

At ASC we have so many dedicated and experienced teachers who are life long learners, always seeking to improve their knowledge, understanding and practice to ensure that our students get the best opportunities to succeed.

Have a wonderful term of learning and success everyone.

                                                                                                                                            Bree Harvey-Bice

                                                                                                                                               (Principal Rel.)