Central News
Merry Christmas to all!
The past two years have been ones' of enormous challenge for all in our community and our wider society. It has been especially pleasing to observe the fortitude and resilience displayed by our young people as they have pushed on through all of the hurdles placed in the way of their learning. So, I wish to make a big shout out to all of our students but in particular our graduating Academy II students - you've stood tall and walked proud!
Staffing
Many staffing adjustments have already been announced in other places but to summarise;
We welcome Tom McLean 'officially' to the role of Head of Junior School; Charmaine Endacott to the newly created position of Assistant Principal Curriculum & Instruction; Hannah Grills will also take on this role one a day a week and in the new year we will appoint someone into the role of Head of Middle School one day per week. We will welcome Kylie Adams as the new Head Teacher Secondary Studies (Careers) who will be based in our school but work across a number of schools in the region.
After a three year search we have finally been able to secure a new Industrial Arts teacher, Garth Bell, and we look forward to reinvigorating that part of our curriculum delivery. Michelle Koina joined us last term as our Student Support Officer (SSO) and we have been really excited in the way that her role has developed and evolved - she has been an amazing addition to our support team and we look forward to our new full-time School Counsellor being appointed in 2022 to further develop this area of our work.
We will welcome Sam Brown back after a two year secondment at Armidale Secondary College and in doing so sincerely thank Samantha Drozdowski who so admirably filled that space in Sam's absence. I am also pleased to announce the permanent appointment to our staff of Sasha Riordan as a Geography/English teacher.
After seven years with us Amy Brodbeck is taking 2022 off and moving to the Northern Territory for an adventure - we hope to see her back...eventually.
Other news
After much deliberation we have decided to once again make our annual Swimming Carnival 'Competitors Only' in 2022. Traditionally, we have held a Twilight Carnival to get our students out of the heat of the day and allow greater community involvement. We are no longer permitted under departmental guidelines to hold a Twilight Carnival and given historic participation rates and attendance we feel it is better for all concerned to go with the competitors only scenario and have the bulk of students at school continuing their learning. More information will be forthcoming in the first week of term.
School resumes on Tuesday 1 February for Year 1-Academy II students; Kindergarten 2022 will have their first day on Monday 7 February.
From all of our staff to all of our families we wish you a very happy Christmas and a positive and rewarding New Year.