Principal Report

Term 1 2023 at Guyra Central School is almost done, it has been a really rewarding and hectic term. We have made the decision to put out a ‘blockbuster’ School Magazine to celebrate the conclusion of each term and will continue to use social media to provide information and celebrate achievement during each term. Congratulations and thank you to Louise Dowden and the staff and students who have contributed to our Term 1 2023 edition.

After welcoming our incoming Kindergarten and Year 7 students to the school, and our 2024 transition to Kindergarten, beautiful little ones, it was time to focus on the teaching and learning. All this taking place while we have major public works activities happening across the school. Guyra Central School is getting a ‘face lift’ and while this is extremely exciting it has required patience and focus from our students and staff.

We are currently having new carpet laid in all classrooms and walk-ways. This project will be completed in two stages with completion during Term 3 2023. This will be followed by a repaint of all internal areas across the school. Hopefully this will be completed prior to end of Term 2 2023.  Our new commercial kitchen is nearing completion, with the stainless-steel benches being installed during Week 10 – Week 11 Term 1 2023. This is a total gut and refit of the existing kitchen area of the school and will ensure that our facilities are at a standard for our students to complete their VET competency courses. We are hoping that, into the future, we can extend training for community members to our list of school delivery.  During the last week of the holidays, or into Week 1 Term 2, our three new playground equipment hubs will be installed. We will have two

new, very flash, playground equipment areas in Primary, with an outdoor Gymnasium to be installed in the Secondary area. This has been long anticipated, and we are thrilled to confirm that this is happening soon.  During 2023 we will turn our focus to resurfacing our outdoor basketball area and replacement of our antique football goal posts with new football/soccer posts.  I have asked Tim Lloyd, our Deputy Principal, to put together a team to discuss the most appropriate refurbishment of the basketball area.  This space is used during school time and weekends and holiday time by many students, and we believe that it is a good project to focus on, moving forward.

During the Term we had our CCTV Cameras installed across the school.  This provides opportunities to ensure that all students, staff and property is supported and respected.  If you have any questions around this investment, please contact me at the school so that we can discuss.

Thank you to our Artist-in- Residence and Art Therapist, Kay Smith. What she has achieved with our students has been truly amazing. The next stage of the mural project is to take our wonderful artworks on the road.  We are currently working with a Tamworth company to reproduce the images into ‘skins’ that will adorn our two buses.  When Guyra Central School is out and about everyone will know more about our school and our community through the images.  A travelling art gallery.

Following the establishment of Brian Irving’s Commemorative Garden and the Primary Quad revitalisation, and Mural Project, we are now focussing on other areas of the school. We welcome any suggestions from parents/carers and community members as we move into the planning stages of future beautification and acknowledgement projects within the school.  

Our little school would not grow and thrive without the support of our parents/carers and community members.  Our school breeding ewes have been sourced locally, over the past couple of years through purchase and kind donation by Mara and Anthony Grills. This year we have also received four outstanding prime lambs from Gina and Warren Lockyer to enter in the show.

Our school was thrilled to take possession of the first of our Poll Dorset Stud sheep.  A ram (Dugald) and four young ewes sourced from Smithston Farm, Grahams valley, will form the foundation of our new stud.  This is a very exciting time for our school and our students.  Our school expresses its deepest gratitude to Mara and Anthony Grills for their coordination of sourcing, delivering and incredible generosity in donating our ram Dugald and for making our stud a reality for our school.

We continue to look for ways to provide our students with unique opportunities to display the best of themselves.  Students learn and thrive in different ways.  As a school we need to acknowledge that it is our responsibility to provide a broader form of assessment that allows for each of our students to demonstrate their learning within their preferred learning modes.  On this note I would like to congratulate and thank our parents/carers and community members who took time out of their busy days to attend the student Big Picture Learning Exhibitions/presentations.  This is a very busy passage of time in the Big Picture Education calendar. Thank you to all staff who have worked so hard to ensure that these demonstrations of learning actuate.

Our students are already emersed in the autumn/winter sporting calendar, and again we continue to ‘punch above our weight’ across the board. Thank you to Linley Ryan and her team, and Steven Alletsee and his Primary team, they continue to provide opportunity for our students to shine.

At Guyra Central School we continue to ensure that all staff are provided with appropriate professional learning and training, including preparation for New Syllabus and a range of other initiatives. Our staff maintain currency and excellence within their field.  Fortunately, and unfortunately, for us, this leads to promotion within their area of expertise.  We say farewell to one of our finest this term, with long time Gurya Central School Primary staff member, Meagan Vidler receiving a promotion.  Meagan will take up the role of Assistant Principal at Emmaville Central School, Term 2 2023.  Trisha McIllwain, also has recently received permanency at Drummond Public School in Armidale.

Congratulations to Danni Peoples who has been successful through merit selection to take on the permanent role of Assistant Principal at Guyra Central School. Further to this Emma Lindemann this week has joined Guyra Central School as a permanent member of our Primary staff.  We also welcome Jenny Atkin back into the school at the commencement of Term 2 2023. Jenny has been supporting staff and students at Martins Gully Public School during Term 1 2023.

William Zsigmond, will be joining our staff as the new mathematics teacher in our Secondary staffroom.  Bill comes to us from Woodenbong Central School and has moved his family to a property in Black Mountain to take up his position at the school.

I can now confirm that Annette Callister, has joined Guyra Central School as a permanent member of our staff. Annette has taken up the position of our above establishment Deputy Principal Wellbeing. This is a crucial role within the school and Annette bring many years, across a range of experiences, to the school.

Kerrie Mc Farlane has been seconded by NSW Department of Education state office to work on the new financial systems being implemented during 2023. This is a wonderful opportunity for Kerrie and in turn, for our school. Mel Urqhart-Faint, on loan from Armidale

Secondary College, will be our relieving School Administrative Manager during Kerrie’s absence from the school.

Welcome to our new staff and we wish all of our staff who are moving on well, and look forward to catching up with them to see how they are going in the not too distant future.

Stay safe if you are travelling during the holiday break. We look forward to working with everyone during Term 2.

Michelle Nicholson

Principal

Guyra Central School