Central News

Principal's Report

If no mistake you have made, losing you are. A different game you should play.

Yoda, Jedi Master  896BBY-4ABY

 

In the last newsletter I provided information on the New South Wales Department of Education Strategic Plan 2018-2020. In this edition I intend to flesh out the final sections of that plan 'Our Values'. Starting with, 

Excellence

  • We have high expectations and we continually seek to improve ourselves and our work.
  • We strive to excel and invite the best ideas from everyone in and outside the department.
  • We use and share evidence, research and data to underpin policy and practice.
  • We welcome collaboration and learning with others.

Equity

  • We ensure that every student has access to high-quality public education.
  • We respect diversity and the views and contributions of others.
  • We treat people fairly.

Accountability

  • We take responsibility for decisions and outcomes.
  • We allocate and use resources efficiently and effectively.
  • We monitor and review performance to drive improvement.

Trust

  • We build relationships based on transparency, honesty and mutual respect.
  • We support each other.
  • We respect others’ expertise, experience and points of view, and listen with an open mind.

Integrity

  • We act professionally with honesty and consistency.
  • We communicate clear expectations.
  • We are transparent with information and our decisions.

Service

  • We are flexible, innovative, responsive and reliable.
  • We provide coordinated and aligned services to enhance teaching and learning.
  • We work openly in partnership with parents, communities and organisations.

Our performance measures

  • Increased proportion of children enrolled in an early childhood education program in the year before school (and proportion who are enrolled for 600 hours).
  • Increased proportion of students reporting a sense of belonging, expectations for success and advocacy at school.
  • Increased proportion of students in the top two NAPLAN bands for reading and numeracy.
  • Increased proportion of Aboriginal students in the top two NAPLAN bands for reading and numeracy.
  • Increased proportion of regional and remote students in the top two NAPLAN bands for reading and numeracy.
  • Increased proportion of students with an HSC, Year 12 certificate or AQF certificate II and above.
  • Increased number of teachers accredited at the Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher levels.
  • Increased number of schools with high value-add.
  • Improved staff engagement results in the People Matter Employee Survey.
  • Number of new and upgraded schools and classrooms.

What we do at Uralla Central School falls under the auspices of the Department's Strategic Plan and we believe that we are well positioned to play our part in the Department achieving its broader systemic goals.

On other matters - our newly refurbished Science Laboratory and Preparation room will be handed over and operational by our next newsletter and we are truly excited about the new facility - especially after the long wait.

Mrs Jillian Courtney and Mrs Merilyn Minks, both long serving members of our School Administration and Support Staff have recently finished up with the Department. Jillian to retirement and Merilyn to other employment - we wish them both good health and prosperity in the next stages of their lives/careers.

I've mentioned it elsewhere but the new uniform is upon us. It will shortly be available for purchase at the school - no item is over $40.00 and all are of high quality. The official phase in period is from the beginning of Term 3 this year until the end of the 2019 school year. Between now and the end of 2018 we will work on the development of the more formal Academy uniform as requested by our community with the view to having implementation from the beginning of 2019. It is an expectation that all students will Stand tall and Walk proud by wearing the new uniform at all times.

Finally, all K-10 Semester One reports will be issued to students today, Friday 8 June.

If you are travelling over the long weekend do so safely. Until the next edition, cherish your children.

The capacity to learn is a gift;

The ability to learn is a skill;

The willingness to learn is a choice.

Frank Herbert (1920-1986) Author of Dune