Advertising Feature – NSW Education Week
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Education Week is a state-wide, annual event to celebrate public education in NSW. This year it will be held from 31 July to 4 August. The week highlights the achievements of public education and local schools, putting the spotlight on our students, our educators and the communities that support them.
Read more about four of our local schools and what they offer to the region.
Xavier High School – Equipping students for life
Xavier High School offers a range of dynamic academic programs in a 21st century learning environment which prepares its students for life beyond high school, says principal Gavin Dykes.
The school is committed to a holistic community approach where families partner with the school to better obtain educational achievement for the students.
“At Xavier we put learning first. Our three pillars of learning are faith, academia and well-being and we nurture our students and challenge them to be their best selves,” said Mr Dykes.
The school benefits from the traditions of the Sisters of Mercy and the Christian Brothers.
“Students live out Gospel values with a commitment to be socially active in their communities by engaging in the ‘5C’s’ - these are challenge, collaboration, courage, compassion and being Christ-like.”
The school provides a co-curricular program that encourages its students to immerse themselves in authentic and meaningful learning opportunities.
“We are committed to offering our students, staff and families pastoral care that is informed by, and reflects, current research and best practice,” said Mr Dykes.
“All members of our community are able to experience opportunities for personal, academic, social and spiritual growth supported by a wide range of programs, including our successful learning mentor program, which promotes personalised individual student growth.”
A focus on project based learning allows students to develop and investigate their own projects in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, mathematics).
“Our Year 9 STEAM program challenges our students to engage in real-world problems to encourage students to become increasingly creative, collaborative learners and critical thinkers.”
Xavier students are offered the chance to engage in domestic and international learning opportunities.
Visits to indigenous communities in the Northern Territory, Moree, Barmah and Eden provide an opportunity to experience culture, history and traditions. Xavier High School is also proud of its cultural exchange to Nanping City, China.
“Commencing in 2009, we now facilitate student visits each year, with our Year 10 students travelling to Nanping and in 2017 the inaugural visit of Chinese students to Xavier High School.”
Border Christian College – The individual approach matters
Border Christian College principal Jodie McDonald says education is a high stakes industry and it’s important that each student is recognised as a unique person with varied abilities and interests.
The college offers education in a safe and caring Christian environment from pre-kinder to Year 12.
“Teachers take the time to get to know each child and actively seek ways to maximise their students’ potential spiritually, academically, socially and physically,” said Mrs McDonald.
“The quality of life for our children and future generations depends largely on the positive development of each individual.”
She said literacy and numeracy skills are the building blocks for future success and specialised assessments are used at the college to identify and track student growth in these areas.
“Students who perform below expected levels are given the support they need to achieve proficiency as soon as possible. Students who display a significant level of mastery are extended or accelerated in their learning.”
Mrs McDonald said character development was also an important aspect of education and teachers work in partnership with carers to assist students in becoming informed, responsible and compassionate citizens.
“Learning to make good choices and taking responsibility for one’s actions are some of the tools we aim to develop in our students. Tools needed to better navigate their way into adulthood,” she said.
Inclusive setting at James Fallon High
James Fallon High School offers an environment inclusive of diversity, disadvantage or disability where all students can achieve their personal best.
Principal Jennifer Parrett said the school caters to a wide variety of interests and abilities.
“The school has as its central concern the achievement of excellence in a rich diversity of academic, social, cultural and sporting pursuits.
“Personally, I believe there is no higher responsibility than supporting our future generations, and our school is honoured to be involved in this profession.
“We aim to sustain and develop the young people in our community.”
“To achieve, students are encouraged to avail themselves of the many opportunities the school provides, including a learning and physical environment in which high standards of achievement can flourish.”
She said James Fallon High School is a ‘Positive Behaviour for Learning School’ and has as its main values respect, responsibility and achievement.
The school has a dedicated staff that ranges from beginning teachers to highly experienced staff members, a supportive community and an active and involved Parents & Citizens’ Association.
“We aim to provide opportunities for our students to become valued and responsible citizens, who respect themselves and the community, and who can adapt to the challenges of a changing world,” said the principal.
St John’s – A focus on writing is the key here
Being a good communicator is an essential skill for a student’s success in the future, says St John’s Lutheran Primary School deputy principal Megan Dickins.
One of the focuses at St John’s this year and into the future, is on writing.
“We are assisting students to acquire skills to write clearly and interestingly which enables them to achieve success and really enjoy writing,” said Ms Dickins.
“Our teachers have said it provides a great opportunity for students to showcase their writing in a relaxed, quiet atmosphere and that the planning and talk time demonstrates a growth in vocabulary use and in structures of texts.”
Ms Dickins said a Year 6 student has been quoted as follows: “The ‘Big Write’ allows me to express my emotions on paper in a piece of writing.
“It has taught me how to spend my time wisely like during a genuine task during literacy.
“I am now able to write fluently under a time limit. This writing task has helped me to process the structure and key essentials of a piece of writing.
“It is a great enjoyment for many (including myself) and gives young authors a chance to portray their skills.”
Over the last term parents have been involved in their children’s writing.
“Writing topics are communicated home through Facebook and our newsletter and families are encouraged to discuss this together to prepare children for their writing task.
“The students then come to school prepared for the writing task and time is allocated so all students in the school write at the same time,” said Ms Dickins.