News from the Barraba Central School
Across the Desk from the Principal, Patrick Sullivan
Term 3 is flying by, and welcoming our new kindergarten students for 2025 has been fantastic! Miss Hook, Luna, and I had a great morning meeting the new students and welcoming their parents to our school community.
I hope all the Dads had a fantastic Father's Day last weekend. It was terrific seeing so many join us on Tuesday for some great activities. The photos and videos are worth a look, especially the fairy race and the doughnut competition! A big thank you to Mrs Sweeney, Miss Wicks, and the SRC for their superb organisation.
Mrs Bell and I have enjoyed interviewing Year 10 and 11 students about their pathways over the next few years. We have been developing strategies to help students achieve their goals and exploring how to do this. We are fortunate to have TAFE delivering hospitality courses for Years 10, 11, and 12 starting in Term 4, greatly expanding options for our students. We are also grateful to the businesses supporting our school-based traineeships, providing an incredible pathway for students.
Congratulations to Akira & Annabel Kanno, who represented Barraba Central School at the Regional Athletics competition on Wednesday. Akira has advanced to the State level. This is a significant achievement, and we are proud of Akira for reaching this stage. Competing at the State level is a great opportunity, and we wish Akira the best as he takes on this next challenge. Well done, Akira!
Our school's commitment to restorative practices continues to grow as we work towards building a culture that fosters understanding, empathy, and mutual respect. This term, we have been focusing specifically on the power of language and how it shapes our interactions and relationships within the school community. We encourage everyone — students, teachers, and staff — to use respectful and inclusive language, ensuring all voices are heard and valued. Additionally, we strive to communicate in a supportive and encouraging manner, helping to build a positive environment where everyone feels safe to express themselves. Our goal is to adopt a restorative approach to all situations where conflicts are seen as opportunities for learning and growth. By doing so, we aim to strengthen our connections, promote accountability, and enhance the overall well-being of our school community. This work is an ongoing journey, but we are proud of our progress together.
I want to thank all the parents who attended our New Zealand trip meeting on Wednesday night. It's getting closer and more exciting with only 62 days to go! A big thank you to the P&C, Rotary and Lions Club for their support and generous donations for the excursion.
Finally, I wish our primary netball team luck in their Regional Final against Wee Waa Public School next Wednesday.
Secondary Debating
On Wednesday 21 August 2024, Secondary students travelled to Scone for a debate against Scone High School.
Students were very strong in their arguments on the day but unfortunately lost the debate. This will conclude debating for the year with the BCS team winning 1 of their 3 debates. Well done to all students who participated. Mr Hurn
The Debating team were presented with a 2024 Premier’s Debating Challenge certificate for participation in the Challenge for Years 7 & 8.