Narromine High School Principal, Angela O’Callaghan is looking forward to the new school year this year to build on the success of 2011.
Mrs O’Callaghan said they were proving that Narromine High School was a small school doing great things.
“One of our clear strengths coming out of student exit surveys is the close student-teacher relationships,” she said.
“Students see that their teachers care and are true partners in their learning.
“This can better help every student reach their own individual goals and enjoy personal success.
“The smaller learning environment contributes effectively to closer relationships and better outcomes without compromising on opportunity.”
Mrs O’Callaghan said every Year 12 student at Narromine High chose a staff member as a mentor to guide and encourage them as they prepared for the Higher School Certificate last year.
“The 2011 HSC results have again demonstrated Narromine High’s ability to bring out a broad diversity of success that reflected students’ interests and aspirations,” she said.
“We can foster achievement at the highest level such as the accomplishment of our school captain, Luke Walker who has been awarded a full scholarship to Shalom College where he will live while studying medicine at the University of New South Wales.”
Mrs O’Callaghan said Aimee Coupe and Scott Provest had early offers for university places.
“Two other students, Blake Richardson and Cameron Cale will continue in the building and automotive trades they embarked on as school-based apprentices at the beginning of Year 11 and we heard of other students, including Rachael Reid, Brendon Jones and Jennifer Housden who have secured apprenticeships and traineeships, and we are looking forward to more news about students who gained their chosen path in work and further study.
“Melissa Pepper can also pursue her talents after winning the Mervyn Bishop Regional Arts and Media Scholarship.”
Mrs O’Callaghan said things already looked promising for this year’s Year 12 who commenced their final year studies during Term 4 last year.
“They recognise the advantages that Narromine High offers,” Mrs O’Callaghan said.
“In morning teas to celebrate how well they are applying themselves to the HSC, they reflected on this with, ‘I like the opportunities we have here’ and ‘everyone is so understanding’.
“One student observed: ‘I like how small the classes are so it gives us more one-on-one with our teachers’.”
Mrs O’Callaghan said that in addition to providing a significant range of HSC options including HSC accreditation in vocational areas including animal care, construction, automotive, hairdressing, recreation and community services, Narromine High was looking forward to the handover of the trade training centre with commercial standard facilities for cooking and metalwork.
This will enable students to gain an industry and TAFE recognised Certificate 3 level qualification while studying for the HSC at school.
Further encouragement for students to continue at Narromine High through the senior years and to take up further study, apprenticeships and traineeships has been provided through the Origins program, including having Shelly Bayliss as an in-school mentor.
As part of the Origins program, Jason Johnson and Jackson Clarke will attend a youth summit on the Gold Coast early this month.
Mrs O’Callaghan said other highlights of 2011 that the school hoped to build on this year included:
o significant improvement in Year 10 School Certificate results when compared to the state average;
o awards for demonstrating responsibility, respect and care recognised on 3200 occasions throughout the year;
o 14 students honoured for reaching the Principal’s level.
in the merit system;
* 32 excelling with exceptional levels of behaviour under the discipline system;
* Three Year 10 students, Bevan Leak, Merryn Adams and Dean O’Brien securing apprenticeships in automotive, hairdressing and butchery;
* acclaim for the Year 10 photographic display in the library;
* praise for the musical performance at presentation day; and
* Kaitlin Butcher’s personal best that earned her a sixth place in the javelin at that national high schools athletics carnival.
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