Students empowered for excellence at Merimbula Public School | Bega District News | Bega, NSW

2022-07-26 20:29:41 By : Mr. Yi Ming

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At Merimbula Public School, students are empowered to achieve at their highest capability.

"We believe that every student should be challenged to learn and continually improve through engagement in dynamic teaching and learning programs, an environment of high expectations and support, and via access to an extensive and inclusive curriculum that addresses individual student needs, ensuring that all adjustments lead to improved learning," principal Michelle Huddleston said.

"Through all facets of school life, our motto is 'Excellence, Opportunity, Success'. The purpose of all stakeholders at Merimbula Public School is to ensure that our school aims to provide an environment where achieving one's best is inevitable."

Staff at Merimbula Public School work collaboratively, ensuring: all students have a successful transition to school and a strong start to their education; every student is known, valued and cared for; every student, teacher and leader improves each year; and every student is engaged and challenged in their learning to achieve individual learning goals.

All students also have strong literacy and numeracy foundations, with the school implementing a whole school, consistent synthetic phonics program.

"Our students learn deep content knowledge, develop confidence in their ability to learn and take part in a range of innovating learning opportunities and supportive wellbeing programs to develop resilience," Mrs Huddleston said.

Merimbula Public School has embraced innovative technology and has world class: facilities, spaces for sport and physical education, an innovative library/technology lab and flexible classroom and library learning spaces.

Interactive whiteboards, sets of laptops and Chromebooks are also available in all learning spaces, to support face-to-face and online learning initiatives.

Quality literacy, numeracy and extracurricular resources are also available to all students.

"At Merimbula Public School our focus is to provide a caring, friendly and engaging environment whereby students, through high impact teaching programs, experience a variety of academic and extracurricular opportunities designed to cater for their individual needs," Mrs Huddleston said.

"The school's specialist teachers also ensure the delivery of dynamic physical education, music and Japanese language programs.

"This results in Merimbula Public School students reaching not only their potential, but the highest level in a range of sporting, performing arts and academic ventures."

The school is continually improving their world class facilities. "Within the coming weeks, our new state of the art modular pump track will be operational. Our students are looking forward to developing their skills as part of our new skateboarding, scooter and cycling program," Mrs Huddleston said.

"We already see exceptional achievements in academic areas, the arts, sports and more. Last week one of our students received a bronze medal in the Snowboard Cross event at the Interschools Snow Sports Championship. Who knows, our school could be supporting one of the next Olympic skateboarding champions."

Merimbula Public School is also looking forward to opening a new building in the coming months, which will host a before and after school care and vacation care service.

2023 Kindergarten enrolment interviews and tours have already commenced, with over 50 students already enrolled to be part of next year's Kindergarten family.

To book your child's enrolment interview and tour, call the school on 6495 1266.

The first five years of a child's life are monumental for building the foundations for life long learning and social-emotional wellbeing.

Nominated supervisor/educational leader/preschool teacher Kellie Rosseland said, "My passion is that all children receive amazing early childhood education.

"Education Week, for me, is firstly about recognising the importance of early childhood education.

"Secondly, it is about acknowledging the amazing educators of Merimbula Tura Kindergarten.

"And lastly, it is about showcasing some of the amazing learning that has been occurring at Merimbula Tura Kindergarten."

At Merimbula Tura Kindergarten the educators offer innovative curriculums that foster the unique qualities and abilities of all children, helping nurture the wholistic development of children.

"Some amazing programs I would like to highlight are the immersion of our wellbeing initiatives across the centre including mindfulness and yoga practices, the embedment of our Reconciliation Action Plan, the continual research into best practice teaching and learning including the implementation of a variety of key literacy and numeracy programs across the centre," she said.

"One program I have been sharing with our families is the Let's Count Program. I invite all families across the Bega Valley to check it out via the Let's Count Facebook Messenger Bot.

"This is an interactive platform that uses everyday activities and objects to suggest ways in which families can support their children's maths learning throughout everyday experiences.

"The activities are all designed to help children notice, explore and talk about mathematics."

Kellie has spent over a decade at Merimbula Tura Kindergarten and for her the most special aspect of their service and what sets them apart is the team of experienced and dedicated educators that have together spent almost 160 years educating the children of Merimbula-Tura Kindergarten.

"The educators are passionate about the importance of early childhood education and giving children, and their families a safe, loving and supportive environment to learn, play and grow," she said.

As there is quite an extensive wait to join the centre, they would like to invite all families to join the waitlist for 2023 and 2024 if they would like to become part of the MTK family.

Located at 44 Sapphire Coast Drive in Merimbula phone the friendly team at Merimbula Tura Kindergarten on 6495 3304 or email at info@merimbulaturakindergarten.com.

For more details, see the comprehensive website at merimbulaturakindergarten.com

Pambula Village Preschool certainly knows how to celebrate Education Week.

"We will celebrate with a crazy hair day, as we come together socially and share a celebrative morning tea, extending our learning opportunities," director Kylie Royle of Pambula Village Preschool said.

"Education Week is a time for us to reflect and celebrate the importance of early education.

"Early education provides children with their first opportunities as they learn how to interact with peers, educators and parents.

"It is when children begin to develop interests that will stay with them throughout their lives."

Pambula Village Preschool provides children with a safe, secure and supportive learning environment, with friendly, passionate and caring educators.

They offer an educational program that supports individual children in all areas of growth and development.

Places at the preschool are limited, as the maximum number of children may only be exceeded in certain circumstances as set out in regulations.

The Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) is the independent national authority that assists governments in administering the National Quality Framework (NQF) for children's education and care.

Located at 37 Toallo Street in Pambula, they are open from 8am to 5.30pm from Mondays to Fridays.

For more information about the preschool or to enquire about a place, please contact director Kylie Royle on 0427 084 782 or email at kylie.pambulavillagepreschool@gmail.com

This year Bega Valley Public School is celebrating the Education Week theme 'Creating futures - education changes lives' with a week of activities showcasing the fabulous learning opportunities happening across their school.

"On Monday we are launching the week with a virtual assembly with all the other schools in the state on our brand-new main learning displays (MLDs) that have been installed across every classroom," principal Melissa Fay said.

"This is an interactive digital system that replaced our traditional teaching displays such as whiteboards and projectors.

"On Thursday morning we will be having an Education Week assembly where we will be acknowledging quality learning happening across our school and hopefully have a few alumni visiting to talk about their achievements since leaving school.

"We will then be opening up our classrooms so parents and our community can observe a lesson and share in their child's learning journey.

"Perhaps their child might be able to teach their parents a new concept or skill.

"To finish the celebrations for Thursday, we are inviting parents and the community to stay for lunch and enjoy a picnic with their child and our staff.

"On Friday we are having a dress-up day where students can come dressed as their 'future self' and enjoy student-led games by our senior students and school leaders. We are always interested to see what our students aspire to be when they grow up."

Education Week is important because it is an opportunity for schools to showcase all the amazing opportunities afforded to their students and to celebrate the wide variety of achievements across the school.

For the past two years, students, staff and the community have had to endure so many hardships and challenges and this is an opportunity for them to come together and share the joy of teaching and learning that happens every day at schools.

It is so important to have strong connections between home and school and Education Week is another fantastic opportunity to bring the two together.

"Our school prides itself on inclusivity," she said. "We are a school for every child and our passionate and committed teachers deliver a diverse range of programs that cater for the individual needs of every student.

"We have programs in coding and robotics, environmental programs that care for our vegetable, flower and cultural gardens, and a wide range of performing arts and sporting programs.

"To help our students find their interests and cultivate their talents so that every child can taste success. We are deeply committed to making sure our students are known, valued and cared for."

The school's strong literacy and numeracy programs are supported by very experienced and dedicated staff.

Their specialist teachers such as their assistant principal's curriculum and Instruction, interventionist teachers and COVID intensive learning and support teachers work in classrooms every day to ensure student growth in literacy and numeracy is supported.

"We provide comprehensive Performing Arts programs with music, band, choir and dance being taught across the school," Ms Fay added.

"Our school also has strong sporting programs and achievements with teams and individuals representing at high levels such as NSW state in swimming and cross country."

Contact Bega Valley Public School on 6492 1280.

'Creating futures - education changes lives', the theme of Education Week 2022 in NSW, will be celebrated in a wide variety of ways at Sapphire Coast Anglican College in Bega.

As a special treat for both students and staff, they are hosting their inaugural 'Educator in Residence', the renowned, Brisbane-based education consultant Greg Mitchell for the entire week.

"Greg visited the College in April 2022 and focused on making lessons engaging, empowering, exciting and fun," principal Mr David Proudlove said. "His impact was so profound, we decided we would like not just 'quality time', but 'quantity time' with Greg, hence the invitation to return so soon.

"While Greg has a vast array of ideas for August 1-5 sessions from pre-kindergarten to year 12, his own dyslexia and self-confessed difficulties endears him to many students and their parents.

"Greg will certainly highlight ways, some conventional and others uniquely his, to succeed whatever learning challenges exist."

Sapphire Coast Anglican College will also host former students, asking them to share their stories and inspire the next generation of graduates to be bold and ambitious.

Staff members who lead programs such as the Young Scientist competition, will also reflect on successes for their students over the years.

"Our Discovery Program, offering extension challenges in fields such as robotics, mathematics and literature will also focus closely on the career applications of these pursuits during Education Week," Mr Proudlove said.

Students and staff are drawn from as far north as Bermagui, south to Eden and up into the mountains around Bemboka.

"With strong representation from communities including Bega, Tathra, Tura Beach and Merimbula, ours is a diverse and high-energy, creative and innovative community on a beautiful, expansive campus.

"We have the dual advantage of being small enough, with just under 400 students, pre-kindergarten to year 12, to know every student well, whilst being part of the Anglican Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn, an organisation with a long-term vision and resources needed in a growing school.

"Our reputation has led to an increasing demand for places due to our student-centred focus, Christian approach and community-minded nature.

"We strive to show 100 per cent kindness in our words, thoughts and actions through demonstration of our values: Compassion, Honesty, Respect, Integrity, Service and Thankfulness.

"We can take students at all year levels where places are available."

Contact registrar Aimee Abraham on 6494 7777, or email aimee.abraham@scac.nsw.edu.au to arrange a tour with the principal.

Find opportunities for your children to get moving, or even yourself at FLING Physical Theatre.

Bega's own youth dance company provides classes and performances for young people across the Bega Valley and the South Coast Region.

Currently led by co-artistic directors Rob McCredie and Gabrielle Rose, the not for profit organisation employs local and visiting professional artists to create original performances, and provides broad reaching Community Engagement, Education and Outreach programs.

FLING's core program is the FLING Company whose performers aged 14-18 are directly involved in the creation of exciting major projects, which then tour within the Bega Valley region and often beyond.

FLING also provides two younger company programs YFLING and FLUX Creators for ages seven to 14.

"FLING's programming is designed to inspire, with opportunities for people of all ages and interest in the arts to be engaged as performers, collaborators and audience," co-artistic director Gabrielle Rose said. "The arts is a valuable sector that promotes critical thinking, problem solving and expression, and is shaping the future leaders of our communities."

FLING projects are diverse in content and style, reflecting issues relevant to our community. Young people create the content in collaboration with the artists, referencing their own experiences.

FLING's Community Engagement program involves styles such as Contemporary Dance, Ballet, Dance Gym, Parkour, Tap, Jazz, Performance Improvisation and Adult Dance classes.

All teachers have tertiary training and professional industry experience.

FLING Company projects have been presented in the 2020 Sydney Festival, and have won an Australian Dance Award and the Way Ahead Mental Health Award for youth for 'My Black Dog'.

Recently the FLING Company attended the Australian Youth Dance Festival in Melbourne with professional artists and fellow youth dance artists.

This year FLING is celebrating their 21st birthday and the whole community is invited to join the party.

All of FLING's classes and programs are open for bookings, plus there will be special performances througout the year so get involved.

For more information contact Gabrielle on 0413 294 554 or email gabby@flingphysicaltheatre.com.au