On Wednesday afternoon the Year 6 students and teachers, led by Mr Kieren Turner, held a memorial service to honour their classmate and student, Mitchell Brown who passed away recently. It was a lovely tribute to a boy who lived life vibrantly and had a wide circle of friends. He has left his mark on all of them, and a fine example of a life lived to the full. On Friday afternoon the family will lay Mitch to rest in a small private service to which I, Mr Turner and Mr McSwan have been invited. The family have initiated a GoFundMe page (Mitch’s Memorial Garden) so that people can contribute to the cost of a memorial garden the family will construct at their family home in Saratoga. You may like to contribute to that at this link. 

The HSC examinations have started, and the first two papers (English) were fair, and students generally came out feeling confident and very glad that they have finally been able to get started. Keep them in your prayers over the coming three weeks.

This term we launched a new venture at GPCC. I have had this idea for a long time to appoint an Academic in Residence in the school to help us raise academic standards and to assist us to think well through what we are doing. When I put the proposal to the Board in August, they were quick to endorse it and through connections we have in academic circles, we have appointed Dr Martin Dowson to the role. Dr Dowson is a double PhD in Educational Psychology and Theology and has worked in the academic world since he gave up primary school teaching many years ago. He is a researcher and is very well published in peer-reviewed journals in Australia and overseas. You can get to know him more through this short video: Introducing Dr Martin Dowson GPCC Academic In Residence 

Dr Dowson will do a number of things for us including, helping us undertake research within the school, analysis of academic results data including NAPLAN and the HSC, the review of new projects to ensure we have looked at research and literature on the ideas and are engaging in best practice, helping us to think Biblically about what we are doing, working with staff and students on their own study, and assisting our teachers with their professional development.

He is engaged for two days a week and has launched into getting to know our school and the people in it and has already tackled a range of projects with very pleasing results. We see this as a valuable way we can move our school forward in academic and critical thinking and practice to the benefit of our students.

Our school for students on the Autism spectrum (Yattalunga Valley Christian School), is coming together well with staff now appointed and our enrolment target of 10 children, Kindy to Year 2 has been met. We have set aside a room for rent in the upper Primary school and are looking forward to welcoming our new students in January 2022. The property out in the Brewarrina Shire is now in our possession and we are tidying things up and preparing for the visit of our first students in Term 1, 2022. We plan to set up a caravan and campervan site on the property and I hope many of you might take a camping trip out there and spend a few days getting to enjoy the site.

Phillip Nash

Principal