Cootamundra High School Newsletter

Greetings parents, staff, students, and community members for the final time, and I hope this newsletter finds you all well and in anticipation of the Christmas and New Year period and all that it brings. We have all reached the end of another school year and look forward to the rest and relaxation that comes with the long summer break!

The latter half of Term 4 passed in a blur, really, with a myriad of activities and excursions, as well as farewells to several staff members. It has been a wonderful experience for me to see the commitment of staff in organising activities and opportunities for students in a part of the year which is also filled with a great deal of teacher administration, student assessment and reporting. I am proud to have been able to work with such committed and experienced staff. This newsletter report will attempt to highlight the activities and events that led up to the end of term!

The Year 6 into Year 7 2024 transition program concluded after 6 weeks of visits and orientation to the high school. Students were able to experience authentic high school life and routine in that time and, as I have said before, I have been impressed by the willingness of the students to get in and have a go! By the final day of the program it was satisfying to walk in the playground at break times and see the ease and confidence of the students as they joined in and mixed comfortably with the high school cohort. Many staff, who often have lunch out in the Quad area in the shade, commented that they had observed the same thing. It gives me great confidence that Year 7 2024 will be a cohesive group of students and a wonderful addition to the high school.

After several events and ceremonies to mark the end of their schooling, Year 12 students, staff and families attended the Year 12 Formal Graduation Dinner at the Ex Services Club. It was a beautiful evening of reminiscing for Year 12 and a valuable opportunity to thank staff for their efforts in getting them to the end of their schooling. I would like to recognise Samantha O’Loughlin and her band of helpers for the huge amount of organisation that went into the night – it was a great success!

As has been noted elsewhere, our talented dance team, under the tutelage of Miss Brittney Longmore, participated in the 2023 Schools Spectacular at Qudos Arena in Sydney, late in November. I had the great privilege of attending one of the evening performances and was absolutely overawed by the talent on display from hundreds of NSW public school students ranging from Kindergarten to Year 12! Our dance team (yes, I could pick them out in their distinctive green costumes!) certainly looked at home in the array of talent and skill on show. Thanks to Miss Longmore and Mr Alex Tobin, who accompanied the team to Sydney and were there for almost a week of rehearsals and performances. It was a long and tiring week for all, but one that also created fond memories for all involved. I wish Miss Longmore well in preparing students for the 2024 Spectacular!

As Year 10 moved to the conclusion of their junior high schooling this term, many participated in the annual work experience program, giving students a taste of the outside world of employment. Some took to the opportunity and managed to impress their employers greatly. Others returned with a stronger resolve to complete Year 11 and 12 before venturing out into the world. What ever choices were made, I wish all of our Year 10 students all the best for the year ahead, be it in work or in study. To end the term Year 10 were also involved in the annual driver training program, where each student has a go at the driving simulator to test their skills and get an idea of the realities and responsibilities of being a good driver. Thanks to Mrs Di Lonnen, Year 10 Year Advisor, for her efforts in coordinating the opportunity for our students.

As the term wound down students from Years 7 to 10 who were able to meet the attendance and conduct criteria participated in end of year excursions. Year 7 spent three days attending a camp at Wee Jasper, under the leadership of Miss Briana Fritsch, Year 7 Year Advisor, and had a great time, despite the oppressive heat! Supervising staff reported excellent behaviour, attitude and participation from all students. Year 8 went to Dubbo Zoo for the zoo sleep-over experience, led by Mr Jacob Longmore, Year 8 Year Advisor. Although they were set up for “glamping” at the zoo in tents, lingering severe thunderstorms saw the zoo staff upgrade our party to the luxury cabins instead, much to the delight (and relief) of staff and students! Again, staff reported exemplary attitude and behaviour from all students! Finally, Years 9 and 10 spent a long day at the Jamberoo water park, led by Mrs Kate Anderson, Year 9 Year Advisor. Again, staff reports were of a fantastic day with wonderful students! It gives me great satisfaction to hear such positive feedback about our kids and it makes me proud to be able to “show off” in public view the amazing students that we have at this school, and this is something that is regularly commented upon by visitors to the school!

The CHS Time Capsule, which was written up in the previous Newsletter, was updated with artefacts and messages from staff and students, and re-interred in the Principals Garden in the school grounds. It was officially re-commissioned by Mrs Dianne Grocott, wife of the former principal the late Mr Alan Grocott. I thank all staff and students who contributed, as well as staff and community members who assisted in the process of unveiling and re-committing the Capsule, including Mr Pete Goodwin, our valued groundsman, and Mrs Bec Herring who created a great photo-chronicle of the event. Special thanks to Mr Adam Randall, President of the P&C, whose expertise with the crowbar helped get the thing out of the ground initially! I hope many students, staff and parents will be able to attend the next unveiling in the second half of 2048!

The term formally ended with the Annual Presentation Night, in this case the sixty-ninth. The evening was very well attended as always, with many special guests and dignitaries to present awards to outstanding students. I greatly enjoy attending these nights to see the range of student responses to the recognition and appreciation that is showered upon them! Thank you to Miss Amanda Willoughby, who committed many long hours into the coordination of the evening – which were well placed, given the smooth running of the ceremony! Thank you also to Mrs Yvette Newman and her helpers in the Canteen for catering on the night.

The last event of the year was the SRC Christmas Fun Day, with students and staff in Christmas themed attire, and a Christmas themed Amazing Race event held in the afternoon in lieu of Sport. Thanks to Mrs Amanda-Lee Boatswain for her organisation, and the SRC for taking on the task of preparing each of the activity stations on the day. A great team effort between staff and students! It was a fantastic day, despite significant heat, and one that again highlighted the beautiful “vibe” that exists in our school.

We sadly farewelled two staff members who are each moving on to different surroundings! Mr Michael Speering will take his woodwork and metalwork skills over to Gundagai High School to commence in 2024. And after 26 years at Cootamundra High School, Mr Michael McPhee will take a year off before contemplating retirement (or maybe more teaching!). Thank you to both gentlemen for your efforts in making CHS the strong school that it is today. You will both be missed.

Finally, as has been noted previously, this was my final term as Relieving Principal, with Mrs Leesa Daly returning to lead the school again from the start of the 2024 school year. I have greatly enjoyed the year as your principal, forming closer relationships with staff, students, parents, and the community. Although the hours have been long and the pressures at time quite significant, I have nonetheless valued the experience and will treasure the memories made as I move into retirement next year.

Thank you to all of the great staff and students at this school for making the past 27 years of my teaching career so memorable. I have tried to always do the best for my students and our school and I hope that the great school we have at the moment continues long into the future.

Kindest regards and thanks to all, and Merry Christmas.

Chris Payne

Relieving Principal. 

Dates for your Diary...

A group of students in Years 9 and 10 have recently completed their Certificate I in Automotive Mechanical Technology.

Picture here are 4 of 'graduates' - (L to R)  Jackson Ellis, Braydon Oddy, DJ Wilson and Reid McTavish.