News

Coronavirus - Department of Education statement

Tue, 28 Jan 2020 20:27:02 AEDT

The department is working with the Ministry of Health to monitor and respond to the unfolding international novel coronavirus situation.

Get up-to-date information about the department's response to novel coronavirus.

2019 school budget allocations

Tue, 13 Nov 2018 11:09:33 AEDT

Like all NSW public schools, this week we will receive a School Budget Allocation Report with our funding for 2019. The report will help us manage our total budget delivered through the Resource Allocation Model (RAM).

The RAM supports schools through needs-based funding to ensure a fair, efficient and transparent allocation of funds. Our school has the flexibility to make local decisions based on the specific needs of our students.

We will use our 2019 funding to support students and improve educational outcomes. The school executive will continue to work with the school community as we implement the school plan using this needs-based funding.

Learn more about the 2019 RAM funding.

Billy Cart Derby

Sat, 22 Sep 2018 20:03:42 AEST

It was billy cart mania today as schools from within the Snow Gums Learning Alliance went to Ben Lomond to test drive the billy carts that were made at Thalgarah STEM camp. After a few adjustments and paint jobs it was time to test drive down the front footpath. Again a few adjustments were required for several billycarts, then it it was time to race. Students dragged their billycarts up the hill at the back of the school and then raced them down two at a time. Some models did not survive the down hill grassy track while others needed running repairs after each race.

Thank you to the Ben Lomond parents who turned up to assist today, and to Micheal who came to help repair the billycarts and help cook the barbie.

A special thanks to Andrew Frost from Woolworths, who cooked the barbie and assisted with the donation of fruit and the sausage sizzle.

A great way to end another fantastic year!

STEM Camp

Sat, 22 Sep 2018 20:03:44 AEST

Students from Niangla Public School joined with our students this week in an exciting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) Camp this week at Thalgarrah Environmental Field Studies Centre, near Armidale.

Students from Years 3 - 6 attending for two days whilst those students in Kinder to Year 2 attended for Day 1. Across the two days students were involved in making wind turbines, using Spheros, BeeBots and Scratch Junior, to code, Astronomy and designing and building billy carts.

On Day 2 the students had to design a billycart, make a model and then assist the boys from STROUD homes make the billy cart. The students quickly discovered that you need to be clear about what it is you want your builder to do and how models may need to be modified to work with the materials you have.

During the day eight teams of students from Years 3 – 6 worked in teams with the builders to produce the billy carts. One team discovered that although the builder followed their instructions the billy cart's front wheels were not able to move as the cart its self was dragging on the ground. Lots of discussions were held around what the group may need to do to correct their cart.

The billycarts will be used in a Billy cart derby to be held at Ben Lomond Public School on Thursday 14 December 2107.

I would like to extend a big thank you to Peter from STROUD Homes for donating the services of Micheal, Ethan and Reece for the day, and to Peter Fletcher, Mitch Parkes and Jo Bird from the University New of England, Matt McKenzie from Thalgarrah and the staff from the Snow Gums Learning Alliance for making the camp so successful.

Snow Gums Term 3 Staff Development Day

Sat, 22 Sep 2018 20:03:44 AEST

Staff from across the Alliance participated in professional learning on Monday 17 July. One of the activities was Evaluation of the Alliance 2015 - 2017 and then Planning for 2018 - 2020. Staff were asked to use sticky notes and write down what they thought the pluses, minuses and interesting points have been for staff, students and community. The photos clearly demonstrate the overwhelming pluses for the Alliance. The feedback from staff on the day was a renewed commitment to continue with the Snow Gums Learning Alliance.

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) CAMP at Thalgarrah

Sat, 22 Sep 2018 20:03:44 AEST

Students from across the Alliance participated in a very successful STEM camp, where they were involved in various investigations. Staff within the Alliance worked with Matt Mackenzie from Thalgarrah and visiting Scientist from the University of New England to put together a range of activities that involved all students from Kinder to Year 6. The students were encouraged by Dr Kristy to ask lots of "I wonder why questions"

Be sure to check out the photos!

Snow Gums

Sat, 22 Sep 2018 20:03:44 AEST

Snow Gums Mathematics Challenge

The schools involved in the challenge are: Bald Blair PS, Ben Lomond PS, Black Mountain PS, Chandler PS and Ebor PS.

The challenge is designed for students Years 3 to 6 to work collaboratively in an online learning community. The challenge is mapped to outcomes from the NSW Board of Studies Mathematics K-10 Syllabus vol 1.

The Snow Gums Mathematics Challenge offers many real life problems that can be challenging to students. Each challenge is designed to be solved in about five to ten minutes. If the challenge is not solved within this time frame students should be encouraged to look at the solution. All the challenges have been used in Primary classrooms.

The Snow Gums Mathematics challenge is based on Red Dragonfly Mathematics Challenge with was edited by Peter Gould, Masami Isoda and Foo Chuan Eng. adapted from the Math Brain Quiz (red) by Yasuhiro Hosomizu (2006), Sansu Nou. Training: Toyokan, originally in Japanese.

Staffs involved in the project were required to

Teach lessons and provide feedback to the group via video conference, email or edmodo;
Contribute to the development of new lessons;
Contribute to the maintenance of the online learning site.