Principal's Report

Sorry Day

National Sorry Day is held on May 26 and marks the day that the landmark Bringing Them Home report was tabled in Parliament. The Bringing Them Home report is a result of a Government Inquiry into the past policies which caused children to be removed from their families and communities in the 20^th century.

Our school paused on National Sorry Day to remember the past policies of forced child removal and reflect on the sad and painful stories of the Stolen Generations. We encourage everyone in our community to recognise the resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the power of saying Sorry.

Reconciliation Week 2023

National Reconciliation Week (27 May to 3 June) this year has the theme “Be a Voice for Generations.”  As a school, we have been reflecting on what this theme means to us personally and professionally.  This date commemorates two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey of Australia – the successful 1967 referendum and the High Court Mabo decision.

Reconciliation Australia’s theme for 2023 encourages all Australians to be a voice for reconciliation in tangible ways in our everyday lives – where we live, work, and socialise.  For the work of generations past, and the benefit of generations future, act today for a more just, equitable and reconciled country for all.

During our Week 6 Pos Ed lessons, this theme will be explored with all students participating in reconciliation activities. Reconciliation is a journey for all Australians – as individuals, families, communities, organisations and importantly as a nation. At the heart of this journey are relationships between the broader Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.  National Reconciliation Week is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

Ngaar Dhuwi Girls Academy Program

It is with great excitement that we announce that Newcastle High School will be introducing the Ngaar Dhuwi Girls Academy Program in partnership with the AECG in 2023.

The Girls Academy Program aims to provide a mentoring program to support female Aboriginal students in Years 7-12 to make active choices toward realising their full potential in all aspects of their education, development, cultural identity, and wellbeing.  This Girls Academy is similar to the Clontarf Program we provide for our male Aboriginal students.

Ngaar Dhuwi Girls Academy Program is a holistic support program reflective of community voices driven locally in collaboration with our schools’ vision and directions. The key outcomes are to:

• Increase school attendance;

• Increase in HSC attainment;

• Provide post school transition pathways;

• Improve retention rates;

• Promote self-determination and positive change; and

• Improve health and wellbeing.

Our two Girls Academy mentors have been recently recruited and we are now planning to promote the program, enrol the students, prepare the room and be in position to commence for Term 3.  If you have any enquiries about the Ngaar Dhuwi Girls Academy Program, please contact Joel Anderson, Deputy Principal on 4969 3177.

School Canteen

Last term, the school went to tender seeking to appoint the third-party business to provide the school Canteen.  We had no businesses/parties complete a submission.  Lillies and Limes, our existing canteen contractor did not submit a tender and their lease expires at the end of this term.  As a school we would like to thank Lillies and Limes for their support of our school throughout the duration of their lease and acknowledge the challenging times they have operated our Canteen through.

We have been in contact with the Department of Education to assist finding an interested party to tender. Some interest by existing business has since been received; however, we do not yet have a solution.  The P&C have been informed of this situation.

We have reached out to local schools with P&C run canteens to ask if any person is interested in either tendering or being employed as a school run Canteen.  If you know of any interested party who may be interested in tendering for this opportunity, please contact Toni Warburton, School Office Manager on 4969 3177.