MYALL Coast parents and their kids have always thought local schools, teachers and education helpers were among the most dedicated in state and the education department agrees.
A handful of teachers from Bulahdelah Central School and Tea Gardens Public were honoured for excellent service to public education last week.
Among the recipients, Tea Gardens reading helper, Alf Roach was recognised for his service to the school’s momentum reading program.
The Tea Gardens retiree began reading to small classes of six children once a week five years ago and has since recruited several other volunteers from the Grange.
A former shoe maker, Mr Roach’s contribution didn’t come from a deep passion for literature but simply the enjoyment he gets from helping kids learn a skill for life.
“I like children, and I think it’s important to share with them the knowledge we have. But they’ve also made me feel useful, it’s that sense of giving I suppose and it has given me a tremendous amount of satisfaction.”
Tea Gardens Public School teacher, Carol Andrews said the knowledge of consistent readers like Alf is invaluable to children.
“The great advantage is young people are able to interact with an elderly person and they become a mentor to the kids as well which is important because a lot of the children don’t have extended family that they regularly see,” she said.
“And the hindsight and knowledge that the elderly can pass on - that sort of thing is priceless. It is a social learning as well as reading with a communication shared between young and old.”
Aside from giving up his time, Mr Roach has gone that one step further - recently securing funding from the Holiday Coast Credit Union’s Community Grants Program to boost the school’s book stocks.
Through his work in the local University of the Third Age, Mr Roach was successful in receiving a grant which the club donated entirely to the school.
Also receiving an award for excellent service to public education, Bulahdelah Central principal Bob Brenton was recognised for his consistent vision for the school investing in vital resources and creating a family atmosphere. Over the last four years Mr Brenton has negotiated major works to provide a modern learning environment and has encouraged teachers to incorporate technology as a quality teaching tool which has proved very successful.
Meanwhile recipients of Excellence in Teacher Awards were Tea Gardens teacher Annette Benton and Bulahdelah Central’s deputy primary principal, Ms Sally Thompson. Both dedicated to teaching, colleagues say Ms Brenton is pivotal in ensuring the continued success of the schools student leadership programs as the Parliamentary Advisor. While Ms Thompson was recognised for her promotion of positive and safe learning environments, well resourced classrooms and quality teaching that promotes growth in learning.
To cap off a stellar line up of teaching awards Bulahdelah Central School received a school achievement award for their Partners in Learning Program.
A project extended to include schools within the Myall learning community up to 300 students and 60 staff produced a project that enhanced student learning. The results showed significant growth in all areas, with staff members winning state, national and international awards. The project was presented at the International Conference on Teaching and Learning with Technology in Singapore in 2008.
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