Attention: You are using an outdated browser, device or you do not have the latest version of JavaScript downloaded and so this website may not work as expected. Please download the latest software or switch device to avoid further issues.
| 8 Jun 2024 | |
| Written by Tianna Kelly | |
| General News |
Coonabarabran 2024, what a celebration of success!
This annual highlight, often accompanied by mud and multiple bacon and egg rolls, fills me with awe and pride. The spirit, dedication, and resilience displayed by our students, staff, coaches and families is truly inspiring. Next year I hope to add to my vocabulary of ‘Wow’, ‘Oh my goodness’ and ‘Go NEGS!’
Be sure to read Annyka’s article below.
As we reflect on our achievements, we also look forward to the future with our Annual Giving 2024. This year, our focus is on growth and opportunity. Next week, I will email you to ask you to consider making One Gift. Your gift, whether directed towards the development of our learning and boarding facilities or through the support of scholarships, will have a profound impact.
Why do we ask?
Together, as one NEGS community, we can continue to build a nurturing and inspiring environment for all. We appreciate that families make sacrifices to provide their child with a NEGS education. However, fees alone do not allow us to enhance our facilities. Students today benefit from the generosity of past families, alumni and other benefactors, the facilities enjoyed, and the scholarships offered.
Annual Giving celebrates the collective spirit of giving back and fostering growth within our NEGS community. Every gift counts, no matter the size. Please consider - One Gift, One NEGS; together, we can strengthen the NEGS spirit.
Following on from our Safe on Social sessions earlier this year, I share some information and tips for you as parents below. I also encourage you to visit their website for other resources and events. This is such an important area for our young people, and we need to be equipped to help them navigate this space.
https://www.safeonsocial.com/current-events
I wish all our families a restful and enjoyable long weekend. For our boarders, a chance to enjoy some special time at home and with family. I also acknowledge the many NEGS students who will compete this long weekend at the State Championships for Netball and Rugby. We wish you and your teams well.
Ms Liz van Genderen
Principal
SAFE ON SOCIAL - Tips for Parents
Make a Gift - One Gift, One NEGS
In what has been a term full of activity, it's essential to reflect and celebrate the achievements of our students, both big and small. In a world where grand gestures often steal the spotlight, it's easy to overlook the significance of getting the little things right. Yet, these small victories pave the way for our greatest successes.
In our daily lives, we encounter countless opportunities to excel, whether it's acing a quiz, mastering a new skill, or simply showing kindness to a friend. While these may seem insignificant on their own, collectively, they contribute to our personal growth and development. Each small step forward is a testament to our resilience, determination, and commitment to excellence. Embracing our 3 P’s of Punctuality, Preparedness and Positive Engagement will help individuals take those steps.
Moreover, paying attention to detail and striving for perfection in even the smallest tasks cultivates a mindset of excellence. It instils a sense of pride in our work and reinforces the idea that no effort is too small to make a difference. Whether it's proofreading an essay, perfecting a chop tackle, wearing your uniform correctly or fine-tuning a science experiment, every detail matters.
Celebrating student success is not just about applauding those who achieve the highest grades or win the most awards. It's about recognizing the dedication, effort, and perseverance that each of our students demonstrate every day. It's about acknowledging the journey, not just the destination. We have witnessed the highest participation rates at our Athletics Carnival in a number of years. We have seen the growth in our House Leadership teams, who, along with their charges, have put extra effort into marching and “actively” participating across all events. There have been individual successes in Sport, with representation at zone, regional, association and state levels. We have seen a number of our riders excel in their equestrian pursuits and perform wonderfully as a team at the recent North West Horse Expo in Coonabarabran.
Let's acknowledge our successes and applaud the quiet achievers who show up every day and give their best effort, regardless of the outcome. Let's celebrate the growth, progress, and resilience that define our school community. In doing so, we not only acknowledge the importance of getting the little things right but also inspire one another to reach for greatness in everything we do.
I wish you all a safe journey home for the King's long weekend, a chance to recharge and reconnect with the people and places you cherish. I also look forward to your return for a feverish run to the end of term.
Mr Jamie Moore
Deputy Principal/PDHPE and CAFS Teacher
Celebrating Dinosaur Day: A Journey of Excitement, Discovery and Teamwork
‘Deep Learning is quality learning that sticks with you for the rest of your life.’ Michael Fullan
I am thrilled to share the highlights of our recent Dinosaur Day celebrations, a day that took us back in time to the age of the dinosaurs. This event was not only a fun-filled journey into the past, but also an excellent opportunity to reinforce the value of teamwork among our students, natural curiosity and a passion for learning.
Deepening the Learning Experience
Dinosaur Day at our school was a roaring success, with activities designed to spark curiosity and deepen our students’ understanding of this time period. From discovering our own NEGSasaurus, meeting MRMOOREasaurus, creating their own fossil imprints, to engaging in their own ‘dig’, our young Paleontologists embarked on a prehistoric adventure, uncovering some of the mysteries of the Mesozoic era.
The day began with a special discovery, where students showcased their investigative skills, demonstrating their knowledge and creativity. Our ‘Dino Gallery of Collaborative tasks’ allowed students to self-direct their learning, creating a diverse range of pieces that all provided a window into the story of the past.
Our commitment to learning excellence was evident as students engaged in hands-on learning experiences. They delved into the science of Paleontology, learning about the different dinosaur species and their existence. They tested their knowledge through interactive games, striving for the answers in every challenge.
Teamwork was at the heart of Dinosaur Day. In partnership with UNE Discovery Voyager, students engaged in paleontology puzzles with bones and artifacts buried in kinetic sand. They then assembled the bones from an unknown animal, piecing together stories of our history and learning the importance of collaboration.
In closing, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all our teachers who made Dinosaur Day possible. Their dedication and teamwork are the backbone of our school’s success. Let’s keep the spirit of discovery alive and strive for excellence in all we do. Here’s to many more educational adventures ahead!
Mrs Heidi Dent
Junior School Coordinator/Year 6 Teacher
A Focus on Deep Learning
Energy Explorers in Stage 2
Curiosity has driven our learning this week; our classroom has been buzzing with exclamations of awe and wonder. Conversations around our current ideas and what questions we have sees the Stage Two cohort investigating heat and light energy and how energy moves.
Energy plays a role in our daily lives. Stage Two has been busy testing their hypotheses on heat conductors and insulators, building their knowledge to help them make sense of the world and our responsibilities as citizens regarding the sustainable use of energy.
Students explored the behaviour of light and were fascinated by the change in the size of our pupils as the amount of light changes. They examined materials and applied their understanding of transparent, translucent and opaque properties to categorise them. Students investigated how light energy travels, engaging in various challenges to block or reflect light and achieve certain effects.
So what makes this Deep Learning? Whilst science lessons this week have been a lot of fun, student curiosity has been at the core of the lessons. Their questions have driven inquiry into new areas. They shared their discoveries with each other, leading to further questions for investigation and through collaboration, students began to draw conclusions. At times, this meant that they had more investigating to do, or they had to challenge their initial thoughts and figure out where their hypothesis went wrong – which is a valuable learning tool supporting their scientific inquiry.
Accessing higher-order cognitive processes when problem-solving allows the students to deepen their understanding of the content. Their investigations have been active, authentic, challenging, and student-centered.
Where to next? Building an understanding of the fundamental behaviours and effects of energy will allow Years Three and Four to consider their own energy use, its efficiency, and ways we can improve our footprint as global citizens. We will keep you up to date with the direction in which our learning leads us as we generate ideas for sustainable solutions.
Mrs Dee Ford
Year 3/4 (Stage 2) Teacher
Upcoming Events:
Our students have been flourishing in their visual arts projects, showcasing remarkable talent and creativity across all year levels.
Year 7 students have been working on clay symbolic portraits, where they selected icons that represent them. These portraits are a testament to their introspective thought and artistic expression.
Year 8 has been inspired by the works of Brett Whiteley and Margaret Olley to paint landscapes. The miniature works they have created exhibit exceptional skill in painting techniques, reflecting the high standard of artistry among the students.
Years 9 and 10 have just concluded a unit focused on urban landscapes, emphasizing the connection to our surroundings. The most notable works were prints based on significant Armidale buildings, capturing the essence and character of our local architecture.
Our Art Club, which meets on Wednesday afternoons from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., has also been buzzing with creativity. Students have enjoyed the autonomy to pursue their artistic interests, resulting in diverse impressive works.
A special congratulations to Year 12 student Charlotte Overton for her outstanding achievement in having her watercolour painting selected for the UNESAP Let’s Hang It! exhibition. This is a remarkable accomplishment, given the 553 art entries from 46 schools. The opening of the 2024 UNESAP Let’s Hang It! exhibition will be held at 6pm on Friday, 26 July 2024, at the New England Regional Art Museum (NERAM) in Armidale. The exhibition will be on display until Sunday, 11 August 2024.
NEGS students continually impress us with their strong artistic abilities and amaze us with the quality and depth of their work.
Ms Erika Sorby
Visual Art Teacher
Recently, NEGS opened its doors to the community for a series of inspiring clay workshops. This initiative, aimed at fostering artistic expression and skill development, saw participants from all walks of life come together to explore the versatile medium of clay. Under the expert guidance of NEGS art teacher Miss Erika Sorby, attendees were treated to a comprehensive experience that spanned both hand-building and wheelworking techniques.
The workshop series provided a unique opportunity for individuals to dive into the world of ceramics. Each session was thoughtfully structured to cater to beginners and those with prior experience. Participants started with hand building, where they learned the fundamentals of manipulating clay using simple tools and their hands. As the workshops progressed, participants were introduced to the pottery wheel. This method allowed them to create a variety of forms, from functional items like bowls and mugs to more artistic sculptures.
The success of these workshops was due, in no small part, to Miss Sorby's dedication and skill. Her ability to connect with each participant and tailor the instruction to their individual needs was instrumental in creating a supportive and enriching environment. The school facilities provided an excellent backdrop for this creative endeavour, with ample space and resources for all involved.
A heartfelt thank you goes to NEGS and Miss Sorby for their unwavering support and commitment to community arts. This series not only honed the artistic skills of its participants but also strengthened community bonds, leaving a lasting impression on all who attended. We look forward to more such enriching events in the future.
All parents are warmly invited to our next P and F meeting, which will be held next Wednesday. You can join us in the W H Lee room or via Zoom. The meeting will begin at 6pm.
Please find the Minutes of the 15 May 2024 meeting HERE.
Ms Fiona Macarthur
P and F President
As we near the end of Term 2, the Enrolment Team are busy finalising enrolments for 2025. Interviews for 2026 will begin in Term 3, so please advise us of any siblings joining us in 2026.
We thank our families for your continued advocacy of NEGS as we grow enrolments we ask you to continue to help spread the word. Please extend an invitation to family and friends who are considering schooling options. You are our best advocates and know first-hand how special our school is.
We would also like to remind you of our family referral program. We have introduced this program as we would like to grow our community with like-minded families. Your advocacy and referrals are important. The enrolments team would be delighted to hear from you.
Please contact either:
Katlyn Wilkinson, Enrolments Officer or Lyn O'Neill, Director of Enrolments and Marketing
We have two events coming up:
1. Junior School Tour on Tuesday, 25 June at 9.30am
2. A virtual Information Session on Monday, 24 June at 5.30pm
Junior School Principal's Tour on Tuesday, 25 June
Our Principal, Ms Liz van Genderen, will conduct a special junior school tour on Tuesday, June 25, for families considering NEGS or who may have always wondered what NEGS Junior School offers.
We ask our current families to help us spread the word about this morning. It is a perfect opportunity for families to learn more about our Junior School. They will be welcomed by Ms van Genderen, Mrs Dent will give an overview of the NEGS approach, before they tour classrooms and see learning in action. Please extend an invitation to family and friends who are considering schooling options.
When: Tuesday, 25 June at 9.30am
Where: Junior School
Register:Book for Junior School Tour
Virtual Information Session on Monday, 24 June at 5.30pm
Though visiting our beautiful campus and a tour of our facilities is an important step in the enrolment process here at NEGS, we also understand that it is not always easy for families to visit.
Hence, we are hosting a Virtual 'fireside chat' with key staff on Monday, 24 June at 5.30pm.
Meet our Principal, Deputy Principal, Director of Learning and Teaching and Head of Boarding.
When: Monday, 24 June at 5.30pm
Where: via Zoom, a link will be sent before the session
Register: Register for our Virtual Fireside Chat
Now that I have finally had a minute to take a breath, I would like to take the time to thank the wonderful people who have helped our NEGS Team enjoy the wonderful Coona that was, and acknowledge the successes of our entire team.
Firstly, a huge thank you to the North West Equestrian Expo Committee, who worked tirelessly to keep events rolling over the 5 days with no surprises, rain causing its usual headaches. Despite the rain, everything went ahead with minimal disruption due to the committee's constant planning, organising and adapting. Coona is an event you can’t explain to someone how big and fun it is without experiencing it yourself. It is wonderful for our area to have this amazing event that is still going strong. It is a true testament to how iconic this event is, drawing riders from all over the state to participate.
Thank you to the parents who immersed themselves in the NEGS spirit of teamwork, providing scrumptious morning teas and lunches to help our truly remarkable catering team, led by Janet Meyn and Sarah King, serve us copious amounts of nourishing meals for the entire week. Thank you to Pop Cadzow and his team of merry men who cooked us pancakes, bacon, and eggs every morning, and to Jade Baggins for making the early morning dash each day to pick up the fresh bread rolls.
Big thanks to Hamish Hosegood for helping juggle the tetris of parking everyone into the grounds and to Jimbo Henry, Jamie Barclay, Mark Loosemore, Rob Kelly, Peter Moffitt, Chris Carter, Andrew Watson, Andrew Baker, Howard Saunders, Brett Currie, Sam Ulrick, and Stuart Ellem for helping with the camp's setup and dismantling.
Thank you to Tenille Blair, Vanessa Baker and James Hay for carting the various floats full of equipment needed for all the girls and the camp and the families who transported other students and their horses to and from Coona.
Huge thanks to Paul Baker for Td’ing over the competition and to Fiona Macarthur for stepping in to judge one of the dressage competitions over the weekend. Also big thanks to Shelley Johnston, Kate Fleming, Tara Bondarenko, Mel Jarrett, Mel Benson, Katty McKemey, Sally Packham, Shelley Mair, Leigh Lind, Tim and Mikarla Holgate, Sam Carter, Kim Harvey, Alison Cooke, Michelle Wamsley, Corrina Thomson, Simon Billich, Paula Penton, Tara Homfray, and Janelle Berlese for the many hours of volunteer duties completed.
Thank you, Michael Robinson, for being such a wonderful team vet. Also, thank you to Deb Palmer, Kate Blanchard, Erica Ulrick, Di Pritchard, Lyn Taylor, Tish Ellem, and Tamsin Jeffery-Billich for all your help preparing the girls and their horses for many of the events.
I am guaranteed to forget someone, but please know that even if I have missed you, we are all truly grateful for your help.
Thank you to Renee Bourke in the front office, who always keeps the place running smoothly and everything in order.
Thank you to our EC leaders, Olivia King and Sienna Robinson, for all of your support to the girls and the coaching staff this year. You guys are wonderful role models for our students.
Back home, thank you to the EC staff of Georgia Buckingham, Lara Koenig, and Emma Breedon for managing the fort while we were away and for looking after the 26 horses in full care over the long weekend so we could all get a well-deserved break.
I would also like to acknowledge and thank our Principal, Ms Liz van Genderen, and all our NEGS staff for their support. Coona is a big event on the school calendar; many people are involved in adjusting timetables and supporting our students. I appreciate all the support from our teaching staff, the adjustments they make and our maintenance team, who help pack all the gear the team needs while away. Further, it was great to have Liz van Genderen, Ryan Caldwell, and Lyn O'Neill with us, supporting our team. It is because of our school NEGS that our students have this opportunity.
Finally, thank you to our amazing coaching team, to whom we are truly grateful for your experience, knowledge, and ability to keep everyone calm and collected. We thank you for not only your time at Coona but also for all the practice sessions in the lead-up, when you gave us your own time to ensure all of our girls were ready to go.
The girls' hard work and dedication have proved invaluable, and the results at Coona have shown the effort they have put into their preparations.
Now, let's take a moment to recognise the wonderful achievements of our girls.
The Polocrosse teams had great fun on and off the field, coached by NEGS Old Girl Abbey Finlayson. It was so special to have the A-grade girls canter on in the finals through a “Guard of Honour” from the rest of the NEGS Team, families and supporters.
All our teams played their hearts out with the A grade Team consisting of:
Coming 2nd in a very tough final against Farrer
Our B Grade Team consists of:
Coming 3rd in the B Grade division.
Our division 2 players also gave their all, and I was super proud to hear the opposing team comments about how much fun the NEGS Team was to play against when they came off the field!
Our team penning teams also made the NEGS camp draft coach, Maree Balmain, super proud, with both teams riding brilliantly. The team consisting of:
Nailed both their runs finishing in 7th place amongst many very strong teams, and the team of:
Also had two great runs, with one particularly smashing run getting two head into the pen in a super quick time.
Huge credit goes to our Pentathlon riders, which in my mind is one of the hardest events to compete in as it has so many elements to it. Competitors were required to cycle the 2km cross country course, run a lap of the racecourse, throw a javelin and compete in an equitation and top score show jumping event. This is all on top of everything the girls were competing in over the event. It is a huge mental and physical event, so congratulations to all the girls who participated.
A big congratulations to Halina Saunders and Matilda Geue for coming 2nd and 6th, respectively, in their age groups.
Our show jumping riders also had their work cut out for them with huge classes of talented combinations in each of the height divisions. To place in any show jumping event at Coona is a huge achievement.
Ruby Holgate was outstanding in her Astro show jumping competition which is the highest height offered at Coona, jumping 115cms to place 2nd.
Georgina Pillar came away with Champion 105cm
Annabelle Dunlop Champion in the 95cm; and
Imogen Cadzow earning Reserve Champion in the 65cm
Congratulations also to Vivienne Cooke, Matilda Geue, Jasmine Fleming, Halina Saunders, Katie Moffit, Lasey Baggins-Cuppitt and Rain Pritchard, who all placed in one or more of their individual show jumping events.
The Team Six bar proved yet again to be a spectator highlight, with huge numbers of people watching and cheering the teams on. It was such a delight to have the team of
Win the overall team 6 bar shield.
Our dressage riders absolutely smashed the competition, with our girls receiving 5 champions and 1 reserve out of 9 champions offered. That is an extraordinary achievement.
Congratulations to:
All champions of their division with Sarah Barclay reserve.
Well done to
for bringing home the Clarke and Cunningham Cup for the overall highest-scoring school.
The freestyle dressage is an event where the riders complete a dressage test to music, in which the choreography is also a major part of the scoring. A lot of work goes into preparing the music and matching the horses movements to the temps. A big congratulations to:
Sienna Robinson and Abbie Kelly, who both won their divisions, Saskia Jeffery-Billich and Jessica Taylor coming 4th in theirs, and Arabella Blanchard finishing 8th.
Xanthia Watson and Millie Packham were successful in the Working horse classes, with both riders coming in 5th overall after three events. The working horse classes are incredibly hard to win with so much talent in the area, so for these girls to place in this event is super exciting.
Xanthia also shone in the Warrumbungle Way, which consists of several phases that include tasks such as whip cracking, working a mechanical cow and a 3-minute freestyle event where each rider can demonstrate their horsemanship skills in front of a judge.
Chloe Turnbull was an absolute machine, finishing 2nd in her age group.
The sporting hasn’t been something we have been super strong at in the past, however, Georgina Pillar flew around all of her events being awarded Champion 12yr old sporter. Makaidi Mair, Bridget McKemey, Emily Wamsley, Xanthia Watson, Tori Carter, Hallie Thompson and Olivia King also showed that we now have some strength in the sporting, placing in one or more of their events.
The Team barrels was a super fun event to watch, and it was even more exciting when we found out the team of
Had won the Bob Fenwick Schools Team Barrel Trophy. Super cool!
A huge amount of preparation went into the team hunt, with Show Jumping coach Miriam Henry and Renee Bourke making the fill for the girls to practice over in the lead-up to Coona. The team hunt is super challenging, with all four riders in the team having to canter over jumps together, and the event is judged on how well they do so in unison. Having all three teams finish in the top 10 was super exciting.
7th overall was the team consisting of:
3rd overall was the team of:
With the team of:
Taking out the win!
We had a huge number of girls compete in the combined training, which includes dressage and show jumping combined.
Congratulation to these riders:
Allie Palmer, Viv Cooke, Lacey Baggins-Cupitt, Anna Benson, Hallie Thomson, Isabelle Homfray, Harriet Penton, Nevaeh Pearce, Bridget McKemey, Caitlin Emerton, Jessica Taylor, Dominique Baker and Mckenzie Ellem who all finished in the top 5 of their divisions
Our brave eventing riders faced tough challenges on the cross-country course and made them look easy. The conditions were quite slippery, so even making it around was an achievement in itself. Congratulations to our eventing riders who finished in the top 10 after all three phases:
Big Congratulations to
for taking out the The Salmandae One Day Event Trophy for highest scoring 3 riders from one school.
In the gymkhana events, which included classes such as pleasure hack, rider classes and mount most suitable for expo, Emily Wamsley, Annabelle Dunlop, Georgina Pillar, Halina Saunders, Hallie Thomson, Ivy Pritchard, Lasey Baggins-Cuppitt, Matilda Meyn, Millie Packham, Rain Pritchard, Reese Callow, Robin Henry, Sarah Barclay and Tori Carter all placed in the top 5 in one or more of these events
The final events of the Coona expo were the show riding classes, where our girls looked amazing and rode beautifully. Some outstanding results were:
The exciting part was all our pairs of riders won their classes on the ring!
Congratulations to these riders who all placed in the top 5 in one or more of their classes;
Allie Palmer, Arabella Blanchard, Bea Morton, Darcie Loosemore, Dom Baker, Emily Ulrick, Eva Berlese, Harriet Penton, Imogen Cadzow, Jessica Taylor, Mackenzie Ellem, Makaidi Mair, Nevaeh Pearce, and Saskia Jeffery-Billich.
To complete the show riding events, the Team of Four rode off for what is one of the most prized events of Coona. NEGS had six strong teams with two of them winning their class on the ring and offered the chance to ride off for the final. Our two teams in the finals were:
With:
Coming out on top as the overall Champion Team of Four against a very strong field. What an achievement!
It was also pretty cool to have our riders canter up to the presentation stage to receive the Age Champion awards. These are incredibly hard to win at Coona, so huge congratulations go out to:
To top it all off our four highest-scoring riders:
Earned a whopping 122.75 points, only 8 points off the Poole Family Shield. Amazing.
Finally, a big congratulations to the following riders who may not have received a ribbon at Coona but rode exceptionally well and still represented the school beautifully with pride:
As EC Coordinator, I thank all the students for being such wonderful ambassadors for NEGS. You gave your all and showed great sportsmanship and camaraderie. Thank you
For our families who have often wondered what it is like to be part of the NEGS Coona Team, make yourself a cup of tea and enjoy this video compiled by Liv King, Year 12 student. Liv and Sienna our EC 24 Captains and have been terrific leaders this year.
Liv, this is a fantastic record of Coona 24; thank you!
Mrs Annyka Overton
Equestrian Centre Coordinator
