On July 31 and August 1, Narrabri schools celebrated International Principals’ Day with a network of over 100 principals from all over the state, joining together for the conference of
the year.
Starting at the high school on Thursday, July 31, the principals were welcomed with a morning tea and address from executive director for rural north directorate, Meghanne Wellard.
The day involved a legal services session, leadership sessions, DOVES (The Minister’s Student Council) presentations for student voice and ending it all off with a combined network dinner at the Narrabri Bowling Club.
Principal of Narrabri High School, Emily McInerny, spoke a bit more on the day’s events.
“As the new principal, I’m very proud of what we were able to achieve yesterday and being able to offer an awesome venue.
“The professional learning that we did was really positive and just being able to connect with peers that you never get to see was very rewarding.
“It was a great time, and I think we’ll take back a lot of what we learnt and put it into our schools, to know you’ve always got someone to reach out to.”
Emily explained that the workshops are absolutely interest based and that they have small schools, central schools, high schools and primary schools.
So, whatever interest each school needs or has, they can select the different areas.
“There’s quite a number of opportunities for them to go into those spaces and work in a small group with some really great, experienced people,” Emily said.
“Then being able to take that back to their school and improve on what needs to be done.
“Overall, it was a worthwhile day and it is amazing that we can pull the whole network here, which usually doesn’t happen,” she said.
“A huge thank you to Meghanne Wellard who has done an incredible job in doing so.”
On Friday, August 1 at Narrabri Public School, there was a school performance and celebration following the working breakfast in the morning.
A cake presented in celebration of the day and one very special principal was asked to come up and do the honours of cutting the cake.
Jane Kibble has been the principal at Timbumburi Public School for an impressive 19 years, first starting her principal career in 1996.
What an inspiration to all in the education field.
Jane explained the importance of believing in yourself and your students before anything.
A great example of this is the DOVES Minister’s Student Council.
Theressa Miles, DEL for Namoi Network explained what DOVES are and what their goals are ultimately.
“The DOVES are comprised of 27 students from each of the nine educational directorates in NSW including Connected Communities. They come together and work with the premier around giving student voice to education.
“The beautiful young leaders, Ruby and Imogen actually MC the day for us.
“They also had another student from Armidale Secondary College, Luke, who teamed in, and they did a half hour presentation on student voices in schools and how important using
that is.
“Encompassing what they want and what they want to see in their school’s education as well,” Theressa said.
