Featured stories
Phoneme or grapheme? What our new starters learned in week one
It's been a busy first week of school for our Kindergarten students across the state.
As our newest starters settle in to big school, they have been learning all sorts of exciting and interesting things, such as the different between a phoneme and a grapheme, and where to find numbers in the learning space.
Orange Grove Public School students Alfie and Austin spent some time with their principal Ms Henness, chatting about the first four days of Kindergarten.
Across NSW, 63,618 students will start Kindergarten in 2024.
School's back for western division staff and students
Kindergarten students across the western division are putting a smile on principals’ faces as a number of tiny schools celebrated a lift in numbers.
At Pooncarie Public School, 120 kilometres north of Mildura, seven Kindy kids will have their first full day of school on Monday, after completing their Best Start assessments.
Further north, White Cliffs Public School principal Lavinia Weaver will have her full cohort of four Kindy kids at school on Monday after two of her new starters were cut off from the town by floodwaters.
The two schools were among the 120 public schools in the NSW Department of Education’s western division that welcomed back students yesterday.
The western division starts later than eastern division students and staff, due to the higher summer temperatures.
Pooncarie Public School principal Alison King said the school had hit double figures in its enrolment with nine students full-time and a one-day enrolment on Fridays.
Ms King said the student who was attending one day a week was combining distance education with attendance at the school because they lived more than 90 kilometres away.
“There is great excitement in the community and among the teaching staff as well that we have a group to teach and the possibilities of what we can do with them,” Ms King said.
The seven Kindergarten students would form one class and do all their literacy and numeracy work together.
Read the full story here
Twins, twins and more twins at Kingswood South Public School
At Kingswood South Public School, five sets of twins are making up a quarter of this year’s kindergarten students.
In her 12 years at the school, principal Sandra Martin said the most sets she’s seen in one year group is three.
“It’s unusual, but exciting at the same time,” she said.
The twins were asked what they want to be when they grow up, with answers including a police ninja, butterfly and police girl, doctor and singer like Pink.
Sydney’s Chifley Public School has also welcomed five sets up twins to its kindergarten class this year.
Mila's thriving at Rosemeadow Public School
Rosy cheeks and the joy of new friends returned to Rosemeadow Public School this week as the Kindergarten class of 2024 put knees under desks for their first week of learning.
The school’s youngest students are now mingling with their older peers, after a special orientation at the end of the school holidays.
Four-year-old Mila Burnett is taking big school in her stride - still full of beans despite an exhausting first week establishing the new morning routine, getting to know the school, and her already-beloved teacher.
“It’s gone smoother than I ever could’ve expected,” mum Erin Burnett told The Daily Telegraph.
“She’s so confident within herself, but I think that’s because she’s so confident in the school.
“This week she told me that five plus five is 10, that’s something that she didn’t know last week - she’s enjoying the educational side, as well as the social side.”
Deadly back to school fun at Kimberwalli
Students from 274 schools in Greater Western Sydney gathered at Kimberwalli recently for backpacks filled with school supplies to kickstart their return to education.
It was the second year that the Carter sisters, Mia and Madison, have benefited from the back-to-school initiative at Kimberwalli, the western Sydney Aboriginal Centre for Excellence.
Mia, in Year 8 at Robert Townson High School, and Madison, Year 6 at St Andrew’s Public School, said they appreciated their school supplies and coming to Kimberwalli “to see our friends and hang out”.
Read the full story here
REMINDER | Back to school webinar for parents and carers
Parents and carers of NSW public school students are invited to attend a back-to-school webinar and question and answer session with Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car and NSW Department of Education Secretary Murat Dizdar.
The webinar will be hosted by P&C Federation NSW President Yvonne Hilsz from 7-7.45pm on Thursday 8 February.
A key focus of the webinar is the new Plan for NSW Public Education, as well as some of the challenges schools and parents are facing.
“This is a great opportunity for parents and carers to find out what’s happening in public education in NSW in 2024,” Ms Hilsz said.
“It’s also a chance to have your questions answered by the Minister and the Secretary.”
Parents and carers can register hereExternal link
Inaugural event inspires teachers of tomorrow
Education leaders, including principals and Initial Teacher Education (ITE) students, welcomed the new school year this week at the inaugural Back to School 2024 event at Sydney’s Town Hall.
The event, which will be held annually, brought around 800 education heads together from across NSW to celebrate the new school year while engaging and inspiring teachers of the future, ITE final-year students.
ITE student Nour Chendeb, currently in her fourth year at the University of Sydney, said she was excited to finish her degree and start working as a teacher.
“The event was eye-opening, and I was able to relate to a lot of the concepts,” Ms Chendeb said.
Read the full story here
VIDEO | What bridge will you build in 2024?
NSW public school directors, principals, teachers and students came together for the first Back to School event in Sydney on Monday.
With special guests including teacher and maths whiz Eddie Woo, Deputy Premier Prue Car and NSW Department of Education Secretary Murat Dizdar, those in attendance celebrated the start of the new school year.
Not your typical Sunrise at Minchinbury Public School
It wasn’t a typical first day of school for Oliver and Wren who were the stars of Sunrise’s weather this morning at Minchinbury Public School, in Sydney's western suburbs.
Before their first day of class had even started, the Kindergarten pair had already had their shining moment with a live cross on early morning television.
They also received some timely advice from their older siblings to help them on their Kindy journey, including to remember ‘teachers are always there to help you.’
Oliver and Wren made quite the impression on Sunrise weatherman Sam Mac, who wished them luck as they start Kindy.
Schools welcome Kindergarten students
Schools across NSW have started welcoming new Kindergarten students.
Appin Public, Young North Public and Googong Public were among the schools to welcome Kindergarten students last week.
Googong Public, just near the border of the ACT, has welcomed its 700-plus students back to class, including 147 kids in Kindergarten.
And it's going to be a tough few weeks for teachers at the school as well, given their class will have three sets of twins, along with triplets.
Watch the video and read the full report hereExternal link
Why this year’s entry level teachers are special
Killara High teacher Tegan Keevers is one of 6301 new NSW public school teachers to enter the workforce this year.
She’s also one of the most well paid.
The group of new permanent public school teachers will be the first in history to make a starting salary of $85,000, an almost $10,000 increase on the starting salary of a teacher five months ago.
It comes after the NSW Government secured a once-in-a-generation pay rise for the state’s 99,080 teachers in 2023.
The 22-year-old teaches industrial tech and timber, and told The Daily Telegraph she hoped to show that metalwork and woodwork subjects are not gender specific.
New public school teachers will be celebrated at the inaugural Back To School 2024 ceremony at Sydney Town Hall on Monday night where they will be congratulated by Education Minister Prue Car and Education Secretary Murat Dizdar.
Read Emily Kowal's full story hereExternal link
Teachers ferry into fresh year
Hundreds of teachers and school staff yesterday took part in Sydney’s iconic Ferrython for Australia Day.
Held each year since 1977, this crowd-pleaser sees ferries race around Sydney Harbour in a unique spectacle.
Verona School principal Carla Scott said she could see the incredible value of encouraging her staff to take part.
“I’m extremely proud that a team of teachers and support staff from Verona School participated in Ferrython this year,” Ms Scott said.
“We support nearly 100 students with behaviour disorders, emotional disturbances, mental health and autism across two campuses.
Read the full story here
Little kids ready for big school at Mount Warrigal
Illawarra preschoolers are starting their education journey at the public school they will attend the following year.
The fee-free preschool at Mount Warrigal Public School is this year welcoming three sets of twins, including Wade and Olivia Welland, the youngest of eight children.
Wade and Olivia’s mum, Kellie Gustowski, told ‘The Illawarra Mercury’ she chose the Mount Warrigal Public preschool because the school had an “excellent reputation”.
School principal Lyndall Holden said having preschoolers onsite with students from Kindergarten to Year 6 made the transition to big school seamless and enhanced integration and inclusion.
The preschoolers are involved in school events and in the buddy class program where different years are matched together. Kindergarten students at Mount Warrigal Public will start school on Monday.
Read the full article hereExternal link
Rhinos, giant bees, banners and sunshine as students head back to school
Riverbank Public students were greeted by school mascot Rory the Rhino on their return to school on Thursday.
Anna Bay Public was a hive of activity, with students buzzing about and smiling faces everywhere.
A giant 'Welcome Back' banner greeted students at Kurrajong Public on their return to school, while at Riverstone Public, first day back was one of sunshine and smiles.
From student captain to principal at Laguna Street Public School
Kylie Fowler has taken the reins of Laguna Street Public School in southern Sydney – the school where she was a student and school captain in 1986.
“It’s a really special connection and not many people get this opportunity,” she said.
Mrs Fowler is one of 77 new principals starting the 2024 school year in NSW public education, after being assistant principal at Laguna Street Public School since 2015.
“I love the families and staff here,” Mrs Fowler told ‘The St George & Sutherland Shire Leader’.
“You have to be a people person – making connections to students, staff and families, and get to know them and share the goal of raising little citizens.”
Laguna Street Public School on Dharawal Country at Caringbah has 470 students, including 62 kindies starting next week. Mrs Fowler intends to add to the sports and performing arts opportunities to cater for a wider range of student interests. A photography club is among the ideas floated.
A proud product of public education, Mrs Fowler completed her secondary education at Woolooware High School and started in the profession as a targeted teaching graduate at Fairfield Heights Public School in 1997.
Read the full story here
Tamworth High in good hands
Students returning to Tamworth High School this week have been introduced to their 2024 Year 12 leadership team.
Co-captain Thomas Sullivan and vice captains Emerson Flick and Hugh Fitzgerald were on hand to welcome new Year 7 students starting at the school yesterday.
They spoke with Seven News and shared some timely advice for the new students at the school.
Operation Welcome for Year 7 at Woolooware High
Today 145 Year 7 students started at Woolooware High School. Principal Mardi Benson explains how ‘Operation Welcome’ builds a sense of community.
Woolooware High School has a strong sense of community; a strong sense of family. Our students and staff recognise that everyone has a distinct role to play in contributing to our community. Our students know that they become the big brothers and big sisters of our school.
Today, day 1 of 2024, this sense of community begins. Over the next two days ‘Operation Welcome’ commences.
Read Ms Benson's full explanation of 'Operation Welcome' here
Schools welcome new principals
There are 77 principals taking up new positions across NSW in 2024 - 41 leading schools in regional, rural and remote areas and 36 starting at Sydney metropolitan area schools.
Among the new leaders are first time substantive principals Lisa Lunn, at Eumungerie Public School in the state's Central West, Matt Townsend at Cherrybrook Technology High School in Sydney's Hills District, and Leanne Jarlett, at Largs Public School in the Hunter region.
Read more about Ms Lunn, Mr Townsend and Ms Jarlett here
And we're back!
Students across NSW have wrapped up their first day back for the year.
Check out some of the great photos of our students enjoying day one of Term 1 2024.
Below is a snapshot of our public education system in 2024, by the numbers:
- 805,378 students in our classrooms (including students in department-operated preschools and schools for specific purposes)*
- 63,618 students starting Kindergarten*
- 477,078 students entering primary school and preschool*+
- 52,913 students starting Year 7*
- 320,774 students entering high school*+
- 99,080 full-time (FTE) teachers and staff dedicated to students
- 6,301 new permanent teachers
- 44 new principals
*Anticipated 2024 school enrolments as at 31 December 2023.
+Data includes support enrolments in mainstream schools.
Find out more interesting stats here
Industry experts help Callaghan College teachers upskill
In the lead up to students returning to school on Thursday, teachers participated in two staff development days.
More than 300 staff from Callaghan College, Newcastle's largest public high school, partnered with industry experts to be inspired by real world application of skills on Tuesday 30 January.
College faculties worked with 16 individual specialists in a two-hour masterclass.
Read more here
How cool are balloon arches?
Staff at Bowral Public School organised a special 'Welcome Back Arch' for students returning to school on Thursday. Way to go Bowral Public!
Meanwhile, Orange Grove Public School was counting down the days until students return...
Back to school webinar for parents and carers
Parents and carers of NSW public school students are invited to attend a back-to-school webinar and question and answer session with Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car and NSW Department of Education Secretary Murat Dizdar.
The webinar will be hosted by P&C Federation NSW President Yvonne Hilsz from 7-7.45pm on Thursday 8 February.
A key focus of the webinar is the new Plan for NSW Public Education, as well as some of the challenges schools and parents are facing.
Read more here
Welcome to our 2024 Back to School blog
Starting school is a big milestone for children and their families, as Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car can attest.
In the lead-up to children entering Kindergarten in the next fortnight, families can help them prepare for this important transition.
More than 63,000 students will start Kindergarten in NSW public schools in 2024.
We've got some great tips for parents preparing their children for ‘big school’, provided by Kindergarten teacher Yue Zhu, from Denistone East Public School, and Nicholson St Public School Assistant Principal Lucy Norrish.
For those starting high school, there are also some simple steps that can be taken to make the transition as smooth as possible.
Around 53,000 students will start Year 7 from this week.
NSW Department of Education Secretary Murat Dizdar welcomed all students starting and returning to school in 2024.
“Starting school is a rite of passage and a key transition point in education,” Mr Dizdar said.
“Every student, parent and teacher will remember what their first day of school was like and it’s our goal to create these same memorable experiences for today’s students.
“It’s really important that our youngest students feel supported by their school, their teachers and families, so they have a positive start to school and are ready and eager to learn.
“Similarly, starting high school is such an important transition point in our students’ education journey.
“I wish the Year 7 class of ’24 a fun and engaging year of learning and wellbeing growth."