Dan Repacholi (Hunter, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Hunter has amazing students who are taught by even better teachers, so it's absolutely no surprise to see an astonishing 68 students and teachers from all over the Hunter being recognised by receiving one of the Singleton Learning Community Education Week Awards for 2023. I want to recognise these outstanding students and teachers and thank them for all they do for their school communities and the whole community.

Recognised in the category for outstanding contribution by a school community member were: Jennifer Maloney from Broke Public School; Robyn Sorensen from Jerrys Plains Public School; Jodie McCarthy from King Street Public School; Suellyn Connolly from Kirkton Public School; Owen Harper from Milbrodale Public School; Sandra Turner from Mount Pleasant Public School; Kathy O'Brien from Singleton Heights Public School; Ros Hafner and Sharon Young from Singleton High School; Singleton Family Support, who help to support and improve the social and emotional wellbeing of students at Singleton High School; and, finally, Jessica Withers from Singleton Public School.

Multiple Hunter schools were also recognised for their outstanding programs and initiatives. Broke Public School's Academy of STEM Excellence partnership received an award for strengthening teacher capacity in implementing high-quality STEM programs for K to 6. King Street Public School's Story Street was recognised for encouraging a love of reading and providing an opportunity to connect with the whole community to view real-world literacy skills and storytelling. Milbrodale Public School's attendance program was a winner for designing, with staff, personal learning pathways and individual education programs for students and improving school organisation and culture by building a team mentality and continually involving school community. Mount Pleasant Public School received an award for their school canteen which, led by Jacob Godschalk, is run by the student representative council every Friday.

Singleton Heights Public School's breakfast club received an award, along with Singleton Public School's Primary Mathematics Specialist Teacher Initiative and Singleton High School's tiny house project, which is being driven by Jason Kolatchew. Singleton High School have also received recognition for their program with Takahata, which is run by Ren Barnett, who organises a cultural exchange program between Takahata and Singleton. Singleton really excelled in this category, getting a third award for their K Block Kafe program, which has provided senior school students from the special education unit opportunities to develop food handling, meal prep and customer service skills.

Many also received an award for an outstanding contribution by a non-teaching member of staff. Congratulations go to: Jessica Doust from Broke Public School; Shelly Mitchell from Jerrys Plains Public School; Shelby Fishpool and Bridget Wilkes from King Street Public School; Julie Dunn from Milbrodale Public School; Kylie Shearer from Mount Pleasant Public School; Cass Considine from Singleton Heights Public School; Margaret Forbes from Kirkton Public School; Heidi Kolatchew from Singleton Public School; and Jackie Martin, Anne Edwards, Jasmin Bown and Jayne Williams from Singleton High School.

Hunter schools also did very well in the category for an outstanding achievement in Aboriginal education. Congratulations go to: Anne McSweeney from Broke Public School; Britney Capper from Jerrys Plains Public School; Lillea McKenzie from King Street Public School; Dominic Teuma from Milbrodale Public School; Kobey MacDonald from Singleton Heights Public School; Maria O'Neill, Telisha Feeney, Harrison Cummings and Penelope Greaves from Singleton High School; and Nakia Steele from Singleton Public School.

Some of our amazing students received awards for excellence in student achievement. Well done to Emily Davies from Broke Public School. Lily Herbert from Jerrys Plains Public School, Lucy Cole and Samantha Simmonds from King Street Public School, Isabella Beckingham from Kirkton Public School, Campbell Gray from Mount Pleasant Public School, Bethany Power from Singleton Heights Public School, Hugh Sanderson from Singleton Public School, and Ethan Williams, Matthew Waugh, Georgie Williams and Caroline Mexon from Singleton High School. A student from Milbrodale Public School also received this award.

Well done to all of those who received an award for excellence in teaching: Lyndal Matthews from Broke Public School, Rebecca Hopkins, Susan Scott, Katie Camilleri, Jessica Beer-Carter, Jacob Godschalk, Sue Winsor, Anna O'Brien and, finally, Skye Lawrence, Laura Fenwick, Mark Henderson and Tim Merrick from Singleton High School. Congratulations to all those who received an award.