Back to school at Lightning Ridge

Lightning Ridge Central School Principal, Richard Finter. Photo TWH

Rata Jackson

Lightning Ridge Central School is beginning the 2023 school year with a large group of new students and eleven new staff members.

The school experienced an exodus of many teachers at the end of 2022 and recruitment of new teachers has been a priority over the school holiday break.

Principal, Richard Finter, says he is excited to have new teachers and staff on board, as everyone gets ready for another big school year.

“The beginning of any school year is always enormous,” Mr Finter said. “Especially settling these new staff members into the school and the community.

“All eleven new staff have been hand-picked, and with the shortage of teachers nationwide, Lightning Ridge Central School is fortunate to have had so many willing applicants to come to our remote rural area.

“Lightning Ridge has a reputation as a great place to teach and to live, and we have the community to thank for this. Already the new teachers have commented how welcome they feel in the very short time of arriving”.

Mr Finter expects the main effort this year will be business as usual – improving the school’s teaching practice, improving and expanding opportunities for students in careers, literacy, numeracy, science, the arts, performing or musical.

“It’s all about continuing to do what the school’s been doing and build on that,” Mr he said.

Before the start of the term, behaviour management specialist, Dr Bill Rogers will address the teachers and staff about school behaviour management and individual classroom behaviour management. Bill has been around for 40 years and is an expert in this field.

Staff from Coonamble Public School, Coonamble High and Primary Schools, Gwabegar School and Walgett Public and Primary Schools will be joining staff from the Lightning Ridge Central School for Dr Rogers’ lecture and workshop.

“Our staff also have mandatory training before the school year begins in CPR and anaphylaxis training, and there are also online training requirements.

“We’ll be developing our teams around literacy and numeracy and how we best approach that. There will be staged meetings around teaching and learning programs,” Mr Finter said.

“The admin and office staff also have plenty to do settling into their refurbished office.”