Education and Training - An Echo Feature
Kids Love Acting Up
 Krystle
Manning wows the Helen O'Grady Drama Academy.
Drama is a wonderful way to develop children's communication and teamwork skills.
Students can enrol now for Term 4 with Helen O'Grady Children's Drama Academy.
All children enrolling for the first time will experience the excitement of being involved in a full dramatic production.
The classes and enthusiastic teaching delivery effectively channel creativity and develop both personal and social skills in a friendly and positive
environment.
There are three levels of classes catering for children aged 5-16.
Being involved in dramatic productions teaches children valuable life skills as well as giving students a strong foundation in performance and stagecraft
technique and, above all, classes are fun!
The plays are written especially for the Helen O'Grady Children's Drama Academy, ensuring that all children participate in the play -
all have a speaking part, regardless of experience.
Classes are held weekly after school hours in Lismore, Ballina and Casino.
For further information please contact Christine and Stephen Holmes on 6628 4500.
A Supportive Preschool in Goonellabah
 Goonellabah
Preschool offers a supportive and nurturing environment that encourages children to develop self confidence, respect for themselves and others as well as
an awareness of their environment.
Goonellabah Preschool is a community based non-profit organisation which caters for 3-5 year olds and managed by a voluntary committee. The centre is
licensed and funded by the Department of Community Services and fees from families using the service.
With play as the centre of learning the program at Goonellabah Preschool encourages children to communicate their feelings, share ideas, respect cultural
diversity and cooperate in making decisions.
Goonellabah Preschool strives to develop partnerships with parents in the education and care of their children. The centre also offers special needs
support to children and their families.
Because it is situated in a quiet location Goonellabah Preschool has a shady and stimulating outdoor play area which encourages children's involvement
and physical development.
Goonellabah Preschool operates five days a week from 9am-5pm with extended hours care. As a preschool they have regular groups to assist in forming lasting
friendships and social interactions with similarly aged children.
Enquiries and enrolments can be made by visiting Goonellabah Preschool on Oliver Ave or contacting the centre on 6624 1422.
Tursa - Helping Locals Find Jobs
 The
Tursa team: helping people get back to work.
Tursa Employment and Training is the largest provider of employment services from Grafton to the Tweed and the only service provider that is contracted
by the Commonwealth Government to deliver Job Network services across the whole Northern Rivers region.
General Manager of Tursa Ron Rathborne said that Tursa can help both employees and employers.
"We're all about getting people back to work and helping business in the most practical ways to do just that," Ron said.
"And we can choose from a pool of available workers throughout our region. Our job is to link workers and business and provide opportunities for
both," he said.
All Tursa's income is spent locally, wherever possible, as a matter of Board policy and surplus income is spent on establishing, expanding and enhancing
infrastructure devoted to employment and training services for business and workers.
Every time an employer uses Tursa's services more income is distributed in the region.
Since commencing the current Job Network contract in March 2000, Tursa has voluntarily increased the number of its shopfront offices in the region from
eight to 12 - that gives more choice, more opportunity and more convenience for both job seekers and business.
Tursa's Richmond Area Manager Vaughan Lavelle said that Tursa offers a wide variety of options.
"Tursa is able to provide the widest choice of potential employees to business. We can provide school leavers, job seekers with wage subsidies,
specialised support and pre-employment training for job seekers to assist them into employment, trainees and traineeship training," Vaughan said.
"There are no fees for any of Tursa's services or programs. And - most importantly - we're local and proud of it," he said.
To find out how Tursa can help you, phone 6621 9666.
A Parent's View
This is an unsolicited letter sent to The Echo by a parent of a student of Vistara Primary School. Here's what they think:
I would like to thank teachers and staff at Vistara Primary School, Richmond Hill for the exemplary tuition, care and support they have given my daughter
during her first year at school. I would like to assure parents who are looking for a non-mainstream alternative for their children's schooling, that
there is nothing 'weird' about the school.
Vistara is an independent school run by the Ananda Marga group which is neo-humanist in philosophy with a healthy spiritual component. I find that these
principals are very compatible with modern alternative spiritual beliefs and perfectly at home with the broadminded nature of the North Coast.
There is no dogma as such and certainly no pressure to 'convert'. In fact the very things that Vistara practices, such as meditation, visualisation
and yoga, are the kinds of activities mainstream schools are now being commended for as innovative. Children come from all over the region to attend this
gorgeous little rural hideaway and the school community is filled with creative and talented parents as well as teachers and kids.
The school places a high value on issues to do with the natural environment, landcare and sustainability. This year the children have been visited by
local koalas, thanks to habitat planting on site and the occasional wallaby. What a treat.
The curriculum they follow is regulated by the State and our children's academic achievements are well developed. Very importantly, the environment
at Vistara is also compassionate and caring, something that shows in how the children interact with each other and relate to the world.
I believe there are still some vacancies for 2003 and I would urge readers who are considering an alternative schooling for their children to contact
Vistara and examine the benefits they offer. Don't be put off by petty prejudices (of which there are plenty), check it out and make up your own minds
about what we past and present parents of Vistara children believe is an absolute haven in our mad and mainstream world.
Punita Boardman
Lismore
Vistara Primary School is now taking enrolments for 2003. Parents who wish to place their child on the waiting list for future years may also do so.
For further information or to arrange an appointment phone 6624 4127.
Awards for NETPAC
North Coast Vocational Education and Training Promotion and Advisory Committee (NETPAC) achieved wonderful results at the 2002 NSW Training Awards held
in Sydney recently. This is clear acknowledgment of this region's dedication to the development of its people through Vocational Education and Training,
in combination with the generosity of regional sponsors and a dedicated committee who worked hard to support the nominees and present a very successful
regional awards event.
Ann Runciman, Treasurer of NETPAC, congratulated all nominees. "It was a thrill be there at the State Awards and see the pride and joy of our winners
and to hear the numerous accolades given to our region, in recognition of the great work we are doing in VET. Of particular note was the comment by the
Hon. John Watkins, MP Minister for Education and Training, regarding the success of Kadina High School's various VET programs," Ann said. "NETPAC
congratulates all nominees for the 2002 NSW training Awards and looks forward to continuing our success next year," she said.
The winners were: Aaron Carle - Australian Business Apprentice of the Year; Miranda Simpson - Vocational School Student of the Year; St Joseph's
Vocational Campus - VET in Schools Excellence Award; Ballina High School - State Finalist - VET in Schools Excellence Award; TAFE NSW North
Coast Institute - State Finalist - NSW Training Initiative Award; Cherie Kay - State Finalist - Australian Business Trainee of the Year.
Music and Dance for Kids
 Northern
Rivers Conservatorium voice and choir teacher Imogen Wolf with Acting Director Gabrielle O'Shannessey.
For parents looking to extend their child's education the Northern Rivers Conservatorium is able to help. Acting Director of the Con, Gabrielle
O'Shannessy, is very excited to announce that they will be sending some of their best music and dance teachers around to local schools.
"We're sending out our teachers to schools so they can complement the K-6 Arts program and help assist with the creative arts syllabus,"
Gabrielle said.
"They'll be able to help with advanced or specialised tuition both in group and ensemble forums," she said.
With the Australian Youth Orchestra planning to conduct a workshop in Lismore in 2004-05 the conservatorium is trying to encourage as many children as
possible to develop their musical skills.
"We're trying to build up a base of orchestral players so as many local kids as possible can be involved," Gabrielle said.
"One of the wonderful things about learning an instrument or dance is that it's a skill you retain for life. We offer kids an opportunity to
perform solo and in a group. We have non-competitive performance nights, which provide a great environment for students to show what they've learned
without feeling too much pressure," Gabrielle said.
To find out more about the conservatorium head along to their open day on Saturday, October 19.
For a full list of next term's courses check out the advertisement on this page or call the con on 6621 2266.
|
