By TANIA PHILLIPS
FOUR educators from Bogangar Public School have been nominated for the 2013 ASG NEiTA Awards for Inspirational Educators.
Earlier this year Principal Cath Lalor and acting assistant principal and Year 3/4/5 teacher Lauren Hankinson were announced as nominees for the National Excellence in Teaching Awards Program.
Now two more Bogangar teachers have been nominated – Kinder/Year 1 classroom teacher Helen Williams and learning support teacher Cathy Llewellyn.
Principal Cath Lalor said it was an honour for the school to receive so many nominations in the awards.
“At Bogangar we have a ‘yes’ mentality,” she said, explaining why she thought so many staff members had been nominated.
“If it is in the best interest of our students, we will do our best to see if it can be done. These teachers and their work are fine examples of this in practice. They show that teachers do make a difference to kids’ lives.
Bogangar is a very positive place to work for staff and students alike.”
Now in its 20th year, the National Excellence in Teaching Awards (NEiTA) program, supported by the Australian Scholarships Group (ASG), gives communities the opportunity to formally thank their hard-working and inspirational educators and leaders.
“NEiTA – with the support of ASG – has helped raise the profile of teaching and the important work educators do in the community,” NEiTA chairman Terry O’Connell said.
“We know first-hand the difference quality teaching makes in the community and to our children’s future.
“We need to keep encouraging passionate young minds to enter the teaching profession to ensure our children get quality education outcomes and the best start in life.”
Teachers who are nominated have the chance of going on to the state, territory and even national awards.
Professional development and project grants are up for grabs, as well as one lucky national award recipient getting the incredible opportunity to go to Space Camp in the US.
National Awards are granted across four categories: leadership and development, innovation, community engagement, and for the first time for 2013, languages other than English.
Finalists for the awards will be announced on 20 September and state and territory award recipients will be announced on 25 October with the national award winners being announced early next year.
NEiTA was formed in 1994 with the support of member-based organisation, the Australian Scholarships Group (ASG).
NEiTA is Australia’s only national, community-centred teaching awards program that gives Australian parents and grandparents, secondary student councils, school boards/councils, parent associations, committees of management and community organisations the opportunity to nominate their inspirational teachers, principals and directors.
Bogangar Public School is now accepting enrolments for Kindergarten 2014. Please contact the school for an enrolment information pack on 02 6676 2755, visit their website www.bogangarpublicschool.com and follow them on Twitter @Bogangar_PS and Instagram #bpschool
