Education Week 2020 began on Monday, with schools across the Forbes Shire and the State celebrating the many achievements of public schools and the critical role they play in equipping our students for the future.

Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning Sarah Mitchell said ‘Learning Together’ is a fitting theme given the extraordinary challenges this year has presented.

“In the face of drought, bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic, our school communities have proven just how strong and adaptable they are,” Sarah said.

“Teachers and support staff moved quickly to online lessons; parents and carers took on additional responsibilities at home and students adjusted to a new way of learning.” Education Week has been a highlight of the NSW public education calendar for more than 60 years, and this year provides an opportunity to reflect on achievements over the past year.

“This is particularly relevant for the past year, as our education system has triumphed amidst difficult circumstances,” Sarah said.

“I cannot overstate the appreciation I have for the incredible way everyone has responded to the challenges of this year. Right across the state, students and families have received incredible support from their schools and teachers, and stronger relationships have grown between schools and their communities.”

Forbes Public School (FPS) has enjoyed their annual celebration of NSW Public Education. This year, FPS has focused on the theme, Learning Together.

During the week staff and students have engaged in different learning opportunities and come together on Wednesday under the theme Learning Together, dressed up as their favourite book characters. This has provided a wonderful opportunity for staff and students to share in a love of reading and learning while showing off their colourful creativity.

Education Week has seen the launch of FPS’s new whole school literacy initiative.

Staff and students are very excited to be engaging in a new whole school program that focuses on embedding current and evidence-based reading strategies into all classrooms at Forbes Public School.

As part of the program, the school welcomed Mrs Janet Westcott to the team. Janet is a Literacy and Numeracy Strategy Advisor. This is a new and exciting role at FPS, which will enable Janet the opportunity to work with staff to promote quality student learning and growth over the term.

This forms part of the whole school strategy to provide students with current, effective, and innovative learning opportunities!

Forbes Preschool has extended its early learning services to offer NDIS to support children from zero to six years of age. “We are very excited to provide NDIS services to deliver the Early Childhood Early Intervention approach,” Preschool Director, Amy Shine said. “As an NDIS provider, we can also help families to understand the potential benefits of NDIS support for their child.”

“The ECEI approach supports children aged from 0-6 years who have a developmental delay or disability, as well as their families and carers. Our approach supports families to help children develop the skills they need to take part in daily activities and to achieve the best possible outcomes throughout their life,” Amy added.

Every child is different, Forbes Preschool understands this and tailors support programs for each child’s unique and individual needs, while considering their circumstances. The team at Forbes Preschool are focussed on giving all children the best possible start to lifelong learning. This is partly achieved through the Preschools consistent play based approach, where educators incorporate play and occupational therapies and speech into daily programs. Forbes Preschool now offers individual and specialised programs to ensure every child has as much assistance needed offered in a fun, safe environment. Staff have also introduced audiology as an important diagnostic tool for learners.

A highlight for the FPs team in becoming an NDIS provider is being able to offer integrated appointments and programs in a child’s own environment, in addition to the comprehensive educational programming.

For more information about the Forbes Preschool NDIS services please contact the team on 6852 1040.

The Forbes Shire Council are looking for feedback from the Forbes Shire community to help name the new residential estate coming soon to Edward Street.

“We are so excited to open up this end of town to a new residential estate,” said Forbes Shire Council Mayor Phyllis Miller. “Council has considered the heritage and history of the area and determined two possible names for the Estate. Now we want the community to vote!”

The two names proposed are Blackridge Estate and Wheatfields Estate. Blackridge was the original name given to the goldfield area where current day Forbes town centre is located. This name acknowledges Forbes’ unique history as a gold rush town and its heritage significance.

Wheatfields Estate derives from Forbes’ local economy which is based on a strong and diverse agricultural industry, and particularly grain crops including cereals and legumes grown in this region.

Anyone wishing to, can complete the simple online survey and vote on the preferred name choice for the Estate. Consultation closes 31 August 2020.

“Community sentiment and feedback is so important, especially when naming something so substantial for our town,” said Phyllis. “The Estate will have up to 223 lots and a development of this size will set Forbes up for future residential housing for a long time.

“The recent trends show people are want- ing to move to regional Australia and I want Forbes to be in a position to offer them something they can’t refuse.”

The proposed site will be located at the junction of Bogan Gate Road and Edward Street, northwest of the Forbes CBD.

The Your Say survey can be found through the Forbes Shire Council community engagement site www.yoursay.forbes.nsw.gov.au. For more information please contact Council’s Community Relations Officer on 02 6850 2300.

Early Childhood Education Services in Forbes were delighted to receive a generous donation of ride-on tractors from Forbes Machinery Centre (FMC) last week, with the children wasting no time in making good use of the tractors.

Simone Inder, Director of Goodstart Early Learning Centre Forbes said, “We are super grateful for their contribution, the children are absolutely loving their new tractors.”

FMC gives back to the community through sponsorships, fundraising for community groups and donations to schools and early learning centres. Goodstart Early Learning, Learning Ladder, Bright Beginnings and Forbes Preschool each received a New Holland pedal tractor with trailer and two New Holland push along tractors.

It is Early Learning Matters Week next week and Forbes Preschool (FPs) will be launching it with their first Facebook Live seminar for parents on Monday, 3 August at 7pm to share how important quality early learning is.

“High quality education and care supports children to be confident, enthusiastic learners, building a foundation for wellbeing and achievement through their whole lives,” FPs Director Amy Shine said.

“Our preschool has always focused on developing the best outcomes for our children and Early Learning Matters Week 2020 is helping spread the message to the community at a national level.”

Early Learning Matters was started by Service providers, peak bodies and re- search and advocacy groups to better inform political decision makers of the importance of quality early education. This year FPs is expanding that message to include families and communities.

“We have long been working towards the best outcomes for our children, but we need the whole community to understand the positive implications early learning has in supporting families and building our society.”

“All early learning centres in Forbes are working hard every day to develop exciting programs to help our children become strong independent learners,” said Amy.

FPs has recently become an NDIS provider and continues to offer Occupational Therapy, Speech and Synergetic Play Therapy as an integrated part of all programs. “NDIS is about working with children in their own environments and FPs is able to provide extended and specialised learning in a child’s own safe preschool space –  programmed specifically for their own very personal needs,” Speech Pathologist Jess Schofield added.

To attend the webinar, find the Forbes Preschool Facebook and record your interest in attending under ‘Events’. Facebook will send a reminder before 7pm to join. Get settled in a comfy, quiet spot so you can tune in for a discussion about the FPs 2020 school transition program.

Children learn more in the first three years than they ever will, which is why the work educators do at Bright Beginnings ELC is vital, as it builds a strong foundation for all future development and learning. We underestimate how much children learn before they begin formal schooling, but the professional team of educators are committed to providing high-quality learning environments that offer a variety of rich and stimulating educational opportunities. The goal is to ensure every child has a strong foundation to reach their full potential.

The innovative teaching and learning continues at Forbes High School with staff embedding Curiosity & Powerful Learning in partnership with Positive Behaviour for Learning to improve student outcomes.

Education Week 2020 takes place from Monday, 3 August to Friday, 7 August. It is a state-wide annual event that celebrates public education in NSW with an emphasis on students, educators and the communities that support them.

During Education Week 2020 Forbes High School will highlight student empowerment, agency, and ownership of their education under the theme, ‘Learning Together’.

It is an important message that underpins NSW Education’s ambition for every student within the public school system to be known, valued, and cared for. The message gives us the opportunity to reflect on the valuable role the student voice has in creating engaged citizens who will thrive beyond the school gates.

Principal Safija Bristina said Education Week was the ideal opportunity for the school to reach out to its community and share its achievements through online platforms and social media.

“Forbes High School continues to ensure every student improves every year and we do this with passionate and courageous staff that are prepared to do teaching and learning differently to make it work for our students,” said Safija.

Like so many things in this Covid crazy world, Education Week is being conducted differently at Forbes North Public School this year! Due to current health advice, Forbes North is unable to hold their regular community events. So, instead of inviting the community in, Forbes North are ‘going out’ into the community.

This Education Week, student artworks, outstanding work samples, photos and audio-visual items will be on display in the heart of Forbes in the store-front windows at 54 – 58 Rankin St. We encourage the entire Forbes community to come and do some ‘window shopping’ and see the great work the kids have been doing both at school and at home while “Learning Together”.