There is a strong link between the professional qualities of individual teachers and the learning outcomes of students. CCGPS pride themselves on having the most highly trained staff in the Hunter Central Coast area. Go to ‘Our Teachers' for details on some of the professional development that is taking place across our schools.
Cat Boorer talks about her experience at the Stronger Smarter Training
‘When I arrived at Stronger Smarter Training on a Sunday afternoon, I was tired. It was a warm sunny day and I could hear the waves crashing. I knew where I really wanted to be. Instead, I heard a voice guide me into a conference room.
At the beginning of Stronger Smarter training we had a group of 20 school professionals who had never really met before. By the end of the training I had 20 people I had formed great relationships with. As a teacher, this is how I knew this training was a successful program for me.
Relationships are the key to success within a classroom with the diverse range of students we teach; Stronger Smarter allowed me to 'hunt' into my own dilly bag and recognise the skills I had, as well as giving me some new ones to assist me in creating positive and sustainable relationships to enhance the academic success of our students.
Stronger Smarter also allowed me to recognise and remember that all students are different and as a teacher we need to remember this and keep our classroom open, providing a safe and supportive environment.
Across Cessnock Community of Great Public Schools we are hoping to use this training to up-skill other teachers, and assist them in building these meaningful relationships, as well as creating activities where relationships are fostered between Aboriginal primary and secondary school students.
By recognising and making these choices, we are embracing the theories, practices and values of Stronger Smarter.'
Cat Boorer (Principal - Conjewai Public School)
