EDUCATION
ACE (Adult and Community Education) offers a wide variety of courses to community members of the Shire. These include both accredited and non accredited vocational, leisure and online courses. There are centres in Warialda, Bingara and Gravesend.
The Gwydir Learning Region is a collection of community, education and Council representatives who work to ensure that people of all ages in this community have the best access to learning and education in the local area. Already this group has been able to develop education programs to meet the needs of the local businesses. The Gwydir Learning Region has a very strong vocational education program with the community supporting school-based trainees.
Gwydir Shire, including the towns of Warialda and Bingara, is part of the Northern Regional Library & Information Service which covers over 65,000 square kilometres, making it one of the largest public libraries in the world. Warialda Library is open Monday to Friday 2.30-5.00pm and Friday and Saturday mornings 10.00am-12noon. Bingara Library is open Monday to Friday 8.30am-4.30pm. Both libraries have free membership with access to books, magazines, DVD’s, CD’s and the internet.
CTC@Warialda offers a range of services including internet access, laminating, photocopying, fax service, binding, video conferencing, photographic printing and Play Station II hire plus much more. Situated in the CTC is a Centrelink Rural Agency and Bigpond Dealer.
Pre Schools:There are playgroups, pre-schools and toy libraries available either in Bingara and Warialda or through the Tharawonga Mobile Children’s Service which visits the communities in the north of the Shire. In addition there are family health nurses and a community based family worker who visit throughout the Shire to assist families with young children. For working parents there are family day carers available and a Vacation Care Program operates in school holidays. For young adults the local Youth Worker coordinates a range of recreational and personal support programs.
Bingara Central School: is a Kindergarten to Year 10 School located in a productive rural area in the heart of the New England region. The school draws students from the township of Bingara and from the large surrounding farming area. Students continuing on to study at Higher School Certificate level usually attend Warialda High School.
The Bingara Central School community is committed to providing effective holistic quality educational and social programs that empower students to take responsibility for their own learning experiences. There is also a growing school and community bond through vocational education and traineeship opportunities for local students. The school has an extensive range of facilities, including specialist classrooms for the teaching of all practical subjects.
Type of School: Kindergarten - Year 10
Enrolments: 200
Finch St, Bingara 2404
Phone: (02) 6724 1606
Fax: (02) 6724 1927
Email: bingara-c.school@det.nsw.edu.au
www.bingara-c.schools.nsw.edu.auCroppa Creek Public School: is a small, rural school situated in a rich farming and grazing region of the Shire. The school vision is that students will acquire skills, values and behaviours that equip them to develop into people of high integrity, honour, and self esteem. The school aims to implement balanced, enjoyable, teaching-learning programs that develop strong foundations in literacy and numeracy, stimulate high creativity, and promote physical coordination and teamwork. The goal for students of Croppa Creek Public School to acquire successful work, recreational and adaptation skills necessary for the rapidly changing world.
Type of School: Primary
Enrolments: 21
Apsley Cres, Croppa Creek 2411
Phone: (02) 6754 5215
Fax: (02) 6754 5213
Email: croppacrk-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au
www.croppacrk-p.schools.nsw.edu.auGravesend Public School: features a good teacher / student ratio, focus on literacy /numeracy, individual programs and support for students. In addition there is a healthy canteen, playgroup each Wednesday morning, a transition program for students entering Kindergarten, involvement in district sporting activities and interaction with other small schools.There is a teaching Principal, a classroom teacher and two part time teachers. The school has full disability access and toilet/shower facilities.
Type of School: Primary
Enrolments: 26
Gwydir St, Gravesend 2401
Phone: (02) 6729 7159
Fax: (02) 6729 7064
Email:gravesend-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au
www.gravesend-p.schools.nsw.edu.au/North Star Public School: is caring and supportive and provides an enjoyable, stimulating and challenging learning environment. It has a small-school, family atmosphere enabling children of all ages to interact and learn from each other.
Type of School: Primary
Enrolments: 47
Edward St, North Star 2408
Phone: (07) 4676 3128
Fax: (07) 4676 3269
Email: northstar-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au
www.northstar-p.schools.nsw.edu.auSt Joseph’s Catholic School: was opened in 1904 by the Sisters of St Joseph to cater for the needs of children in the region. St Joseph’s continues to play a vital role in the education of children in the Warialda area. The current enrolment is 50 students from Kindergarten to Year 6, and this enables the employment of three fulltime teaching staff, and a number of part time staff. St Joseph’s has wheelchair access to the classroom and the school hall. The school nurtures the values of justice, love, peace and hope, whilst catering for the individual needs of each student. The school has experienced, caring and committed staff. Other features include a good pupil/teacher ratio, fresh, modern and well resourced classrooms, and computer and internet access for all children. A varied sports program K-6, is also provided including a swimming program. There is a tennis court, basketball court, netball court, cricket pitch and enough space to play soccer. St Joseph’s offers opportunities to participate in sports at local, regional and state levels and has an active and open Parents & Friends Association.
Type of School: Primary
Enrolments: 50
Stewart Ave, Warialda 2402
Phone: (02) 6729 1328
Fax: (02) 6729 1704
Email: stjo_war@arm.catholic.edu.auWarialda High School: community strives to guide students towards independent and responsible citizenship by providing a balanced and relevant curriculum within a caring and stimulating school environment. The school offers the widest possible range of subjects to prepare students for life after school, whether in the work force, at university, or in other training institutions. The school aims to have as many students as possible graduate with the dual accreditation of a Higher School Certificate and industry recognised competencies. Students are given many opportunities to participate in academic, cultural, vocational and sporting activities at all levels. Bingara Central School students complete their senior years at Warialda High. The school and the wider community maintain a close and mutually supportive relationship, particularly with regards to sport and vocational education.
Type of School: Secondary
Enrolments: 285
Hope St, Warialda 2402
Phone: (02) 6729 1000
Fax: (02) 6729 1760
Email: warialda-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au
www.warialda-h.schools.nsw.edu.auWarialda Public School: was established in 1851, making it amongst the oldest in New South Wales. The school has an excellent technology network with computers in all classrooms so that technology becomes an integral part of everyday learning, taking students from lower to higher order thinking skills. The grounds are extensive with a covered learning area, playground equipment, synthetic cricket pitch, large grassed areas and concrete areas for small ball games and canteen. Warialda offers students many programs which assist to improve literacy skills and include: Reading Recovery, Hubbard Street reading program and in- class guided reading sessions. Count Me In and Count Me In Too programs assist students in Mathematics.
Type of School: Primary
Enrolments: 200
Hope St, Warialda 2402
Phone: (02) 6729 1131
Fax: (02) 6729 1190
Email: warialda-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au
www.warialda-p.schools.nsw.edu.au
