City Schools line up to help those out West.

It's 2pm and around NSW people are reaching for their phones to call in for a teleconference.

Julie -on the phone again.

The reason?
To organise the details of the Small Schools Supercamp to be held at Nyngan  this March for 11 schools - Weilmoringle, Enngonia, Bourke/Walgett Distance Education, Quambone, Hermidale, Louth, Girilambone, Marra Creek,Carinda,Wanaaring and Gwabegar.

This has become an annual event and much work has been put in by public primary school teachers and Uniting Church chaplains to apply for grants and solicit the assistance of Sydney private schools for the event.

Several schools have said they will  offer, not only staff and resources, but senior students to teach a range of courses. Team sports, science, art,ceramics,dance, drama,singing and IT will be offered to outback students. Presbyterian Ladies College (PLC), Ravenswood and Knox  all came on board very readily when asked by Julie at a private school's Principal's Conference last year to be involved in the Supercamp.

Students playing football at Weilmoringle in April last year.

The idea was to ask larger schools to share expertise with smaller, isolated outback schools so small school students could experience a wider curriculum than can be offered in one teacher schools and to give those students experience in larger groups than they have access to every day. As Marg Coddington,Weilmoringle Principal, commented,
 " These schools all have excellent experienced staff  but there is a need for additional expertise in areas like music, science and drama and for kids to play team sports against kids their own age."


As the teleconference began it was clear that schools were keen to offer as much as they could to the camp. Gordon and Nyngan Uniting Churches will also be involved by providing catering and helping out generally when they are not up to their eyeballs in potato peelings and bread crusts.

Sue at work at her desk in Hillston.

All in all 12 people were present at the conference from as far afield as Sydney, Narribri, Weilmoringle, Hermidale and Hillston. Technology has certainly made organising such events much easier -we could even say -possible.

When the 1 1/2 hours was up, Sue,who was scribing, had pages of notes, reflecting the enthusiasm of all involved. It looks like being a great camp!

The program will be full of educational and social opportunities, including input from Bradon French, Uniting Church Next Generation worker, who will be present at the camp and will organise some evening activities.

 I noted with a smile, that when Julie was asked if Bradon realised he had 150 kids to entertain and the reply was simply -"Yes -he is an ex-primary school teacher."- everyone nodded sagely(I imagine) and immediately agreed he had the expertise to handle it. Such is the respect teachers have for each other when they have done time in the classroom.  They all know the skill involved in managing a large group of students in a learning situation. It truly is a myth that -"Those who can, do and those who can't, teach." As anyone who has been a teacher will tell you -teaching is very much a "can do" profession.

Thank you to all those school teachers -public and private - who are prepared to go the extra mile to give the kids at the Supercamp a great time and a great learning experience they will never forget!