Braidwood Central School

Braidwood Central School is a K to 12 co-educational school of 420 students serving a rural community located between Canberra and Batemans Bay. Our school promotes a culture that values and reflects the school's 150-year-old motto of 'Loyalty and Truth'. We strive to uphold these values through respect for ourselves, our environment and our past while looking to the future with a positive attitude. We show tolerance to all as we strive to achieve our personal best at all times. Our school runs the 'Positive Behaviour for Success' program which creates a culture that produces students who are 'considerate, enthusiastic and responsible', and therefore able to achieve to their potential. The school enjoys strong community support. Both the primary and secondary areas of the school have access to their own fully networked technology centres. Students have access to smart board technology. Sound literacy and numeracy skills are carefully fostered in all years. Braidwood Central offers a wide range vocational and academic courses. Strong industry links exist with 98% of graduating Year 12 students moving to full time employment or tertiary study. Ex-students over the past few years have gained degrees in areas as diverse as marine biology, teaching, ecology, visual arts and graphic design. Braidwood Central students in Years 10, 11 and 12 are highly sought after by employers in Canberra, Queanbeyan and Goulburn. Agriculture and Primary Industries are offered at the school. Students have achieved great success in steer showing and leading. Animals are donated by local farmers and conditioned at the school as part of the learning process for students. Braidwood Central offers a wide range of sporting opportunities including the Central Schools and Small High Schools knockout competitions in touch football, netball, cricket and soccer. In 2012 three students competed at a state level in sporting events. There is a rich extra-curricular program including public speaking, debating and musicals. Private music tutors are given rooms within the school at no cost to provide a richer and more diverse offering for students. In 2008,2009 and 2012 Braidwood students won the NSW Young Sculptor of the Year as awarded by NSW Sheet Metal Industries. Our Primary students run their own 'veggie patch' which is being expanded in 2012 to provide fresh food for the canteen. This is a great example of the P&C working with the school to support our students. Primary students enjoy excursions tailored for each Year group. In 2010-2012 the P&C subsidised these trips to ensure that there is a curriculum as enriched as if in a metropolitan area. As we are a central school Primary students benefit from the expertise of secondary teachers who choose to give some of their teaching time to teach music, mathematics, art and sport in the K-6 school. School athletics and swimming carnivals are whole school events. The community provides parent tutors in reading, public speaking and music.