Narrabri West Public School has won the 2009 New England Education Region Award for Excellence in the Arts. This year a total of nineteen ‘Excellence in Education’ awards were announced by Relieving Regional Director Mr Jim White in Education Week. These awards recognise excellence within a school.

Narrabri West’s Excellence in the Arts Award was judged on criteria which included:

• exemplary professional practices in one or more of the art forms of music, dance, visual arts, drama;

• an excellent record of developing opportunities for participation by students in school, regional and state events; and

• exemplary practices in encouraging students to develop their talents in one or more art forms.

All nominations were judged by a panel that included the Regional Director of Education, a Principal representative, a Teacher representative and a P & C representative.

The judging panel determined that all areas of Narrabri West’s performing arts program were the most outstanding examples of ‘best practice’ within the New England Region. The judges acknowledged in the award citation that music is an integral part of the school’s curriculum, with students experiencing a sequenced program which also allows those with a particular interest or aptitude to receive specialised instruction and further develop their talents. Special mention was made of the schools concert band program, sequenced instruction program for teaching all student s the recorder and the percussion (drumming) program. They also acknowledged how the school music program impacts not only on the school, but also the whole community, with many students going on to join Narrabri High School music programs and also the Narrabri Shire Band.

This is the fourth major award that Narrabri West has won in the last two years, which is indicative of the high quality educational programs that we have implemented. The real winners of course are the children attending Narrabri West, who get to benefit from the impact of these award winning programs.