Latest news with #CallaghanCollege
The Advertiser
18-05-2025
- General
- The Advertiser
New toolkit: renewed policy for identifying high-potential, gifted students
A RENEWED policy is set to benefit thousands of students across the Hunter, providing more opportunities for high-potential and gifted education (HPGE). Hundreds of teachers, support staff and leaders from across the Callaghan College network formed for a staff development day on April 28 to discuss the new changes and how they will be implemented across the classroom. Callaghan College principal Dr Kylee Owen said while HPGE had always been embedded in the Department of Education, a renewed and refreshed approach will strengthen educators' capacity to identify, support and challenge students. "It's not a new area, but the Department has taken an approach this time to ensure it's about unlocking the potential for every student," she said. HPGE students can be identified across four intellectual, creative, social-emotional and physical domains. Dr Owen said in the Callaghan network, for example, there were enrichment and extension opportunities in the creative domain, such as concert bands and drama clubs. "... or it might be through the physical domain, where we have our extension program around sports. Or the intellectual domain where we offer extension courses through our partnership with the University of Newcastle," she said. Dr Owen said HPGE students can also be identified through their classroom teacher or parents at home, but there's no one-size-fits-all approach. "A teacher is a strong identifier in terms of the student's knowledge and expected level at that particular age group. They might say a student is demonstrating what is beyond that level. It's also about getting a sense of that young person and what they're like at home," she said. She said the renewed policy was about ensuring that every student has the capacity and opportunity to go above and beyond. "And to be able to leave school in a confident and capable place where they're going to be amazing young people and citizens of the world," she said. "We are committed to unlocking the full potential of every learner." A RENEWED policy is set to benefit thousands of students across the Hunter, providing more opportunities for high-potential and gifted education (HPGE). Hundreds of teachers, support staff and leaders from across the Callaghan College network formed for a staff development day on April 28 to discuss the new changes and how they will be implemented across the classroom. Callaghan College principal Dr Kylee Owen said while HPGE had always been embedded in the Department of Education, a renewed and refreshed approach will strengthen educators' capacity to identify, support and challenge students. "It's not a new area, but the Department has taken an approach this time to ensure it's about unlocking the potential for every student," she said. HPGE students can be identified across four intellectual, creative, social-emotional and physical domains. Dr Owen said in the Callaghan network, for example, there were enrichment and extension opportunities in the creative domain, such as concert bands and drama clubs. "... or it might be through the physical domain, where we have our extension program around sports. Or the intellectual domain where we offer extension courses through our partnership with the University of Newcastle," she said. Dr Owen said HPGE students can also be identified through their classroom teacher or parents at home, but there's no one-size-fits-all approach. "A teacher is a strong identifier in terms of the student's knowledge and expected level at that particular age group. They might say a student is demonstrating what is beyond that level. It's also about getting a sense of that young person and what they're like at home," she said. She said the renewed policy was about ensuring that every student has the capacity and opportunity to go above and beyond. "And to be able to leave school in a confident and capable place where they're going to be amazing young people and citizens of the world," she said. "We are committed to unlocking the full potential of every learner." A RENEWED policy is set to benefit thousands of students across the Hunter, providing more opportunities for high-potential and gifted education (HPGE). Hundreds of teachers, support staff and leaders from across the Callaghan College network formed for a staff development day on April 28 to discuss the new changes and how they will be implemented across the classroom. Callaghan College principal Dr Kylee Owen said while HPGE had always been embedded in the Department of Education, a renewed and refreshed approach will strengthen educators' capacity to identify, support and challenge students. "It's not a new area, but the Department has taken an approach this time to ensure it's about unlocking the potential for every student," she said. HPGE students can be identified across four intellectual, creative, social-emotional and physical domains. Dr Owen said in the Callaghan network, for example, there were enrichment and extension opportunities in the creative domain, such as concert bands and drama clubs. "... or it might be through the physical domain, where we have our extension program around sports. Or the intellectual domain where we offer extension courses through our partnership with the University of Newcastle," she said. Dr Owen said HPGE students can also be identified through their classroom teacher or parents at home, but there's no one-size-fits-all approach. "A teacher is a strong identifier in terms of the student's knowledge and expected level at that particular age group. They might say a student is demonstrating what is beyond that level. It's also about getting a sense of that young person and what they're like at home," she said. She said the renewed policy was about ensuring that every student has the capacity and opportunity to go above and beyond. "And to be able to leave school in a confident and capable place where they're going to be amazing young people and citizens of the world," she said. "We are committed to unlocking the full potential of every learner." A RENEWED policy is set to benefit thousands of students across the Hunter, providing more opportunities for high-potential and gifted education (HPGE). Hundreds of teachers, support staff and leaders from across the Callaghan College network formed for a staff development day on April 28 to discuss the new changes and how they will be implemented across the classroom. Callaghan College principal Dr Kylee Owen said while HPGE had always been embedded in the Department of Education, a renewed and refreshed approach will strengthen educators' capacity to identify, support and challenge students. "It's not a new area, but the Department has taken an approach this time to ensure it's about unlocking the potential for every student," she said. HPGE students can be identified across four intellectual, creative, social-emotional and physical domains. Dr Owen said in the Callaghan network, for example, there were enrichment and extension opportunities in the creative domain, such as concert bands and drama clubs. "... or it might be through the physical domain, where we have our extension program around sports. Or the intellectual domain where we offer extension courses through our partnership with the University of Newcastle," she said. Dr Owen said HPGE students can also be identified through their classroom teacher or parents at home, but there's no one-size-fits-all approach. "A teacher is a strong identifier in terms of the student's knowledge and expected level at that particular age group. They might say a student is demonstrating what is beyond that level. It's also about getting a sense of that young person and what they're like at home," she said. She said the renewed policy was about ensuring that every student has the capacity and opportunity to go above and beyond. "And to be able to leave school in a confident and capable place where they're going to be amazing young people and citizens of the world," she said. "We are committed to unlocking the full potential of every learner."
The Advertiser
11-05-2025
- The Advertiser
Administrator accused of defrauding not-for-profit preschool of more than $150K
A FORMER employee at a Newcastle community preschool is accused of defrauding the not-for-profit organisation of more than $150,000 over a two-year period, court documents reveal. Robyn Seddon, 47, of Valentine, who police say was in an administrative role at Jesmond Community Preschool, is accused of transferring money from the business into her personal bank accounts and using a company debit card to buy electronics, groceries and clothes. Police say Seddon made more than 20 fraudulent transactions between April 2022 and March 2024, totalling nearly $150,000. An eight-month investigation in 2024 culminated in police charging Seddon with 22 counts of dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage by deception and five counts of dishonestly obtaining property by deception. Seddon, who remains on bail after her arrest in December, was excused from attending court last week when her matter was mentioned and her solicitor, James Janke, asked for a three-week adjournment before entering pleas. According to court documents, Seddon is accused of transferring varying amounts of money from the Jesmond Community Preschool account into her own personal accounts. The totals involved in the alleged fraudulent transactions range from between about $1600 to $20,000, according to court documents. In one transaction during February 2023, Seddon is accused of requesting a refund of $16,000 owed to the school be paid into her own personal account. As well as the alleged dodgy money transfers, police say their investigation uncovered a number of unauthorised purchases made on Seddon's company debit card. That allegedly involved $2500 worth of electronic items - including two laptops, four sets of noise cancelling headphones, power banks and AirPods - purchased in December, 2023. Police say there was also more than $550 spent on groceries over two transactions, $165 spent on clothes and $200 spent on hardware. The total amount allegedly defrauded from the school, including the property that police say was dishonestly obtained, is $152,769. Jesmond Community Preschool is a government funded, not-for-profit organisation on the grounds of Callaghan College and Heaton Public School in Janet Street. It is described as a small centre that caters for less than 40 preschool aged children in the local community. A FORMER employee at a Newcastle community preschool is accused of defrauding the not-for-profit organisation of more than $150,000 over a two-year period, court documents reveal. Robyn Seddon, 47, of Valentine, who police say was in an administrative role at Jesmond Community Preschool, is accused of transferring money from the business into her personal bank accounts and using a company debit card to buy electronics, groceries and clothes. Police say Seddon made more than 20 fraudulent transactions between April 2022 and March 2024, totalling nearly $150,000. An eight-month investigation in 2024 culminated in police charging Seddon with 22 counts of dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage by deception and five counts of dishonestly obtaining property by deception. Seddon, who remains on bail after her arrest in December, was excused from attending court last week when her matter was mentioned and her solicitor, James Janke, asked for a three-week adjournment before entering pleas. According to court documents, Seddon is accused of transferring varying amounts of money from the Jesmond Community Preschool account into her own personal accounts. The totals involved in the alleged fraudulent transactions range from between about $1600 to $20,000, according to court documents. In one transaction during February 2023, Seddon is accused of requesting a refund of $16,000 owed to the school be paid into her own personal account. As well as the alleged dodgy money transfers, police say their investigation uncovered a number of unauthorised purchases made on Seddon's company debit card. That allegedly involved $2500 worth of electronic items - including two laptops, four sets of noise cancelling headphones, power banks and AirPods - purchased in December, 2023. Police say there was also more than $550 spent on groceries over two transactions, $165 spent on clothes and $200 spent on hardware. The total amount allegedly defrauded from the school, including the property that police say was dishonestly obtained, is $152,769. Jesmond Community Preschool is a government funded, not-for-profit organisation on the grounds of Callaghan College and Heaton Public School in Janet Street. It is described as a small centre that caters for less than 40 preschool aged children in the local community. A FORMER employee at a Newcastle community preschool is accused of defrauding the not-for-profit organisation of more than $150,000 over a two-year period, court documents reveal. Robyn Seddon, 47, of Valentine, who police say was in an administrative role at Jesmond Community Preschool, is accused of transferring money from the business into her personal bank accounts and using a company debit card to buy electronics, groceries and clothes. Police say Seddon made more than 20 fraudulent transactions between April 2022 and March 2024, totalling nearly $150,000. An eight-month investigation in 2024 culminated in police charging Seddon with 22 counts of dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage by deception and five counts of dishonestly obtaining property by deception. Seddon, who remains on bail after her arrest in December, was excused from attending court last week when her matter was mentioned and her solicitor, James Janke, asked for a three-week adjournment before entering pleas. According to court documents, Seddon is accused of transferring varying amounts of money from the Jesmond Community Preschool account into her own personal accounts. The totals involved in the alleged fraudulent transactions range from between about $1600 to $20,000, according to court documents. In one transaction during February 2023, Seddon is accused of requesting a refund of $16,000 owed to the school be paid into her own personal account. As well as the alleged dodgy money transfers, police say their investigation uncovered a number of unauthorised purchases made on Seddon's company debit card. That allegedly involved $2500 worth of electronic items - including two laptops, four sets of noise cancelling headphones, power banks and AirPods - purchased in December, 2023. Police say there was also more than $550 spent on groceries over two transactions, $165 spent on clothes and $200 spent on hardware. The total amount allegedly defrauded from the school, including the property that police say was dishonestly obtained, is $152,769. Jesmond Community Preschool is a government funded, not-for-profit organisation on the grounds of Callaghan College and Heaton Public School in Janet Street. It is described as a small centre that caters for less than 40 preschool aged children in the local community. A FORMER employee at a Newcastle community preschool is accused of defrauding the not-for-profit organisation of more than $150,000 over a two-year period, court documents reveal. Robyn Seddon, 47, of Valentine, who police say was in an administrative role at Jesmond Community Preschool, is accused of transferring money from the business into her personal bank accounts and using a company debit card to buy electronics, groceries and clothes. Police say Seddon made more than 20 fraudulent transactions between April 2022 and March 2024, totalling nearly $150,000. An eight-month investigation in 2024 culminated in police charging Seddon with 22 counts of dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage by deception and five counts of dishonestly obtaining property by deception. Seddon, who remains on bail after her arrest in December, was excused from attending court last week when her matter was mentioned and her solicitor, James Janke, asked for a three-week adjournment before entering pleas. According to court documents, Seddon is accused of transferring varying amounts of money from the Jesmond Community Preschool account into her own personal accounts. The totals involved in the alleged fraudulent transactions range from between about $1600 to $20,000, according to court documents. In one transaction during February 2023, Seddon is accused of requesting a refund of $16,000 owed to the school be paid into her own personal account. As well as the alleged dodgy money transfers, police say their investigation uncovered a number of unauthorised purchases made on Seddon's company debit card. That allegedly involved $2500 worth of electronic items - including two laptops, four sets of noise cancelling headphones, power banks and AirPods - purchased in December, 2023. Police say there was also more than $550 spent on groceries over two transactions, $165 spent on clothes and $200 spent on hardware. The total amount allegedly defrauded from the school, including the property that police say was dishonestly obtained, is $152,769. Jesmond Community Preschool is a government funded, not-for-profit organisation on the grounds of Callaghan College and Heaton Public School in Janet Street. It is described as a small centre that caters for less than 40 preschool aged children in the local community.
