Staff, students attract awards

A Rockingham Senior High School Education Support Centre staff member has been recognised for her dedication and passion towards the schools Bush Ranger program.

Bush Ranger Program unit leader Rachel Nixon received the Bush Ranger WA Instructor Excellence Award for 2017 at a ceremony last week which celebrated students and staff.

The ceremony, held last week at the Gary Holland Community Centre, was also an opportunity to farewell the Year 12 cohort for 2017.

The Bush Rangers program at the school has been heavily involved in the Adopt a Beach community project and are connected to the Tangaroa Blue project.

Ms Nixon’s students had been involved in cleaning up their allocated stretch of beach in Shoalwater and had removed more than 147.2kg of rubbish and 2518 pieces of marine debris in just 18 months.

“I’m shocked but honoured to receive the award,” she said.

Ms Nixon has also organised camps for students that have involved, hiking, compass skills and fire-making.

Associate principal Caroline Mason said Ms Nixon had single-handedly developed a culture within the school whereby Bush Rangers is seen as a fun, informative and purposeful learning time for Year 8-10 education support students.

“She is a strong leader, who differentiates all learning tasks to ensure optimal participation of all students, and leads by example to her colleagues, she said.

“Bush Rangers is an opportunity for our staff and students to connect and participate in hands-on learning experiences away from the traditional classroom and is one of the most highly engaging programs we offer at our school.

“It is through Rachel’s hard work, dedication, and exemplary teaching practice that this has been achieved.”

Student success was also celebrated for Years 7 to 12. The Dux Award was won by Year 12’s Oscar Zanoli.