Message from the Principal...
WIth our twenty-sixth year now well under way at Prairiewood High School, we can look forward with great anticipation and excitement to this new and exciting chapter in the life of our school. Even more significant than any events and achievements in the past are two major announcements which will have an enormous impact upon Prairiewood High School, its staff, students and the wider community - the first being the honour of endorsement as a partially selective high school from 2010 and the second is the provision of a major Commonwealth Government funding grant (totalling almost 4 million dollars over the next four years) to support teaching and learning at our school. These important changes to the academic and educational operations of our school have the potential to significantly improve teaching and learning outcomes for all students as we continue to strive to provide the best possible educational opportunities for our students.
Click this link to find out the latest news about our National Partnerships Program.
We are proud of our school, our students and their achievements and this pride is shared by many students, staff and parents, as well as by members of the wider school and local community.
The teaching and learning process is the combined responsibility of the student, his or her family and the school - a “team” approach, with each student making a conscientious effort to participate in all lessons and complete all class work, homework and assignments. Full support from parents who are prepared to reinforce what teachers are trying to achieve at the school will also help to ensure that each student has the opportunity to succeed and achieve at his or her full potential. Our school motto, per ardua, reinforces the need for all students and staff to strive to achieve their personal best in everything they do - both within and beyond the classroom.
At Prairiewood High School, we believe it is important to provide encouragement and celebrate student success and outstanding achievement at our mid-year and annual presentation evenings, as well as on a regular basis at assemblies and special events throughout the year. Success is not something that just happens ... it's the result of hard work, effort and commitment and is worthy of celebration.
Congratulations to our Year 10 students in the School Certificate where 75% of students achieved English results in the top three bands. We also need to congratulate and celebrate the success of many of our Year 12 students who achieved outstanding results in this year's HSC - with improved results in sixteen courses!
Congratulations to our dux, Tijana Novkovic, who received an HSC mark of 99% for her Ancient History exam and was awarded one of only five "Alexander Awards for Excellence in Ancient History" issued in NSW. Special congratulations to our 2009 school captain, Lee Canta, who has been honoured with the University of Western Sydney's very prestigious award for Leadership and a $50,000 scholarship, as well as the Dean's Award for Academic Excellence at UWS. Well done to both Tijana and Lee! Further details of student achievements in the School Certificate and HSC examinations are provided on our 'Student Achievements' page.
J. Pickering ~ Principal