This first annual Awards evening that incorporated awards to children (Vi Barham Award) and adults (Individual Community and Staff) was held in 1987.
The purpose of the evening is to recognise excellence in the field of Education in the Narrogin District.
The Vi Barham Award (named after a long term employee in the District Office) promotes outstanding Year 7 students in the region (which is based on the previous Upper Great Southern District), by an academic and interview based selection process.
The Awards which are presented to adults are based on nominations by the school with broad criteria to be addressed.
Vi Barham worked tirelessly and diligently as a school and Regional Office secretary from 1963 to 1986, giving a wonderful 23 years of service to the children of the Upper Great Southern Regional Education Office (now the Narrogin District Education Office).
As a most loyal and dedicated worker for the Department of Education and Training, Mrs Barham displayed an exemplary and conscientious approach. She worked exceptionally hard and never failed to respond positively when called upon to serve above the call of duty. Mrs Barham displayed the qualities, not only of an excellent clerical assistant, but of a warm and fine lady.
For the strenuous efforts she has made to help district office and school staff generally, no better token of our appreciation can be given than to perpetuate her name through an award to children who demonstrate the ideals by which she lives.
It is appropriate to award the scholarship to a Year Seven student as Mrs Barham spent a considerable part of her time on educational developments for primary children. She has been deeply conscious of the importance a primary education gives to later schooling. Mrs Barham has dedicated a great deal of her personal time to working in the production of practical, purposeful programs for primary children.
This scholarship aims to have a major impact on education in the Upper Great Southern area. A group of trustees will make a monetary award to a selected candidate who they believe is the best scholar, sportsperson, citizen and personality.
Schools are invited to nominate suitable students for testing according to the following criteria:
(i) Schools may nominate one year seven student for every 10 year seven students enrolled (Schools with less than 10 year seven students may nominate 1 student).
(ii) Principals should exercise their professional judgement when selecting suitable nominees.
Schools are advised to use students' academic ability as the first criteria for nomination. Sporting and citizenship achievements are important criteria at the interview stage, and should therefore be considered during school nomination procedures. Tests will be conducted in reading, maths and spelling. Weightings of each section of the test will be:
Testing times are usually 1½ hours for Maths and 1½ hours for Reading/Writing and Spelling. Testing dates and venues are non-negotiable. Nominations will be called for during Term 2.
A panel from the Trust membership will interview the ten most successful students from the testing process. The interview and formal test will be weighted equally in the determination of the successful candidate.
The Vi Barham Award will be presented at the Narrogin District Education Awards evening.
These criteria and pointers below are a way for Award recipients to be identified. They are general enough to be applicable to all positions in a school and should be considered in the context of both the school and the person's role in the school. There is no intention to specify order of importance of weighting in any of the following nor is there any expectation that "all bases will be covered". The pointers are offered as an aid to those making decisions about nominating Narrogin District Education Award contenders.
Criterion
These criteria and pointers below are a way for Award recipients to be identified. They are general enough to be applicable to all positions in a school and should be considered in the context of both the school and the person's role in the school. There is no intention to
specify order of importance of weighting in any of the following nor is there any expectation that "all bases will be covered". The pointers are offered as an aid to those making decisions about nominating Narrogin District Education Award contenders.
Criterion
For both STAFF and COMMUNITY Nominations it is expected that these characteristics would be evident over a reasonable period of time.
These Awards recognise people who are 'outstanding' and who might become award contenders after, say, five to ten years of 'outstanding' service.
It is not the intention that the Narrogin Education District Awards are seen to simply reward long service, rather that they reward 'outstanding service' in the medium to long term.
For more information regarding these Awards
please contact Heather Mahar at the Narrogin District Education Office on (08) 9881 0000 or send an email to Heather.Mahar@det.wa.edu.au .